The course aims to introduce the discipline of Political Science, and more specifically Comparative Politics. After outlining the boundaries and characteristics of the discipline, and proposing some reflections on the object of study, the course develops a teaching proposal based on four integrated modules:
- Participation and Politics;
- Political movements and organizations (interest groups, social movements, parties and party systems);
- Institutions (parliaments and governments; public policies);
- Regimes (democracies; authoritarianisms; totalitarianisms; European Union).
Each lecture of the course will start from insights offered by recent or contemporary political reality (with particular references to the Italian system), by proposing an analysis through concepts and analytical tools proper to the discipline. It is therefore highly recommended, from time to time, the prior reading of the chapters of the adopted textbook relevant to each lesson, in order to already handle the analytical tools for an informed participation in the lesson by the students and students. The proposal of specific short texts (to supplement the adopted textbook) in preparation for specific lessons is also possible.

Provisional course schedule:

Lecture 1: Introduction to the course. What is politics.
Lecture 2: What is Political Science. Methods of analysis. Chapters: 1; 2 (Pasquino)
Lecture 3: Political Participation. Concepts, causes and consequences. Chapters: 3.1 - 3.4 (Pasquino)

Lesson 4: Political participation. Why does one participate? Chapters: 3.5 - 3.7 (Pasquino)
Lesson 5: Groups. Chapters: 12 (Morlino)
Lesson 6: Movements. Chapters: 10.5 (Morlino)


Lesson 7: Elections. Chapters: 13-14 (Morlino)
Lesson 8: Electoral systems. Chapters: 13-14 (Morlino)
Lesson 9: Exercises on electoral systems. Chapters: 13-14 (Morlino)

Lesson 10: Political parties. Chapters: 13-14 (Morlino)
Lesson 11: Party systems. Chapters: 13-14 (Morlino)
Lesson 12: Review.

Lesson 13: Review for midterm exam.
Lesson 14: Midterm exam.
Lesson 15: Midterm exam correction.

Lesson 16: Parliaments. Chapters: 8 (Morlino)
Lesson 17: Representation. Chapters: 8 (Morlino)

Lesson 18: Governments. Chapters: 8 (Morlino)
Lesson 19: Public policies. Chapters: 9 (Morlino)
Lesson 20: Non-democratic regimes. Chapters: 7 (Morlino)

Lesson 21: Democratic regimes. Chapters: 5-6 (Morlino)
Lesson 22: The European Union; Regionalisms. Chapters: 15-16 (Morlino)

Lesson 23: Review 1-3: Participation and politics.
Lesson 24: Review 4-6: Political movements and organizations.
Lesson 25: Review 7-9: Institutions.

Lesson 26: Review 10-12: Regimes.
Lesson 27: General review.
Lecture 28: Final exam.

Main Textbooks

- G. Pasquino (2009), Nuovo corso di Scienza politica, Bologna: il Mulino (ch. 1, 2, 3)
- L. Morlino, D. Berg-Schlosser & B. Badie (2017), Scienza Politica. Una Prospettiva globale, Torino: Utet (ch. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)

Alternative Textbook- G. Capano, S. Piattoni, F. Raniolo, L. Verzichelli (2021), Elements of Political Science, Bologna: il Mulino.

Manuali Principali

- G. Pasquino (2009), Nuovo corso di Scienza politica, Bologna: il Mulino (cap. 1, 2, 3)
- L. Morlino, D. Berg-Schlosser & B. Badie (2017), Scienza Politica. Una Prospettiva globale, Torino: Utet (cap. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)

Manuale Alternativo – G. Capano, S. Piattoni, F. Raniolo, L. Verzichelli (2021), Elementi di Scienza politica, Bologna: il Mulino.

Le slides relative alle lezioni frontali sono disponibili sul portale Moodle - https://moodle.unitus.it/moodle/unitus/docente/

The course is conceptually divided into various learning moments.
Starting with the introduction of the basic concepts of Political Science and the functions of the State, investigating the political regimes of the contemporary age (democracy, authoritarianism, totalitarianism); we will be paying attention to the issue of democratization/autocratization processes.
Afterwards it will be explored the domestic political arena, identifying the key players taking part, directly or indirectly, to its dynamics: by investigating parties’ origins and transformations, electoral systems and forms of government, we will pay particular attention to the Italian case, analysing it with a comparative approach.

Manuale Principale - G. Pasquino (2009), Nuovo corso di Scienza politica, Bologna: il Mulino.

Manuale Alternativo - L. Morlino, D. Berk-Schlosser, B. Badie (2018), Scienza Politica. Una Prospettiva Globale, Utet.