Italian Political System
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to provide a general knowledge of the Italian political system in its various aspects and of the changes that have occurred over time. The study of the Italian political system is carried out by integrating historical and constitutional elements together with an analysis of public opinion particularly focused on the relationship between parties and voters. The course considers the developments of the Italian political system from the Italian Unity (XIX century) until today with particular attention to the last twenty-five years of republican history.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student will acquire the necessary knowledge to understand the main developments of the Italian political system. She will also be able to access the main sources of empirical data that allow the analysis of the main issues concerning the functioning of the Italian political system in an informed way. Finally, the student will master the analytical tools to deal with these issues in a competent and independent way.
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 includes a discussion of the following topics:
The concepts of Political System and Italian Political System
The development of the Italian Political System from the unification of Italy to the First Republic
The transformations of the Second and Third Republics
Types of elections and electoral systems
The party systems in Italy from 1945 period until today
The government and the parliament in the Constitution and in practice
Political participation in the republican experience
The political behavior of Italian citizens
Political sub-cultures and electoral behavior
The theory of electoral cycle: first and second order elections
For its edition 2019/2020, the course includes two topics related to recent developments:
An analysis of the national elections 2018 (based on the Itanes book "Vox populi" 2018)
An analysis of the developments of the Italian Political System in the electoral cycle 2013-2018 (based on the book "L'apocalisse della democrazia italiana" 2019)
The concepts of Political System and Italian Political System
The development of the Italian Political System from the unification of Italy to the First Republic
The transformations of the Second and Third Republics
Types of elections and electoral systems
The party systems in Italy from 1945 period until today
The government and the parliament in the Constitution and in practice
Political participation in the republican experience
The political behavior of Italian citizens
Political sub-cultures and electoral behavior
The theory of electoral cycle: first and second order elections
For its edition 2019/2020, the course includes two topics related to recent developments:
An analysis of the national elections 2018 (based on the Itanes book "Vox populi" 2018)
An analysis of the developments of the Italian Political System in the electoral cycle 2013-2018 (based on the book "L'apocalisse della democrazia italiana" 2019)
Prerequisites for admission
To follow the course and prepare for the exam, it is necessary to have a solid knowledge of the main notions of political science and contemporary Italian history (from 1861).
Given the extensive reference to empirical materials and research in the context of the study of political behavior, it is very useful to have a basic knowledge of statistical methods for data analysis. It is therefore advisable to have followed a course in Applied Social Research or Statistics.
Given the extensive reference to empirical materials and research in the context of the study of political behavior, it is very useful to have a basic knowledge of statistical methods for data analysis. It is therefore advisable to have followed a course in Applied Social Research or Statistics.
Teaching methods
During the lessons different teaching methods will alternate:
- frontal lessons to introduce the concepts and basic themes;
- the informed discussion on topics based on materials that the students will be invited to consult and read;
- the presentation of topics by the students, based on readings and small researches agreed with the teacher.
Some materials will be made available on the Ariel portal.
- frontal lessons to introduce the concepts and basic themes;
- the informed discussion on topics based on materials that the students will be invited to consult and read;
- the presentation of topics by the students, based on readings and small researches agreed with the teacher.
Some materials will be made available on the Ariel portal.
Teaching Resources
To prepare the exam, the following materials should be consulted:
Cotta M. e Verzichelli L. (2008, terza ed. 2016) "Il sistema politico italiano" Bologna: il Mulino. Cap. 1-6
Itanes (2018) "Vox populi. Il voto ad alta voce delle elezioni 2018" Bologna: il Mulino.
Schadee H., Segatti P., Vezzoni C. (2019) "L'apocalisse della democrazia italiana" Bologna: Il Mulino.
For students who are not fluent in Italian, an alternative program can be agreed on request.
Cotta M. e Verzichelli L. (2008, terza ed. 2016) "Il sistema politico italiano" Bologna: il Mulino. Cap. 1-6
Itanes (2018) "Vox populi. Il voto ad alta voce delle elezioni 2018" Bologna: il Mulino.
Schadee H., Segatti P., Vezzoni C. (2019) "L'apocalisse della democrazia italiana" Bologna: Il Mulino.
For students who are not fluent in Italian, an alternative program can be agreed on request.
Assessment methods and Criteria
ATTENDING STUDENTS
Attending students take part in classes regularly. They read the materials proposed by the teacher and participate in the following discussions.
The evaluation of the participation in the course and the evaluation of the good understanding of the covered topics will be carried out taking into consideration three components:
- active participation in the course;
- during the course, oral presentation of about 15 minutes on materials agreed with the teacher, to be carried out in groups of up to three people, followed by an open discussion involving the whole class;
- preparation of a brief individual report on a topic agreed with the teacher.
A positive evaluation entails not only the reproduction of the contents, but also the capacity to connect the knowledge and apply a correct logic in the construction of the arguments.
NON ATTENDING STUDENTS
The evaluation will take place through a written test. Students are not requested only to reproduce the studied materials, but also to show the capacity to connect different topics and concepts and to apply a correct logic in the construction of their arguments.
The written test consists of four parts:
- 2 questions concerning topics covered in the text Cotta-Verzichelli (2016);
- 1 question on the text Itanes "Vox populi" (2018);
- 1 question on the text "The apocalypse of Italian democracy" (2019);
- a series of short questions on the last two texts.
Overall, the written test lasts 80 minutes.
Students are required to present the topics in a precise and concise manner. The mere length of the answers is not considered as a positive element in the evaluation.
Attending students take part in classes regularly. They read the materials proposed by the teacher and participate in the following discussions.
The evaluation of the participation in the course and the evaluation of the good understanding of the covered topics will be carried out taking into consideration three components:
- active participation in the course;
- during the course, oral presentation of about 15 minutes on materials agreed with the teacher, to be carried out in groups of up to three people, followed by an open discussion involving the whole class;
- preparation of a brief individual report on a topic agreed with the teacher.
A positive evaluation entails not only the reproduction of the contents, but also the capacity to connect the knowledge and apply a correct logic in the construction of the arguments.
NON ATTENDING STUDENTS
The evaluation will take place through a written test. Students are not requested only to reproduce the studied materials, but also to show the capacity to connect different topics and concepts and to apply a correct logic in the construction of their arguments.
The written test consists of four parts:
- 2 questions concerning topics covered in the text Cotta-Verzichelli (2016);
- 1 question on the text Itanes "Vox populi" (2018);
- 1 question on the text "The apocalypse of Italian democracy" (2019);
- a series of short questions on the last two texts.
Overall, the written test lasts 80 minutes.
Students are required to present the topics in a precise and concise manner. The mere length of the answers is not considered as a positive element in the evaluation.
SPS/04 - POLITICAL SCIENCE - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Vezzoni Cristiano
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Vezzoni CristianoProfessor(s)
Reception:
Please, send an e-mail to fix an appointment.
Room 4, First floor, Via Conservatorio or MS Teams Platform