HISTORY OF POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: ELENA GAETANA FARACIExpected Learning Outcomes
The course aims to provide students with the knowledge and conceptual tools to understand the evolution of Italian institutions from unification to the reforms of the late twentieth century with reference to the European context and the relationship between the Constitution and administration.
The course also aims to convey elements on methodological aspects with the aim of knowing the functioning of the current institutions and the changes necessary for their functioning.
On the basis of the Dublin Descriptors, at the end of the course students should achieve the following results:
- Knowledge and understanding: Acquire in-depth knowledge of the history of political institutions in European societies in the modern and contemporary age. Develop relevant arguments and identify the links between the main historical, social and political processes that, in different historical and geographical contexts, have characterised the evolution of Western political and administrative institutions from the 10th to the 21st century, highlighting the transformations in the relationships between society and political power structures. Understand epistemological and methodological issues, as well as the history of historiography relating to political institutions.
- Applying knowledge and understanding: Apply the knowledge acquired to critically analyse the functioning and evolution of political and administrative institutions, evaluating their impact on contemporary societies from a comparative perspective. Analyse texts on the history of political institutions, distinguishing between the different positions of scholars. Identify and locate the main bibliography and historical and documentary sources for the analysis of historical-institutional themes.
- Making judgements: Develop the ability to critically evaluate the transformations of political institutions over time, considering historical contexts and ideological implications. Manage information correctly, analysing its source and relating it to secondary literature.
- Communication skills: Be able to express clearly and accurately, using appropriate disciplinary vocabulary, concepts relating to political institutions, highlighting their characteristics and their role in political systems.
- Learning skills: Demonstrate the ability to independently explore issues related to political institutions, using a systematic methodology to understand historical concepts and theories. Use the knowledge acquired to understand contemporary challenges in political institutions. Be able, through the analysis of appropriate texts and sources, to develop individual research paths that go beyond the topics covered in class.
Course Structure
Frontal lessons, in-depth seminars and laboratory activities with active involvement of students.
Required Prerequisites
Knowledge of historical, political, institutional events of the modern and contemporary age.
Attendance of Lessons
Recommended, but not mandatory.
Detailed Course Content
The premises of political institutions in the modern age.
Constitutional and institutional processes in the pre-unification states.
The construction of the unitary State.
Centralization and decentralization.
Italian institutions between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Institutions in the fascist era.
Italian institutions in the republican era
European institutions in the contemporary age.
The ruling class at the head of the country.
The French political-institutional system of the Second Republic and the Second Empire.
Textbook Information
1) G. Astuto, Le istituzioni politiche italiane. Da Cavour al dibattito contemporaneo, Carocci, Roma 2016.
2) E.G. Faraci, Democrazia o bonapartismo. La Francia e la crisi politico-istituzionale nella Seconda Repubblica (1848-1852), Carocci, Roma 2025.
Attending students will be provided with in-depth materials on the course topics, which will also be available on the Studium platform.
.
| Author | Title | Publisher | Year | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G. Astuto | Le istituzioni politiche italiane. Da Cavour al dibattito contemporaneo | Carocci | 2016 | 9788843080571 |
| E.G. Faraci | Democrazia o bonapartismo. La Francia e la crisi politico-istituzionale nella Seconda Repubblica (1848-1852) | Carocci | 2025 | 9788829028375 |
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The premises of political institutions: the birth of the modern state. Constitutional and institutional processes in the pre-unification states. | G. Astuto, Le istituzioni politiche italiane. Da Cavour al dibattito contemporaneo, Carocci, Roma 2016, Introduction e cap. I. |
| 2 | The construction of the Italian state. Centralization and decentralization. The foreign policy of Cavour and the France of Napoleon III. | G. Astuto, Le istituzioni politiche italiane. Da Cavour al dibattito contemporaneo, Carocci, Roma 2016, capp. II and III. |
| 3 | The liberal turning point and the Giolittian age. The First World War, the crisis of the liberal political system and the fascist regime. | G. Astuto, Le istituzioni politiche italiane. Da Cavour al dibattito contemporaneo, Carocci, Roma 2016, capp. IV, V, VI. |
| 4 | Repubblican Italy: from centrist governments to the long transition. | G. Astuto, Le istituzioni politiche italiane. Da Cavour al dibattito contemporaneo, Carocci, Roma 2016, capp. VII, VIII e IX. |
| 5 | The French political-institutional system of the Second Republic and the Second Empire. | E.G. Faraci, Democrazia o bonapartismo. La Francia e la crisi politico-istituzionale nella Seconda Repubblica (1848-1852), Carocci, Roma 2025. |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The learning assessment method is the oral examination. For attending students it is possible to take part in on-going verifications (written and / oral), aimed at ascertaining the knowledge of a part of the program. The final exam will involve answering questions aimed to ascertain the degree of knowledge and under standing of the entire program.
The assessment is made according to the following evaluation criteria:
30-30 cum laude: in-depth understanding of the topics presented in the appropriate language and with remarkable analytical skills. The student will be able to apply the knowledge acquired to thoroughly and comprehensively answer the set questions.
28-29: excellent knowledge of the topics presented with mastery of the language. The student can confidently apply the knowledge gained to answering the set questions.
25-27: good knowledge of the topics presented in the appropriate language and with a conscious ability to independently apply the knowledge gained to answer the set questions.
23-24: fair knowledge of the topics presented with suitable language and adequate ability to autonomously apply the notions acquired to answer the set questions.
18-22: sufficient knowledge of the topics presented in basic language to answer the set questions.
Insufficient: the student does not demonstrate an acceptable knowledge of the topics and themes covered in the program.
Students with disabilities will be guaranteed the use of compensatory tools and dispensatory measures provided for by current legislation on the subject.