Comparative Politics
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
Comparison represents the most typical way through which to understand political phenomena. Irrespective of the specific research methods that can be used, the comparative approach aims at a non-idiographic knowledge of political phenomena, and thus at the formulation and verification of specific research hypotheses. Comparative politics, in particular, aims at the analysis of the institutional arrangements, the transformation dynamics and the modes of functioning of different political systems. This analysis may proceed either through the systematic comparison of individual aspects across different countries - e.g. the forms of state and government, electoral and party systems, parliaments, etc. - or through the juxtaposition of national cases examined in their entirety.
The main objective of this course is to foster, through the comparative approach, the knowledge and theoretical understanding of different contemporary political regimes - democratic and non-democratic - in terms of both their institutional characteristics and their functioning.
In addition, this theoretical knowledge is instrumental in developing the ability to autonomously and critically interpret empirical reality, i.e. the characteristics of real political systems, the transformations they may experience, their performance (understood as the ability to achieve certain results in the socio-economic and other fields) and how it may change as a result of the aforementioned transformations.
Finally, attending this course will also foster the development of the ability to elaborate and communicate the theoretical and empirical knowledge acquired through the preparation of oral presentations.
The main objective of this course is to foster, through the comparative approach, the knowledge and theoretical understanding of different contemporary political regimes - democratic and non-democratic - in terms of both their institutional characteristics and their functioning.
In addition, this theoretical knowledge is instrumental in developing the ability to autonomously and critically interpret empirical reality, i.e. the characteristics of real political systems, the transformations they may experience, their performance (understood as the ability to achieve certain results in the socio-economic and other fields) and how it may change as a result of the aforementioned transformations.
Finally, attending this course will also foster the development of the ability to elaborate and communicate the theoretical and empirical knowledge acquired through the preparation of oral presentations.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students should have acquired the following competences:
- Understanding the logic of the comparative method for the study of politics and its possible applications.
- Understanding of the main differences between democratic and non-democratic regimes, in terms of institutional arrangements and political processes, as well as the institutional variety that characterises both the former and the latter.
- In-depth knowledge of the political systems of some of the states that will be examined during the course.
- Understanding of the implications that different institutional arrangements might have on certain aspects of the performance of a political system that will be examined during the course.
- Ability to prepare and deliver oral presentations, including through the creation and use of slides.
- Understanding the logic of the comparative method for the study of politics and its possible applications.
- Understanding of the main differences between democratic and non-democratic regimes, in terms of institutional arrangements and political processes, as well as the institutional variety that characterises both the former and the latter.
- In-depth knowledge of the political systems of some of the states that will be examined during the course.
- Understanding of the implications that different institutional arrangements might have on certain aspects of the performance of a political system that will be examined during the course.
- Ability to prepare and deliver oral presentations, including through the creation and use of slides.
Lesson period: Third trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Third trimester
Course syllabus
The course is organised in three modules.
Module 1 - Comparative Political Institutions: During the first module, the main themes and tools of comparative politics will be introduced. Particular attention will be paid to the institutional variety that characterises contemporary democratic and non-democratic regimes.
Module 2 - Comparative Political Systems: During the second module the political systems of some European and non-European democratic countries and some non-democratic countries will be examined.
Module 3 - Topics in Comparative Politics: During the third module, in-depth studies will be conducted on some specific and recent comparative politics topics and debates.
Module 1 - Comparative Political Institutions: During the first module, the main themes and tools of comparative politics will be introduced. Particular attention will be paid to the institutional variety that characterises contemporary democratic and non-democratic regimes.
Module 2 - Comparative Political Systems: During the second module the political systems of some European and non-European democratic countries and some non-democratic countries will be examined.
Module 3 - Topics in Comparative Politics: During the third module, in-depth studies will be conducted on some specific and recent comparative politics topics and debates.
Prerequisites for admission
A Political Science course.
Teaching methods
Both standard lectures (Module 1) and student's presentations (Module 2 and 3).
Teaching Resources
The teaching material varies for attending and non-attending students.
