Course 2024-2025 a.y.

20672 - COMPARATIVE POLITICS: INSTITUTIONS AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Department of Social and Political Sciences

Course taught in English

Class timetable
Exam timetable
Go to class group/s: 31
CLMG (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SPS/04) - M (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SPS/04) - IM (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SPS/04) - MM (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SPS/04) - AFC (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SPS/04) - CLELI (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SPS/04) - ACME (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SPS/04) - DES-ESS (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SPS/04) - EMIT (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SPS/04) - GIO (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SPS/04) - DSBA (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SPS/04) - PPA (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SPS/04) - FIN (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SPS/04) - AI (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SPS/04)
Course Director:
PIERO STANIG

Classes: 31 (I sem.)
Instructors:
Class 31: PIERO STANIG


Suggested background knowledge

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.

Mission & Content Summary

MISSION

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.

CONTENT SUMMARY

1) Elections and Electoral Systems

  • The spatial model of politics. 
  • Proportional vs majoritarian electoral institutions: functioning and adoption.
  • Strategic voting.

(2) Types of executives and delegation of policymaking

Political agency, types of executives, and delegation of policymaking

  • Political agency models
  • A model of pandering.
  • The vote of confidence.
  • Government formation.
  • Federalism and decentralization.

(5) Accountability, corruption and governance

  • Electoral control. 
  • Lobbies and mafias. 
  • Political vs. bureaucratic corruption. 
  • Clientelism and vote buying.
  • Consequences of corruption and anti-corruption policies.

6) Political Regimes and Regime Change

  • State building and state capacity. 
  • Transitions to democracy.
  • Authoritarian regimes and limited authoritarian government. 
  • Democratic consolidation. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Illustrate the central methodological and substantive insights that the scientific study of political institutions provides
  • Understand how different political incentives affect election outcomes
  • Describe the differences between democracies and autocracies
  • Identify the consequences of different types of political institutions on economic performance, politicians’ behavior and party systems.

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Distinguish between transition to democracies and other types of alternation in power
  • Describe the expected consequences of institutional reforms in specific real-world settings.

Teaching methods

  • Lectures

DETAILS

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.


Assessment methods

  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Oral individual exam
   x x
  • Written individual exam (traditional/online)
   x x

ATTENDING STUDENTS

The partial exams are open exclusively to students who attend the lectures regularly.

 

First Partial: 45% of the grade

Second Partial: 45% of the grade

Participation: 10% of the grade

 

Participation involves attending lectures and engaging in class discussion. 

In addition, every week students submit a brief comment (a few sentences) with their reasoned reaction to the readings covered in the lectures. 


NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

Non-attending students can only sit the cumulative general exam.


Teaching materials


ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

  • There is no textbook for this course. 

 

  • 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). Papers and book chapters are made available via the Bocconi e-learning platform.

 

  • Students who need extra background or prefer to consult a textbook treatment to organize ideas can refer to: CLARK, WILLIAM R. MATT GOLDER, SONA N. GOLDER, Principles of Comparative Politics, CQ Press 2013, second edition. (Please notice that the textbook is not a substitute for the assigned papers and articles. This is particularly true for students who decide not to attend the lectures: studying the Clark et al. book is not sufficient –and not necessary– to successfully pass the exam).
Last change 15/05/2024 10:20