Political and Administrative Science
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide a basic knowledge of the main themes of political science and the analytical and methodological tools necessary to understand the functioning of political systems and public administrations. The course is structured in three interconnected teaching units. The first unit examines the constitutive foundations of every political system, through the analysis of some concepts and keywords of political theory and political science. The aim of the second unit is to provide the basic knowledge for the analysis of the main institutions of representative democracy and the implementation of public policies. Finally, the third unit focuses on the analysis, in a comparative perspective, of public administrations in contemporary democracies and their relationship with the political class, of the problems of administrative function, structure and processes, as well as on the analysis of the general characteristics of the ongoing administrative reform processes, with particular reference to Italy.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course, the student will be familiar with the main theories of political science, and will be able to understand the functioning of the main institutions of representative democracy and public administrations as well as the role played by the main political actors involved in the decision-making process. The student will also develop skills to analyse contemporary political and administrative systems and their components in a comparative setting, and interpret critically current political facts and phenomena related to the functioning of contemporary democracies, even if these have not been directly addressed in class.
Lesson period: Second trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second trimester
Course syllabus
The course outline is structured in three main units:
Unit 1 focuses on the main concepts and keywords of political science; what political science is?; research methods employed in political science; the state; types of democracies; political participation and collective action.
Unit 2 is divided in two parts:
The first part refers to political institutions and representations and focuses on interest groups; political parties and party systems; elections, electoral behaviour and electoral systems.
The second part refers to political institutions and policy-making and focuses on parliaments and governments; public policies and policy-making; the European Union; the welfare state.
Unit 3 is divided in two parts:
The first part refers to public administration and focuses on the role of public administration in contemporary democracies; main functions, organization and structure of public administration; reforms in public administration; Italian public administration.
The second part analyses the relation between politics and bureaucracy and ethics in public administration.
Possible changes for attendant students will be given by the teachers at the beginning of the course. Materials used during classes are part of the syllabus of attendant students.
Unit 1 focuses on the main concepts and keywords of political science; what political science is?; research methods employed in political science; the state; types of democracies; political participation and collective action.
Unit 2 is divided in two parts:
The first part refers to political institutions and representations and focuses on interest groups; political parties and party systems; elections, electoral behaviour and electoral systems.
The second part refers to political institutions and policy-making and focuses on parliaments and governments; public policies and policy-making; the European Union; the welfare state.
Unit 3 is divided in two parts:
The first part refers to public administration and focuses on the role of public administration in contemporary democracies; main functions, organization and structure of public administration; reforms in public administration; Italian public administration.
The second part analyses the relation between politics and bureaucracy and ethics in public administration.
Possible changes for attendant students will be given by the teachers at the beginning of the course. Materials used during classes are part of the syllabus of attendant students.
Prerequisites for admission
There are no formal requisites for attending the course.
Teaching methods
The course will be taken in blended learning in the following way:
- 30 hours of lectures in class;
- 20 hours of synchronous online lectures to be held on the MS Teams web conference platform;
- 10 hours of asynchronous online lectures in MyAriel environment.
The teaching methodology includes frontal classes, individual exercises and activities in small groups to be carried out both at home and during lessons (both face-to-face and online in sync), discussions of case studies.
Attendance of at least 60% of the lesson hours (i.e. at least 20 hours of face-to-face lessons AND at least 20 synchronous/asynchronous online lessons) is a mandatory requirement for the registration to the exam.
- 30 hours of lectures in class;
- 20 hours of synchronous online lectures to be held on the MS Teams web conference platform;
- 10 hours of asynchronous online lectures in MyAriel environment.
The teaching methodology includes frontal classes, individual exercises and activities in small groups to be carried out both at home and during lessons (both face-to-face and online in sync), discussions of case studies.
Attendance of at least 60% of the lesson hours (i.e. at least 20 hours of face-to-face lessons AND at least 20 synchronous/asynchronous online lessons) is a mandatory requirement for the registration to the exam.
Teaching Resources
For the first two modules:
- D. CARAMANI (Ed.), Scienza politica, Egea Bocconi, Milano 2022 (III edition); Introduction(I.1, I.2, I.3.1, I.3.4, I.4.1), methodological lecture notes and chapters 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, forms of government lecture notes (in substitution of chapter 11), 12, 13, "Welfare state".
Lecture notes on methodology and the forms of government are available on MyAriel platform.
The chapter on "welfare state" is available of the website of the book editor (Egea).
For the third module:
- G. CAPANO, E. GUALMINI (Eds.), Le pubbliche amministrazioni in Italia, Il Mulino, Bologna 2011 (II edition): chapters II, III, V, VI, VII;
- N. PASINI, Lo spoils system fa male alla democrazia? Giappichelli Editore, Torino 2014 (II edition) chapters 1, 2 and Appendix 1.
- D. CARAMANI (Ed.), Scienza politica, Egea Bocconi, Milano 2022 (III edition); Introduction(I.1, I.2, I.3.1, I.3.4, I.4.1), methodological lecture notes and chapters 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, forms of government lecture notes (in substitution of chapter 11), 12, 13, "Welfare state".
Lecture notes on methodology and the forms of government are available on MyAriel platform.
The chapter on "welfare state" is available of the website of the book editor (Egea).
For the third module:
- G. CAPANO, E. GUALMINI (Eds.), Le pubbliche amministrazioni in Italia, Il Mulino, Bologna 2011 (II edition): chapters II, III, V, VI, VII;
- N. PASINI, Lo spoils system fa male alla democrazia? Giappichelli Editore, Torino 2014 (II edition) chapters 1, 2 and Appendix 1.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final exam consists in a written test including:
- multiple choice questions;
- simple exercises and open or semi-open questions.
Attending students might also be involved in exercises during classes or at home to be completed individually or in group. These exercises will contribute to the final mark, even in substitution of written exams.
The final grade is on a scale of 30 and is given by the weighted mean of the marks obtained over the two main parts of the programme. The mark on modules 1 and 2 weights for two thirds, while the mark on module 3 weights for one third of the final mark.
- multiple choice questions;
- simple exercises and open or semi-open questions.
Attending students might also be involved in exercises during classes or at home to be completed individually or in group. These exercises will contribute to the final mark, even in substitution of written exams.
The final grade is on a scale of 30 and is given by the weighted mean of the marks obtained over the two main parts of the programme. The mark on modules 1 and 2 weights for two thirds, while the mark on module 3 weights for one third of the final mark.
SPS/04 - POLITICAL SCIENCE - University credits: 9
: 10 hours
: 20 hours
Lessons: 30 hours
: 20 hours
Lessons: 30 hours
Professors:
Pasini Nicola, Pellegata Alessandro
Shifts:
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday 2.30-5.30 pm: send to me e-mail
Room 313, III° floor: before send to me e-mail