The aim of this course is to examine the transformations of political parties, framing them in the broader picture of the transformations of (representative) democracy, with specific attention to the personalisation of politics (and the personalisation of parties). In the first part of the course, the political party is “placed” among the key concepts of political science, illustrating its functions in the political system. The course focuses, specifically, on the (alleged) crisis of parties and on the (intertwined) dynamics that, in the post-modern age, challenge the role parties played in the past: the revival of a bottom-up conception of democracy, the rise of anti-party parties, the personalisation of politics. The second part of the course addresses the theme of the personalisation of politics, isolating its factors and forms, assuming the Italian case as a specific (and privileged) point of observation.

First part – Political parties

• The political system and parties
• Parties, groups and movements
• The party: functions and strategies
• Party models
• Parties and society: the party on the ground
• Parties and democratic representation
• A crisis of parties?
• Anti-party parties
• The personalisation of parties

Second part – The personalisation of politics

• The personalisation and presidentialisation of politics: definitions
• The personalisation of society and the personalisation of politics
• Personalisation and disintermediation
• Personalisation ad media logic(s)
• Personalisation and populism/anti-politics
• The geo-political coordinates
• The study of personalisation: methodological issues
• The personalisation of Italian politics: from party democracy to audience democracy
• The Italian Second Republic: a personal cleavage?
• The left and the ghost of the leader
• The post-modern prince
• The leader democracy
• The party “of persons” and the party “of one person”

• Knowledge and understanding: at the end of the course students must have acquired the knowledge of the main theoretical models and empirical evidence about the evolution of parties and the personalisation of politics. Educational methods used to reach these goals: frontal lectures, audio-visual materials, seminars with scholars and experts, class discussion.
• Applying knowledge and understanding: the students must be able to identify and apply appropriately, to real research and analysis situations, the concepts, models and theories presented throughout the course. In particular, they must be able to apply the acquired knowledge to the analysis of the evolution of parties and political leadership in Italy. Educational methods used to reach these goals: frontal lectures, audio-visual materials, seminars with scholars and experts, class discussion; group exercises.
• Making judgements: the students will strengthen their ability to connect the concepts, theories and models presented throughout the course, their ability to deal with complex problems independently, to make judgements and critical reflections about the transformation of parties and the personalisation of politics. Educational methods used to reach these goals: frontal lectures, audio-visual materials, seminars with scholars and experts, class discussion.
• Communication skills: the students must be able to clearly and incisively communicate, appropriately using the lexicon, the concepts and the theories about political parties and the personalisation of politics. Educational methods used to reach these goals: the students will be asked to interact with the lecturer and with their colleagues, asking questions and actively participating to class discussion.
• Learning skills: the students are supposed to develop adequate learning skills, so as to be able to extend and independently deepen the knowledge acquired throughout the course, following new paths of theoretical reflection or research. Educational methods used to reach these goals: frontal lectures, audio-visual materials, seminars with scholars and experts, class discussion.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

First (theoretical) part: frontal lectures, with slides show presentations and audio-visual materials; class discussion. Second (monographic) part: frontal lectures, with slides show presentations and audio-visual materials; presentation and discussion of research results; group exercises. Seminars with scholars and experts, on the themes included in the program, will be organised during the course period.

Course books

• Della Porta D., I partiti politici, il Mulino, Bologna, 2015.
• Bordignon F., Il partito del capo. Da Berlusconi a Renzi, Maggioli/Apogeo, Rimini 2014.

The chapters attending students need to study will be specified during the course. Additional teaching material (research reports or articles taken from national and international scientific journal) could be made available by the lecturer during the course via the Moodle platform > blended.uniurb.it. 

Reference book:

• Cotta M., Della Porta D., Morlino L., Fondamenti di scienza politica, il Mulino, Bologna, 2004.

Assessment

Students can choose between two different paths: 
1) the first path entails (a) an essay written during the course, (b) a written exam at the end of the course, (c) a brief oral exam. The theme of the essay (max 10 pages) will be agreed with the lecturer. The written exam entails two open questions the student is called to answer in two pages, in  60 minutes time. The final score is given by the sum of the scores of the essay (10 points) and the written exam (20 points), adjusted on the basis of the result of the oral exam, which can add a maximum of ±3 points. The student must obtain a score of at least 15/30 to be admitted to the oral exam;
2) the second path, recommended for non-attending students or students who attend intermittently, is an oral exam following the standard exams calendar.

For both the written exam and the oral exam, the evaluation is based on:
- relevance of answers in relation to the contents of the course;
- articulation of answers;
- relevance of the language used.
 

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Course books

• Della Porta D., I partiti politici, il Mulino, Bologna, 2015.
• Bordignon F., Il partito del capo. Da Berlusconi a Renzi, Maggioli/Apogeo, Rimini 2014.

Non-attending students are not supposed to study the additional teaching materials made available by the lecturer via the Moodle platform > blended.uniurb.it.

Reference book:

• Cotta M., Della Porta D., Morlino L., Fondamenti di scienza politica, il Mulino, Bologna, 2004.

Assessment

Oral exam following the standard exams calendar

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

The student can request to sit the final exam in English with an alternative bibliography