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Course 2022-2023 a.y.

20638 - FUNDAMENTALS OF POLITICS - PREPARATORY COURSE

PPA
Department of Social and Political Sciences

Course taught in English

PPA (I sem. - P)
Course Director:
KERIM CAN KAVAKLI

Instructors:
Class 1: KERIM CAN KAVAKLI


Lezioni della classe erogate in presenza

Mission & Content Summary
MISSION

This course aims at preparing the students for the PPA program by introducing often-used theoretical and methodological approaches in the field of political science. The lectures cover both seminal contributions and recent developments in the field.

CONTENT SUMMARY

The course is organized in three parts.

 

  • Part 1 introduces political science as an academic discipline and also introduces Bocconi faculty who are political scientists or work on related subjects. Then we cover a number of covers fundamental subjects (rationality assumption, the spatial model of preferences, the state and its origins)
  • Part 2 covers topics related to "Comparative Politics", which focuses on political relations within a state. Lectures will be on the differences between democracy and dictatorship, different types of democracies (two visions of democracy), different electoral systems, different party systems, and veto players.
  • Part 3 covers topics related to "International Relations", which focuses on political relations between states and non-state actors. The specific topics we will look at include the main schools of IR thought (e.g. Realism), rationalist explanations for conflict, diplomacy as a two-level game, and international organizations.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Define fundamental concepts in political science such as "veto players" or a "parliamentary system".
  • Recognize different approaches to political phenomena such as conflict between states.
  • Summarize explanations for important phenomena such as interstate war. 
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Demonstrate familiarity with fundamental concepts in political science.
  • Compare the usefulness of different theoretical explanations for important phenomena.
  • Prepare for coursework in courses on political science, public policy, and economics. 

Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face lectures
  • Online lectures
DETAILS

Online lectures are recordings of the face-to-face lectures.


Assessment methods
  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Active class participation (virtual, attendance)
  • x    
    ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

    This course is not mandatory and does not assess students' learning.


    Teaching materials
    ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

    The professor will provide all teaching materials (lecture slides and reading material) via Blackboard.

    Last change 09/06/2022 00:34