20672 - COMPARATIVE POLITICS: INSTITUTIONS AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Course taught in English
Go to class group/s: 31
GIOVANNA INVERNIZZI
Lezioni della classe erogate in presenza
This course presents a broad and in-depth overview of the state of the art in comparative politics, i.e., the scientific study of the functioning of political institutions. Special attention is given to institutions and their relationship to development outcomes, paths to democratization and instability of regimes. The course is organized around four blocks: (1) elections and electoral systems; (2) types of executives and delegation of policymaking; (3) accountability and corruption; (4) political regimes and regime change. Emphasis is given to recent and provocative contributions; some more dated classics are included when needed.
This course presents a broad and in-depth overview of the state of the art in comparative politics, i.e., the scientific study of the functioning of political institutions. Special attention is given to democratization and institutional change, the functioning of democratic regimes in developed and developing countries, and institutional reform. The course is organized around four blocks: political regimes and regime change; electoral systems; accountability and corruption; types of executives and delegation of policymaking to bureaucrats and sub-national governments. Emphasis is given to recent and provocative contributions; some more dated classics are included when needed.
1) Elections and Electoral Systems
- The spatial model of politics.
- Proportional vs majoritarian electoral institutions: functioning and adoption.
- Strategic voting.
- Political agency models of elections.
(2) Political Parties
Why parties?
- The role of intra-party factions and party organization.
- Electoral institutions and party system change.
(3) Types of executives and delegation of policymaking
- A model of pandering. Presidential vs parliamentary systems.
- Federalism and decentralization.
(4) Accountability, corruption and governance
- Electoral control.
- Lobbies and mafias.
- Political vs. bureaucratic corruption.
- Clientelism and vote buying.
- Consequences of corruption and anti-corruption policies.
(5) Political Regimes and Regime Change
- State building and state capacity.
- Transitions to democracy.
- Authoritarian regimes and limited authoritarian government.
- Democratic consolidation.
- Regime types and economic growth.
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- Face-to-face lectures
Each lecture revolves around one or two papers, which are going to be dissected in detail, in order to understand the mechanics and the logic of the model (for theoretical contributions) and the data and empirical strategy (for empirical contributions). Active participation, based on having read the paper(s) in advance of the relevant lecture, is expected.
Continuous assessment | Partial exams | General exam | |
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Students can decide whether to sit two partials or only one general exam.
PARTIALS
There are two requirements.
In the exam, students need to demonstrate their knowledge of the theoretical models and empirical contributions covered in class, and their ability to evaluate hypothetical specific cases in light of the material presented in the course. |
GENERAL
There is one requirement: a final exam, covering the entire course material. The final exam is worth 100% of the grade. |
In the exam, students need to demonstrate their knowledge of the theoretical models and empirical contributions covered in class, and their ability to evaluate hypothetical specific cases in light of the material presented in the course
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