Italian Political System
(2015-16 Fall)
Prof. Carlo Guarnieri
Mo 11am-1pm (room 7),Tue 9-11am (room 7), Wed 9am-11am (room 7)
Office hours: Tue 11am-1pm , Department of Political and Social Sciences (DSPS),
via dei Bersaglieri 6, 2nd floor
website: www.unibo.it/docenti/carlo.guarniericalbo
The course aims at introducing the student to the knowledge of the main functional and structural traits
of the Italian political system. In order to understand the complexity of the elements involved the
process of national unification, the liberal pre-fascist and the fascist political regimes, as well as the
evolution of the democratic regime after 1946 will be considered. Specific attention will be devoted to
more recent developments in the field of political participation, party system and political institutions
(especially Parliament and Government).
Program and strongly recommended readings:
First part: Italian political development
1.
The process of national unification: conditions and consequences. (week of September 21st)
Cotta e Verzichelli 2007 (C&V), pp.1-13; Clark 2008, chap. 2.
2.
The main traits of the liberal regime. Political participation and the emergence of mass parties.
The crisis and breakdown of the liberal regime. (Sept. 28th)
C&V, pp. 14-19; Clark 2008, chap. 3,4,5 and 7.
3.
The traits of Fascist authoritarianism. The breakdown of Fascism and the transition to
democracy. (Oct. 5th)
C&V, pp. 19-21; Clark 2008, chap. 9,10,11,12 and 15.
4.
The democratic regime and its evolution. Elections, parties and governments in the “First
Republic” (1948-92). (oct. 12th)
C&V, pp. 21-23; Clark 2008, chap. 16.
5.
The crisis of the 1990s and the transformation of the political system. (Oct. 19th)
C&V, pp. 24-27; Clark 2008, chap. 20.
6.
Discussion, review and first optional written exam. (Oct. 26th)
Second part: Contemporary Italian politics.
7.
The “Second Republic” and its crisis. (Nov. 2nd)
C&V, pp. 27-34; Morlino 2013.
8.
The party system: actors, dynamics and change. (Nov. 9th)
C&V, chap. 2.
9.
Elections, political cultures and electoral behaviour from the “First” to the “Second” Republic.
(Nov. 16th)
C&V, chap. 3; Chiaramonte 2015.
10. The political institutions: the constitutional design and its development. Government and
parliament in the “Second Republic”. (Nov. 23rd)
C&V, chap. 4 and 5.
11. The evolution of the Italian political system: interpretations and perspectives. (Nov. 30th)
C&V, chap. 9; Morlino 2013.
12. Discussion, review and second optional written exam. (Dec. 14th)
Bibliography:

Chiaramonte, A. (2015), The unfinished story of electoral reforms in Italy, in “Contemporary Italian
Politics”, VII, pp. 10-26.

Clark, M. (2008), Modern Italy: 1871 to present, London, Longman.

Cotta, M. and L. Verzichelli (2007), Political Institutions in Italy, Oxford, Oxford UP.

Morlino, L. (2013), The impossible transition and the unstable new mix: Italy 1992-2012, in
“Contemporary European Politics”, XI, pp. 337-359.
The C&V textbook provides students with the knowledge of the basic traits of the Italian political
system. Students able to read some Italian can supplement the textbook by asking the teacher about
readings in Italian. In any case, questions and comments from students are welcome.
Optional written exams will be held during the course: one in the middle (October 28th) and one at the
end (December 15th). They will consist of open questions on the parts of the program already discussed
in class. The evaluation criteria will be those indicated below. Students attending both exams will get a
mark that, if they will, could substitute the final vote. Round-up will be made according to the vote of
the second exam.
The – traditional - oral final exams (appelli) will consist of a short written test and of a discussion of the
texts of the program. Oral final exams are held after the course: dates will be communicated as soon as
possible.
Evaluation criteria: a thorough knowledge of the texts, together with accomplished analytical skills, a
vibrant capacity for criticism and a complete command of the discipline’s language will lead to
excellence marks (29-30L). A good knowledge of the texts, together with analytical skills, capacity for
criticism and a good command of the discipline’s language will lead to good marks (27-28). A mnemonic
knowledge of the texts, less developed analytical skills and a language clear but not always correct will
lead to intermediate marks (23-26). A partial knowledge of the texts, together with rudimentary
analytical skills and an often incorrect language will lead to sufficiency marks (18-22). Insufficient
knowledge of texts, a lack of analytical skills and an incorrect use of the language will lead to a negative
mark.
For the oral final exams the bibliography is the following:
1.
Clark M. (2008), Modern Italy: 1871 to present, London, Longman, especially chap. 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10,
11, 12, 15, 16 and 20.
2.
M. Cotta and L. Verzichelli (2007), Political Institutions in Italy, Oxford, Oxford UP.
3.
Morlino, L. (2013), The impossible transition and the unstable new mix: Italy 1992-2012, in
“Contemporary European Politics”, XI, pp. 337-359.
4.
Chiaramonte A. (2015), The unfinished story of electoral reforms in Italy, in “Contemporary Italian
Politics”, VII, pp. 10-26.
All texts are available in the library of the Dipartimento di scienze politiche e sociali, via dei Bersaglieri 6.
Articles in reviews can be accessed through internet posts inside the University or downloaded from the
Teaching Materials of the course.