Image and Reality of Political Institutions
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The course aims to contribute to the learning objectives of the master's degree program in "Cultural, Intellectual and Visual History" by analysis of the development of the governing institutions in Europe and their representations, from the origins of national monarchies to the twentieth century. Students will be provided with the lexical and conceptual tools for their adequate understanding.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students:
- will have acquired a good knowledge of the reality and representations of governing institutions in Europe over the period considered;
- will be able to place events, protagonists and places in their respective chronological and geographical contexts;
- will be able to use the appropriate linguistic tools, useful for expressing in a clear and effective way the specific concepts and main topics of the subject.
These skills will be acquired through a direct and continuous dialogue with the professor in the classroom. Discussion of the sources presented will be an essential moment for critical reflection and methodological learning. Non-attending students may make use of the teaching materials made available to them by the professor and further explore the main topics through specific readings agreed upon with the professor.
- will have acquired a good knowledge of the reality and representations of governing institutions in Europe over the period considered;
- will be able to place events, protagonists and places in their respective chronological and geographical contexts;
- will be able to use the appropriate linguistic tools, useful for expressing in a clear and effective way the specific concepts and main topics of the subject.
These skills will be acquired through a direct and continuous dialogue with the professor in the classroom. Discussion of the sources presented will be an essential moment for critical reflection and methodological learning. Non-attending students may make use of the teaching materials made available to them by the professor and further explore the main topics through specific readings agreed upon with the professor.
Lesson period: First semester
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
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Unit 1:
· Political Institutions in the Early Modern Period: Absolutist States and Centralized Monarchies between Royal Authority and the Development of State Bureaucracies
Unit 2:
· Political Institutions in the Contemporary Period: The Twentieth Century and To-talitarian Regimes
Unit 3:
· Political Institutions in the Contemporary Period: The Twentieth Century, Consti-tutional States, and Representative Democracies
· Presentation and discussion of in-depth papers written by students
· Political Institutions in the Early Modern Period: Absolutist States and Centralized Monarchies between Royal Authority and the Development of State Bureaucracies
Unit 2:
· Political Institutions in the Contemporary Period: The Twentieth Century and To-talitarian Regimes
Unit 3:
· Political Institutions in the Contemporary Period: The Twentieth Century, Consti-tutional States, and Representative Democracies
· Presentation and discussion of in-depth papers written by students
Prerequisites for admission
No prior knowledge is required other than that for admission to the Master's Degree Pro-gramme in Cultural, Intellectual and Visual History.
Teaching methods
Students must attend classes. In addition to lectures, students will be assigned individual or group projects designed to deepen the course topics. These projects will culminate in in-class presentations and discussions, supported by visual or multimedia materials.
Students who do not attend classes may make use of the teaching materials available on the Ariel platform and further explore the main course topics through additional readings to be agreed upon with the instructor.
Students who do not attend classes may make use of the teaching materials available on the Ariel platform and further explore the main course topics through additional readings to be agreed upon with the instructor.
Teaching Resources
· Attending students:
- Lecture Notes
- Two of the following articles:
1. R. G. Musto, The Visualization of Power in the Reign of Giovanna I of Naples, in "Visu-al History. Rivista internazionale di storia e critica dell'immagine", vol. II, 2016, pp. 105-124
2. D. Judge e C. Leston-Bandeira, The Institutional Representation of Parliament, in "Po-litical Studies", 2017, pp. 154-172
3. D. Bernardini, National Bolshevik Iconography in the Weimar Republic: Symbols, Col-ours and Caricatures, in "Visual History. Rivista internazionale di storia e critica dell'immagine", vol. IX, 2023, pp. 133-155
- One of the following books:
1. P. Burke, The Fabrication of Louis XIV, New Haven-London, Yale University Press, 1992
2. The Body of the Queen: Gender and Rule in the Courtly World, 1500-2000, edited by R. Schulte, New York-Oxford, Berghahn Books, 2006, part I and III
3. H. Miller, Politics personified: portraiture, caricature and visual culture in Britain, c. 1830-80, Manchester, Manchester University Press, 2015, chs. 2, 5, 6, 7
4. The Houses of Parliament: History, Art, Architecture, edited by D. Cannadine, C. Rid-ing, J. Riding, 2000
· Non-attending students
- Two of the following articles:
1. R. G. Musto, The Visualization of Power in the Reign of Giovanna I of Naples, in "Visu-al History. Rivista internazionale di storia e critica dell'immagine", vol. II, 2016, pp. 105-124
2. D. Judge e C. Leston-Bandeira, The Institutional Representation of Parliament, in "Po-litical Studies", 2017, pp. 154-172
3. D. Bernardini, National Bolshevik Iconography in the Weimar Republic: Symbols, Col-ours and Caricatures, in "Visual History. Rivista internazionale di storia e critica dell'immagine", vol. IX, 2023, pp. 133-155
- One of the following books:
1. P. Burke, The Fabrication of Louis XIV, New Haven-London, Yale University Press, 1992
2. The Body of the Queen: Gender and Rule in the Courtly World, 1500-2000, edited by R. Schulte, New York-Oxford, Berghahn Books, 2006, part I and III
3. H. Miller, Politics personified: portraiture, caricature and visual culture in Britain, c. 1830-80, Manchester, Manchester University Press, 2015, chs. 2, 5, 6, 7
4. The Houses of Parliament: History, Art, Architecture, edited by D. Cannadine, C. Rid-ing, J. Riding, 2000
Additional material will be assigned during the course.
