This course introduces students to the structure of Italian government and the functioning of Italian politics in practice. It gives a broad overview of the main institutions and players (especially the parties) in the Italian political system, setting these within a comparative context. An emphasis is placed on the electoral arena where major changes have occurred in the transition from the first to the second Italian Republic and in the recent years.
Textbooks for the exam of Sistema politico italiano (9 credits)
- COTTA, M. and VERZICHELLI, L., Il sistema politico italiano, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2016.
- DIAMANTI, I., Mappe dell'Italia politica. Bianco, rosso, verde, azzurro... e tricolore, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2009.
- CHIARAMONTE, A. and DE SIO, L (eds), Il voto del cambiamento. Le elezioni politiche del 2018, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2019.
Textbooks for the exam of Sistema politico italiano (6 credits)
- COTTA, M. and VERZICHELLI, L., Il sistema politico italiano, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2016.
- DIAMANTI, I., Mappe dell'Italia politica. Bianco, rosso, verde, azzurro... e tricolore, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2009.
- ITANES, Vox populi. Il voto ad alta voce del 2018, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2018.
Learning Objectives
his course introduces students to the structure of Italian government and the functioning of Italian politics in practice. It gives a broad overview of the main institutions and players (especially the parties) in the Italian political system, setting these within a comparative context. An emphasis is placed on the electoral arena where major changes have occurred in the transition from the first to the second Italian Republic.
Prerequisites
None
Teaching Methods
Lectures and seminars
Further information
Type of Assessment
The final exam is written and based on 5-6 short answers (within one hour and a half time). Students from non-Italian Universities only may take the oral exam instead of the written exam, if they prefer so. No mid-term exam is provided.
Course program
The goal of this course is to analyze the basic features of Italian politics, starting with the foundation of the national state and going through the fascist experience and the restoration of democracy after world war II up to the current political and institutional setting. Topics covered are: the party system, the parliamentary nature of the government and its evolution, local governments and public administration. A special emphasis is given to the causes and consequences of the transition from the First to the Second Republic, with specific reference to the electoral process, the institutional reforms and the party system change. A section of the course is devoted to the analysis of the 2018 Italian general election.