Course Objectives
Primary goal of this course is introducing students to core elements studying politics, with a specific focus on the state and its ruptures. This course introduces the students to core concepts such as politics, conflict, violence and institutions. Moreover, it discusses the different trajectories of state making and state rupture, among these ruptures: external occupations, civil wars, revolutions, mass atrocities and war. Each class as ONE required reading. Through an analytical and empirical approach, we intend to foster analytical thinking skills and facilitate independent thinking to understand broad and deep political phenomena. By the end of the course, students should be able to:
Articulate the foundational principles of politics.
Apply key Political Science concepts and theories to explain various aspects of political orders, conflict and violence.
Utilize analytical tools to identify patterns and dynamics across and within states and over time.
Evaluate trends in conflict, violent, and political dynamics.
Develop effective research and communication skills to engage in scholarly literature and contribute in a critical way in political debates.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will demonstrate proficiency in:
Understanding and critically analyzing political science theories and concepts, applying them to real-world scenarios.
Identifying and interpreting political patterns and dynamics using analytical frameworks and methodologies.
Evaluating empirical trends in conflict and violence dynamics.
Communicating findings and insights from the scientific literature through discussions and written assignments.
Contributing constructively to class discussions.
Applying theoretical and analytical insights to address contemporary political challenges.
- Docente titolare: Andrea Ruggeri