SCIENZA DELLA POLITICA POLITICAL SCIENCE (cod. 30200 - AY 2011/12) Instructor: Paolo R.

GRAZIANO Tutor: Alessio BERTOLINI Introduction to the course The course provides the main analytical tools needed to understand the nature of politics and political behavior in both national and international contexts. In the first part the course addresses issues such as the evolution of political science, the description of the main features of various political regimes and the role of power relations in contemporary democracies. Furthermore, public institutions, political actors and decision making processes are discussed using political science methodological tools and analytical approaches. In the second part, the main characteristics (public institutions, party systems, interest representation system, territorial organization, etc.) of the Italian political system are analyzed. Detailed Course Content PART I: Introduction to Political Science Textbook: Rod Hague e Martin Harrop (2010), Comparative Government and Politics. An introduction, Houndmills-Basingstoke: Macmillan. Lecture 1: Introduction and organization of the course Lecture 2: Concepts and approaches Hague & Harrop, ch. 1-2 Lecture 3: Research strategies Hague & Harrop, ch. 3 Lecture 4: The State and democracy Hague & Harrop, ch. 4-5 Lecture 5: Democratization and nondemocratic regimes Hague & Harrop, ch. 6 Lecture 6: Political culture and political communication Hague & Harrop, ch. 7-8 Lecture 7: Political participation Hague & Harrop, ch. 9 Lecture 8: Elections and voters Hague & Harrop, ch. 10 Lecture 9: Political parties Hague & Harrop, ch. 11

Lecture 10: Interest groups Hague & Harrop, ch. 12 Lecture 11: Constitutions and law Hague & Harrop, ch. 13 Lecture 12: Legislatures Hague & Harrop, ch. 15 Lecture 13: The political executive Hague & Harrop, ch. 16 Lecture 14: Multilevel governance and the European Union Hague & Harrop, ch. 14

PART II: The Italian Political System in Comparative Perspective Textbook: M. Cotta and L. Verzichelli (2007), Political Institutions in Italy, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Lecture 15: Students presentations Lecture 16: Students presentations Lecture 17: The Italian polity Cotta and Verzichelli, ch. 1 Lecture 18: The (Italian) republic of parties Cotta and Verzichelli, ch. 2 Lecture 19: Electoral systems and elections Cotta and Verzichelli, ch. 3 Lecture 20: The Executive Cotta and Verzichelli, ch. 4 Lecture 21: The Parliament Cotta and Verzichelli, ch. 5
Lecture 22: Local

government and Bureaucracy and regulatory bodies Cotta and Verzichelli, ch. 6 and 7 Lecture 23: Judicial power Cotta and Verzichelli, ch. 8 Lecture 24: Recap and Q&A session

Exams: There are only written exams. You have two options: 1. You may take the two midterms. In this case, the exam will be considered as passed only if in both mid-terms the grade is at least 18/30. 2. You may take a general exam. You have to register at any Punto Blu in order to take the exam. Notice this new rule: If you are not on the list provided to me by the Bocconi Registrar, you will NOT be able to take the exam. No exceptions are possible under any circumstances.

There is also an opportunity for students to prepare and discuss in class presentations covering topics discussed during the course. Office Hours: P.R. GRAZIANO Wednesday, 2:30-4:00 pm (room 3B214) A. BERTOLINI Wednesday, 3:30-5:30 pm (room 3B108)