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.
- ITANES, Svolta a destra? Cosa ci dice il voto del 2022, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2023, first and third parts.
[From June 2024 the latter text is replaced by the following: CHIARAMONTE, A. e DE SIO, L (a cura di), Un polo solo. Le elezioni politiche del 2022, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2024, tutto].
Textbooks for the exam of Sistema politico italiano (6 credits, only for students enrolled under old rules)
- 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, capp. 1-4.
- ITANES, Svolta a destra? Cosa ci dice il voto del 2022, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2023, first part.
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
Type of Assessment
The final exam is oral and based on 4-5 short answers (within 20-30 minutes).
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 2022 Italian general election.