International Relations and Supranational Institutions

MARIA CRISTINA MARCHETTI

The course aims to offer students knowledge of the phenomenon of interest representation and lobbying activity with particular reference to the context of the European Union.
Particular attention will be paid to the relationship between lobbies and the European institutional system and decision-making processes, from a socio-political perspective.

Communication skills and the ability to develop analyzes and judgments on the topics addressed will also be stimulated, encouraging active participation in open debates and moments of discussion with external guests, as well as in the development of written presentations as part of the course.

Through these occasions the course aims to offer the theoretical and empirical tools for the analysis of European decision-making processes and the role played within them by pressure groups, also with a view to acquiring greater awareness of the processes underway in the European context .

The course includes a series of meetings with experts in the lobbying sector.

The student must demonstrate that he/she has acquired the cultural, theoretical and methodological knowledge and skills required by the discipline's training course.
He/She must also demonstrate the expected transversal skills, such as judgment, communication skills, learning ability.

Students are advised to be familiar with the basics of European Union law with special reference to institutions and decision making

Syllabus

The course will focus on the following topics:

1. The theoretical foundations of interest representation
- On the notion of "Interest"
- Political representation and interest representation
- Pluralism
- Neocorporativism
- Technocracy

2. The European decision-making process: actors and institutions
- European institutions
- Political parties and political participation in the European Union
- Pressure groups, lobbies, and civil society
- Lobbying and Advocacy

3. Lobbying and interest representation in the European Union
- The characteristics of European lobbying
- Strategies and techniques of lobbying
- Lobbying and civil society
- The European Transparency Initiative

4. European Advisory Bodies
- European Committee of the Regions
- European Economic and Social Committee

Testi d’esame:

- G.Pirzio Ammassari, M.C.Marchetti, Lobbying e rappresentanza d'interessi nell'Unione Europea, Milano, FrancoAngeli, 2018.
- A Pitroni, Politica e interessi. Il lobbying nelle democrazie contemporanee, Bologna, il Mulino, 2021 (capitoli: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7)

Bibliografia generale di riferimento (per eventuali approfondimenti):

- A. Alemanno, The Good Lobby, Edizioni Tlon, 2021.
- A. Bradford, Effetto Bruxelles. Come l'Unione europea regola il mondo, Milano, Franco Angeli, 2021.
- S. Fabbrini, Sdoppiamento, Bari, Laterza, 2017.
- P. L. Petrillo, Teorie e tecniche del lobbying, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2019.

The course includes lessons, aimed at providing knowledge of the theories of European integration and moments of in-depth study with external guests, through which to exercise the ability to analyze contemporary European political phenomena.

Attendance of at least 2/3 of the course is required to participate in the final test. Working students, by presenting proper documentation, can be exempted from attendance.

The exam includes a final test, reserved for those attending the course, with 20 multiple choice questions and two open questions which will take place at the end of the course. The test grade, if deemed acceptable, may be recorded in any of the exam sessions of the academic year.
If the candidate has not achieved a passing grade or is not satisfied with the grade achieved, he/she will be able to take the oral exam.
There will be classroom presentations, reserved for those attending the course, on lobbying case studies; the presentations will contribute to integrating the final grade.

The oral exam is also scheduled for all non-attending students, according to the official exam calendar, bringing the published Syllabus.

Twenty multiple choice questions (1 point each) and two open questions (up to 5 points each).