Political Science
A.Y. 2026/2027
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 can be attended as a single course.
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 (ONLY FOR NON ATTENDING STUDENTS); 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 ((ONLY FOR NON ATTENDING STUDENTS).
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 (ONLY FOR NON ATTENDING STUDENTS); 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 ((ONLY FOR NON ATTENDING STUDENTS).
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.
- 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.
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, 7, 8, 9, 10, forms of government lecture notes (in substitution of chapter 11), 12.
Lecture notes on methodology and the forms of government are available on MyAriel platform.
NON ATTENDING STUDENTS MUST PREPARE ALSO CHPATER 6 (interest groups) AND 13 (European Union).
For the third module:
- B.BALDI, G.CAPANO, M.CASULA, S.PROFETI, Amministrazioni pubbliche in Italia, Il Mulino, Bologna 2026: chapters 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10. NON ATTENDING STUDENTS MUST PREPARE ALSO CHAPTERS 1 AND 9.
- 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, 7, 8, 9, 10, forms of government lecture notes (in substitution of chapter 11), 12.
Lecture notes on methodology and the forms of government are available on MyAriel platform.
NON ATTENDING STUDENTS MUST PREPARE ALSO CHPATER 6 (interest groups) AND 13 (European Union).
For the third module:
- B.BALDI, G.CAPANO, M.CASULA, S.PROFETI, Amministrazioni pubbliche in Italia, Il Mulino, Bologna 2026: chapters 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10. NON ATTENDING STUDENTS MUST PREPARE ALSO CHAPTERS 1 AND 9.
- 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 examination will be held in written form. The assessment consists of:
Multiple-choice questions, designed to assess the achievement of the minimum learning outcomes in terms of knowledge and understanding;
Short exercises and semi-open and open-ended questions, designed to assess the application of knowledge and understanding, as well as students' ability to exercise independent judgement.
The open-ended questions will also assess students' ability to communicate the knowledge acquired in a clear and accurate manner, using the appropriate terminology introduced during the course.
Non-attending students will sit two examinations during the same exam session: one covering the syllabus of the first two modules (Prof. Pellegata) and one covering the syllabus of the third module (Prof. Pasini).
Attending students will take a mid-term examination covering the syllabus of the first two modules (Prof. Pellegata), which will be held after the completion of the first two modules of the course. Students who pass the mid-term examination will be admitted to the second examination, covering the syllabus of the third module (Prof. Pasini), which will take place at the end of the course. Students who fail either the mid-term or the final examination will be required to take the full examination on the entire syllabus, as prescribed for non-attending students.
To be considered attending students and eligible to sit the mid-term examination, students must complete at least 70% of the course activities, including in-person classes and synchronous and asynchronous online sessions. Attendance and participation will be monitored through the LezioniUnimi app.
The final grade will be expressed on a 30-point scale (30/30) and will be calculated as the weighted average of the two examination grades. The grade for the first two modules will account for two-thirds of the final mark, while the grade for the third module will account for one-third.
Multiple-choice questions, designed to assess the achievement of the minimum learning outcomes in terms of knowledge and understanding;
Short exercises and semi-open and open-ended questions, designed to assess the application of knowledge and understanding, as well as students' ability to exercise independent judgement.
The open-ended questions will also assess students' ability to communicate the knowledge acquired in a clear and accurate manner, using the appropriate terminology introduced during the course.
Non-attending students will sit two examinations during the same exam session: one covering the syllabus of the first two modules (Prof. Pellegata) and one covering the syllabus of the third module (Prof. Pasini).
Attending students will take a mid-term examination covering the syllabus of the first two modules (Prof. Pellegata), which will be held after the completion of the first two modules of the course. Students who pass the mid-term examination will be admitted to the second examination, covering the syllabus of the third module (Prof. Pasini), which will take place at the end of the course. Students who fail either the mid-term or the final examination will be required to take the full examination on the entire syllabus, as prescribed for non-attending students.
To be considered attending students and eligible to sit the mid-term examination, students must complete at least 70% of the course activities, including in-person classes and synchronous and asynchronous online sessions. Attendance and participation will be monitored through the LezioniUnimi app.
The final grade will be expressed on a 30-point scale (30/30) and will be calculated as the weighted average of the two examination grades. The grade for the first two modules will account for two-thirds of the final mark, while the grade for the third module will account for one-third.
GSPS-02/A - Political Science - University credits: 9
Asynchronous teaching: 10 hours
Synchronous online teaching: 20 hours
Lessons: 30 hours
Synchronous online teaching: 20 hours
Lessons: 30 hours
Professors:
Pasini Nicola, Pellegata Alessandro
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday 3.00-6.00 pm: send to me e-mail
Room 313, III° floor: before send to me e-mail