Comparative Politics
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The aim of this course is to present some of the major topics of the current debate in the field of comparative politics, illustrate the way in which different quantitative and qualitative models help understanding the effects of different institutional setups, and thus provide an in-depth understanding of how the main political processes operate within democratic countries. The course fits into the overall organization of the Master programme by familarizing its students with the empirical test of theoretical oriented hypotheses, and with the relationships between political and economic arenas.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: The course aims at improving the knowledge and understanding of the main institutional mechanisms and dynamics of modern democracies, and how they relate to a range of diverse political and economic effects. The course will focus mainly on electoral systems, party systems and issues of political economy.
Applying knowledge and understanding: Through the critical review of recent research articles published in the best international journals, students are expected to learn how to apply their knowledge to specific research questions, and how to cope with the methodological problems of empirical research. Political issues that could emerge during the course, or the own experiences of students coming from different countries, will be used in order to verify and apply the understanding of modern democracies.
Making judgements: By reviewing the original datasets associated to some of the readings in the syllabus, and by replicating and updating some of the models, students will learn how to confirm or to falsify hypotheses, how to avoid fallacies and the major problems in understanding causal relationships. This will help them in making judgements that are consistent with the empirical evidence.
Communication skills: During the course, students will have to present and/or discuss the research articles included in the syllabus, and/or present their own replication results, thus further developing their communication skills through oral presentations, and the preparation of slideshows.
Learning skills: At the end of the course, students should be more autonomous in the evaluation of scientific evidence in the field of political and economic phenomena,and should be capable of performing a quantitative test of their own research hypotheses. They should have thus developed or improved their analytical skills and capabilities, so that they could be apply them in a range of situations and environments.
Applying knowledge and understanding: Through the critical review of recent research articles published in the best international journals, students are expected to learn how to apply their knowledge to specific research questions, and how to cope with the methodological problems of empirical research. Political issues that could emerge during the course, or the own experiences of students coming from different countries, will be used in order to verify and apply the understanding of modern democracies.
Making judgements: By reviewing the original datasets associated to some of the readings in the syllabus, and by replicating and updating some of the models, students will learn how to confirm or to falsify hypotheses, how to avoid fallacies and the major problems in understanding causal relationships. This will help them in making judgements that are consistent with the empirical evidence.
Communication skills: During the course, students will have to present and/or discuss the research articles included in the syllabus, and/or present their own replication results, thus further developing their communication skills through oral presentations, and the preparation of slideshows.
Learning skills: At the end of the course, students should be more autonomous in the evaluation of scientific evidence in the field of political and economic phenomena,and should be capable of performing a quantitative test of their own research hypotheses. They should have thus developed or improved their analytical skills and capabilities, so that they could be apply them in a range of situations and environments.
Lesson period: Third 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
Third trimester
Course syllabus
There are two different attendance requirements, connected with two types of exams: Type A exam requires the standard 50% rate of attendance, while the more demaning Type B exam requires a 80% rate of attendance.
During the course, students will be exposed to some of the most relevant debates within the field of political science on the actual functioning of modern democratic systems. We will tackle topics such as electoral participation and political representation, the ideological congruence between government and citizens, the degree of political responsiveness, the characteristics and consequences of electoral and party systems, the performance of different institutional setups, and the relationship between economic and political phenomena.
These topics can be found both in the handbooks in support to type A exams, and in the reading list connected to type B exams (see the details in the next sections).
During the course, students will be exposed to some of the most relevant debates within the field of political science on the actual functioning of modern democratic systems. We will tackle topics such as electoral participation and political representation, the ideological congruence between government and citizens, the degree of political responsiveness, the characteristics and consequences of electoral and party systems, the performance of different institutional setups, and the relationship between economic and political phenomena.
These topics can be found both in the handbooks in support to type A exams, and in the reading list connected to type B exams (see the details in the next sections).
Prerequisites for admission
In order to fruitfully attend the course, it is important to have a basic understanding and familiarity with the use of quantitative methods in the social sciences, including the use of statistical packages like Stata. For this reason, in absence of previous competences, taking the class in Research Methods and the optional course in Advanced Computer Skills is highly recommended.
