COMPARATIVE POLICY

Course objectives

The aim of the course is to fournish to the students the main theoretical and empirical tools to compare two or more cases. In particular, the course is organized as to offer to the students the main concepts in the field and to acquire the ability to analyze "cases study", such as institutions, electoral systems, the party systems, and political parties, etc. After completing the course the student understands the logic of the specific operation of the two models of democracy (majoritarian and consensual) and the three main forms of government; knows the main institutional features and policies of the various systems of government in Europe and the USA, with particular reference to political parties and party systems; S/he is able to master the problems related to the comparison of different systems of government. Moreover, the goal is to provide both theoretical and empirical skills useful to write a brief essay, as crucial for students' further activities, both in academia and in their professional career.

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CHIARA FIORELLI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Form of Government; The State; Electoral systmes; Electoral behavior; Political Parties of the main democratic governments. The study of national cases is compared to other cases. The course is based on oral classes, some of them in English, on specific themes. It is also possible to have some guest's lectures, as national experts presenting analyses on arguments presented over the course. The theoretical part is coupled with an empirical section: 1) deep analysis of cases study; 2) writing a brief essay. Attending the course is strongly reccomended as well as taking part in the discussio betwwen the professors and the students, which present their report.
Prerequisites
The program requires the knowledge of the themes and texts studied for the Political Science course, and the ability to read English.
Frequency
students will be condider to be attender if they actively participate at the 75% of the lectures and present a final paper
Exam mode
The assessment is based on the knowledge of the concepts of the Comparative Politics, on the ability of the student to orientate among the various contributions in the literature. The written exam is based on 5 open questions and it tends to ascertain the knowledge and the level of learning that derives from the attendance to the course. Among the training objectives there is also the ability to apply information to concrete cases of politics, public policies or electoral systems and forms of government and parties. A paper during the course, agreed with the teacher, will be the subject of discussion in the classroom and final evaluation for the exam. Ths student can choose among the topics covered in the class. Each paper will be discussed in the class. The paper is an essential element for the evaluation of the student in the final examination.
Lesson mode
The course aims to develop students' analytical skills starting from the key concepts of comparative politics to be applied to concrete cases. The teacher illustrates a concept that is applied to selected case studies or to national and international political events. Student participation is very important for developing arguments and analyzing complex situations. The oral presentation of the program will be supported in some cases by slides.
LORENZO TERMINE Lecturers' profile
  • Lesson code1041700
  • Academic year2024/2025
  • CoursePolitical Science
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year1st year
  • Semester2nd semester
  • SSDSPS/04
  • CFU9
  • Subject areapolitologico