Students wishing to take the exam for 6 ECTS credits are requested to contact the instruc-tor to agree on the examination syllabus and the required readings.
- Lecture Notes
- Two of the following articles:
1. R. G. Musto, The Visualization of Power in the Reign of Giovanna I of Naples, in "Visu-al History. Rivista internazionale di storia e critica dell'immagine", vol. II, 2016, pp. 105-124
2. D. Judge e C. Leston-Bandeira, The Institutional Representation of Parliament, in "Po-litical Studies", 2017, pp. 154-172
3. D. Bernardini, National Bolshevik Iconography in the Weimar Republic: Symbols, Col-ours and Caricatures, in "Visual History. Rivista internazionale di storia e critica dell'immagine", vol. IX, 2023, pp. 133-155
- One of the following books:
1. P. Burke, The Fabrication of Louis XIV, New Haven-London, Yale University Press, 1992
2. The Body of the Queen: Gender and Rule in the Courtly World, 1500-2000, edited by R. Schulte, New York-Oxford, Berghahn Books, 2006, part I and III
3. H. Miller, Politics personified: portraiture, caricature and visual culture in Britain, c. 1830-80, Manchester, Manchester University Press, 2015, chs. 2, 5, 6, 7
4. The Houses of Parliament: History, Art, Architecture, edited by D. Cannadine, C. Rid-ing, J. Riding, 2000
· Non-attending students
- Two of the following articles:
1. R. G. Musto, The Visualization of Power in the Reign of Giovanna I of Naples, in "Visu-al History. Rivista internazionale di storia e critica dell'immagine", vol. II, 2016, pp. 105-124
2. D. Judge e C. Leston-Bandeira, The Institutional Representation of Parliament, in "Po-litical Studies", 2017, pp. 154-172
3. D. Bernardini, National Bolshevik Iconography in the Weimar Republic: Symbols, Col-ours and Caricatures, in "Visual History. Rivista internazionale di storia e critica dell'immagine", vol. IX, 2023, pp. 133-155
- One of the following books:
1. P. Burke, The Fabrication of Louis XIV, New Haven-London, Yale University Press, 1992
2. The Body of the Queen: Gender and Rule in the Courtly World, 1500-2000, edited by R. Schulte, New York-Oxford, Berghahn Books, 2006, part I and III
3. H. Miller, Politics personified: portraiture, caricature and visual culture in Britain, c. 1830-80, Manchester, Manchester University Press, 2015, chs. 2, 5, 6, 7
4. The Houses of Parliament: History, Art, Architecture, edited by D. Cannadine, C. Rid-ing, J. Riding, 2000
Additional material will be assigned during the course.
Students wishing to take the exam for 6 ECTS credits are requested to contact the instruc-tor to agree on the examination syllabus and the required readings.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Assessment will be based on a midterm written exam, a final oral exam, and students' participation in class discussions and classroom activities. The assessments are designed to evaluate students' knowledge and understanding of the course content, as well as their ability to reflect critically on the work carried out. The oral exam will also assess the qual-ity of students' presentation, their command of the discipline-specific terminology, and the clarity and effectiveness of their communication skills. The final grade will be ex-pressed on a 30-point scale.
Modules or teaching units
Part A and B
GSPS-03/B - History of Political Institutions - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Part C
GSPS-03/B - History of Political Institutions - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours