To know and understand the limits that define the field of political communication; to know and understand the distinctive features of the political study of political communication, with respect to the different disciplinary approaches; to know, understand and communicate the fundamental explanatory theories of political communication; to know how to analyze political communication in connection with the relevant political-institutional factors (regimes, roles, situations); to autonomously evaluate the framework of empirical researaches aimed at understanding political communication according to the canons of empirical political science.
Course Prerequisites
For students enrolled in CIM, the course is part of the basic knowledge, provided along with the other courses of the first year. Interest in politics and mass media analysis, including web 2.0, will help students to successfully attend classes. For students enrolled in Political Science degree, the course completes basic knowledge in the field of political science topics and is recommended once they have passed the Political Science exam.
Teaching Methods
The teaching methods are aimed at the active involvement of the students. Therefore, the mainly frontal lessons will be accompanied by seminar discussions, in which students will be invited to participate. Moreover, the in-depth study of specific dynamics of the Italian political system will provide a constant reference for the illustration of the theoretical notions developed in the lessons.
Assessment Methods
In the light of the educational objectives outlined above, students are given a written test, which consists of both "closed" questions, which explicitly provide alternatives from which to choose the correct answer, and "open" questions, in which the mode of response are not specified in advance. Therefore, the test aims to ascertain both the skills learned during the course, and the ability to process independently the contents of the teaching, so it is considered an appropriate tool to verify the achievement of teaching objectives.
Texts
F. Chiapponi, "Comunicazione politica. Un approccio teorico", Milano, Mondandori, 2nd edition, 2025.
Contents
The teaching content is designed to provide a comprehensive foundation of knowledge in political communication as a specialised field of study in political science. The course is divided into four parts: 1) The field of political communication, as it is defined by the standards of political science. This means it differs from the approaches of other disciplines to the study of political communication. 2) Then, lessons will shed light on the main theoretical approaches that political science has developed to study political communication, with specific regard to democratic regimes and the subjecs that act within this framework (political leaders and parties, pressure groups and citizens). 3) Political communication in authoritarian and totalitarian systems. 4) The political communication of particular categories of political actors, such as terrorist groups and transnational opinion movements.
Course Language
Italian
More information
The syllabus differs for students enrolled on the CIM Degree Course (9 CFU) and the Degree Course in Political Science and International Relations (6 CFU). For CIM enrolments, students are required to study chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the above text. In addition, they must prepare one of the following options according to their interests: a) chapter 6; b) chapters 7 and 8; or c) chapters 9 and 10. Political Science enrolments: Students are required to study chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the above text.