Introduction to Political Science

GENERAL OBJECTIVES 

This course is a general introduction to Political Science, with an effort to take a global perspective. It will familiarize students with concepts, methods, frameworks, and findings of the eld, as well as main authors, useful databases, online resources and practical examples of real-world policy and practice. Students will also learn how political scientists address some important issues of our time and criticize how others address these issues.

Unit 1. What is political science?

Comprehensive overview of the eld of political science, its cross-disciplinary connections, and the various elds and sub-elds of
study within the discipline

Unit 2. Foundational Concepts of Politics
2.1 Power
2.2 Representation

Unit 3. Ideologies
3.1 State Ideology: Democracy
3.2 Non-democratic Regimes
3.3 Individual Ideology: Liberalism. Conservatism. Feminism. Environmentalism. Populism.

Unit 4. Participation and Public Opinion
4.1 Political Culture
4.2 Political Socialization and Public Opinion
4.3 Media
4.4 Political Parties
4.5 Elections
4.6 Other Forms of Participation