A previous knowledge of political science and comparative politics is also recommended. In case you haven't any Bachelor's experience with these topics, do follow the online crash course "Introduction to Political Science" offered by EPS, which is based on the following handbook: Clark W.R., Golder M. and Golder S.N., Principles of Comparative politics, Washington DC, CQ Press 2012.
A previous knowledge of political science and comparative politics is also recommended. In case you haven't any Bachelor's experience with these topics, do follow the online crash course "Introduction to Political Science" offered by EPS, which is based on the following handbook: Clark W.R., Golder M. and Golder S.N., Principles of Comparative politics, Washington DC, CQ Press 2012.
Teaching methods
The course is a varying mix of frontal lectures and group works, both requiring the understanding of quantitative methods applied to political phenomena, and the use of the statistical package Stata. Classes will be based on a reading list and may also employ the original research material used by the articles included in the syllabus.
Teaching Resources
The standard type A exam (minimum attendance rate 50%) is based on the following volumes:
Herron E. S., Pekkanen R. J. and Shugart M.S. (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Electoral Systems, Oxford University Press 2018: from chapter 1 to chapter 26.
Powell, G.B. (2019). Ideological Representation: Achieved and Astray. Elections, Institutions, and the Breakdown of Ideological Congruence in Parliamentary Democracies, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Type B exam (minimum attendance rate 80%) is based on a reading list that will be provided at the beginning of the course. Each reading is compulsory and has to be completed before the lecture. The syllabus of the course including the updated reading list will be posted on the course's Ariel web page (check the syllabus of the previous academic year in order to have an idea). During the course, I will also upload on Ariel the slides used in each class and other relevant material or reading suggestions.
Herron E. S., Pekkanen R. J. and Shugart M.S. (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Electoral Systems, Oxford University Press 2018: from chapter 1 to chapter 26.
Powell, G.B. (2019). Ideological Representation: Achieved and Astray. Elections, Institutions, and the Breakdown of Ideological Congruence in Parliamentary Democracies, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Type B exam (minimum attendance rate 80%) is based on a reading list that will be provided at the beginning of the course. Each reading is compulsory and has to be completed before the lecture. The syllabus of the course including the updated reading list will be posted on the course's Ariel web page (check the syllabus of the previous academic year in order to have an idea). During the course, I will also upload on Ariel the slides used in each class and other relevant material or reading suggestions.
Assessment methods and Criteria
For this course, there are two different types of exams: the standard type A exam, and the more demanding type B exam.
For the standard type A exam, as for all other EPS courses, there is a minimum class attendance rate of 50%.
Knowledge and understanding is assessed in written form, using multiple choice and open questions on the content of the two books included in the program.
For the type B exam, there is a 80% attendance rate requirement. Students that decide to follow this path are assessed according to the following criteria:
Three intermediate exams: 70%
Group research project: 30%
Participation in class can also be taken into consideration
Written exams are mainly aimed at verifying the students' knowledge and understanding, and will take different forms, including open and multiple choice questions, as well as short exercises. Presentations, group works and class discussions are used to verify the students' capacity to apply that knowledge.
For the standard type A exam, as for all other EPS courses, there is a minimum class attendance rate of 50%.
Knowledge and understanding is assessed in written form, using multiple choice and open questions on the content of the two books included in the program.
For the type B exam, there is a 80% attendance rate requirement. Students that decide to follow this path are assessed according to the following criteria:
Three intermediate exams: 70%
Group research project: 30%
Participation in class can also be taken into consideration
Written exams are mainly aimed at verifying the students' knowledge and understanding, and will take different forms, including open and multiple choice questions, as well as short exercises. Presentations, group works and class discussions are used to verify the students' capacity to apply that knowledge.
SPS/04 - POLITICAL SCIENCE - University credits: 9
Lessons: 59.4 hours
Professor:
Giuliani Marco
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Giuliani MarcoProfessor(s)