Introduction to Political Science

Recommended Prerequisites

NA

Teaching Methods

To achieve the learning outcomes, this curricular combines the expository method with more practical teaching methods, including the critical analysis and debate of recommended readings. The goal is to foster an active engagement of students in the classroom, thus providing a valuable basis to sustain their academic path. To the same purpose, students will develop relevant skills to conduct case-studies analysis and to elaborate academic essays.

Learning Outcomes

The curricular unit aims to give the students an introduction to the study of politics.

 

At the end of the semester students should be able to:

1. Know the key concepts and theoretical approaches of the subject

2. Identify different types of regimes and political systems

3. Understand how different kinds of democratic institutions work in practice

4. Apply the theoretical approaches to the analysis of case studies

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Concepts and the study of politics

2. State, Nation and Society

3. Democratic regimes vs Autocratic regimes

4. Constitutions and political executives

5. Elections and electoral Systems

6. Political parties

7. Interest groups

8. Political communication and the media

9. The political process and system performance.

Head Lecturer(s)

Francesco Navarrini

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Frequency: 50.0%
Research work: 50.0%

Bibliography

Essencial | Essential

Heywood, A. (2019). Politics (5th ed.). Red Globe Press.

O’Neil, P. H. (2015). Essentials of Comparative Politics (5th ed.). Norton.

 

Recomendada | Recommended

Dahl, R. A. (1999). The Past and the Future of Democracy. CIRCaP, 5/1999. http://www.circap.org/uploads/1/8/1/6/18163511/occ_5.pdf

Easton, D. (1957). An Approach to the Analysis of Political Systems. World Politics, 9(3), 383-400. http://online.sfsu.edu/sguo/Renmin/June2_system/Political%20System_Easton.pdf

Fernandes, A. J. (2015). Introdução à Ciência Política: Teorias, Métodos e Temáticas. Porto Editora.

O’Neil, P H., Fields, K., & Share, S. (2018). Cases and Concepts in Comparative Politics: An Integrated Approach. Norton.