Attending students:
a) Vassallo, Salvatore (ed.). Comparative political systems. Il Mulino. 2nd Edition, 2016.
b) Articles and book chapters, which will be made available at the beginning of the course.
c) The course's Ariel website is an indispensable tool for study. Material such as lecture slides and articles and chapters (see point b above) will be made available on it.
Non-attending students:
a) Vassallo, Salvatore (ed.). Sistemi politici comparati. Il Mulino. 2° Edizione, 2016.
b) Carbone, Giovanni. "L'Africa: gli stati, la politica, i conflitti". Il Mulino, 2021 (nuova edizione).
c) Morini, Mara. "La Russia di Putin". Il Mulino, 2020.
Attending students:
a) Vassallo, Salvatore (ed.). Comparative political systems. Il Mulino. 2nd Edition, 2016.
b) Articles and book chapters, which will be made available at the beginning of the course.
c) The course's Ariel website is an indispensable tool for study. Material such as lecture slides and articles and chapters (see point b above) will be made available on it.
Non-attending students:
a) Vassallo, Salvatore (ed.). Sistemi politici comparati. Il Mulino. 2° Edizione, 2016.
b) Carbone, Giovanni. "L'Africa: gli stati, la politica, i conflitti". Il Mulino, 2021 (nuova edizione).
c) Morini, Mara. "La Russia di Putin". Il Mulino, 2020.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination modalities vary for attending and non-attending students.
Attending students: The exam is divided into two parts. The first part consists of an intermediate written test which will be held at the end of Module 1 and will consist of a series of multiple-choice questions on the topics covered in the lectures. The results of this test will account for approximately 67% (or two-thirds) of the final grade. For the second part, each student will prepare an oral presentation (with slides) of approximately 20 minutes on one of the topics covered in either Module 2 or Module 3. The presentations will take place during the lectures and will account for approximately 33% (or one third) of the final grade. Further information on examination modalities for attending students will be provided at the beginning of the course. Depending on the number of attending students, the lecturer may propose alternative modes to the oral presentation for the second part of the exams.
Non-attending students: The exam consists of a single written test to be taken at the end of the course in one of the scheduled exam dates. The test covers all three books of the non-attending programme listed in the Teaching Resources section (Vassallo, Carbone, Morini). The test is divided into three parts, each representing one third of the final grade. The first part is a test with multiple choice questions on the topics of Vassallo's textbook 'Sistemi Politici Comparati'. The second part consists of answering an open-ended question on one of the topics covered in Carbone's monograph 'L'Africa: gli stati, la politica, i conflitti'. The third part consists of answering an open question on one of the topics covered in Morini's monograph 'La Russia di Putin'.
Attending students: The exam is divided into two parts. The first part consists of an intermediate written test which will be held at the end of Module 1 and will consist of a series of multiple-choice questions on the topics covered in the lectures. The results of this test will account for approximately 67% (or two-thirds) of the final grade. For the second part, each student will prepare an oral presentation (with slides) of approximately 20 minutes on one of the topics covered in either Module 2 or Module 3. The presentations will take place during the lectures and will account for approximately 33% (or one third) of the final grade. Further information on examination modalities for attending students will be provided at the beginning of the course. Depending on the number of attending students, the lecturer may propose alternative modes to the oral presentation for the second part of the exams.
Non-attending students: The exam consists of a single written test to be taken at the end of the course in one of the scheduled exam dates. The test covers all three books of the non-attending programme listed in the Teaching Resources section (Vassallo, Carbone, Morini). The test is divided into three parts, each representing one third of the final grade. The first part is a test with multiple choice questions on the topics of Vassallo's textbook 'Sistemi Politici Comparati'. The second part consists of answering an open-ended question on one of the topics covered in Carbone's monograph 'L'Africa: gli stati, la politica, i conflitti'. The third part consists of answering an open question on one of the topics covered in Morini's monograph 'La Russia di Putin'.
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., by appointment via email
Room 2, Department of Social and Political Sciences (1st floor, Building 1)