Ateneo - UPO

The course analyzes the political transformations linked to the digital. We will take into consideration the ways in which the recent and rapid diffusion of new technologies has radically changed political and social interactions so as to make it necessary to rethink the analytical categories with which we observe the reality. We will then focus more specifically on some political areas in which digital innovation has had a strong impact: political leadership, political parties, voting mechanisms, electoral participation, public administration, public policies.

- M. Calise, F. Musella, Il Principe digitale, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2019.

- Marco Valbruzzi, C’è un Pd digitale. Negli USA, in "Rivista di Digital Politics", 1(2), 2021, pp. 235-
248, https://www.rivisteweb.it/doi/10.53227/101941

- Federica Nunziata, Il platform leader, in "Rivista di Digital Politics", 1(1), 2021, pp. 127-146
https://www.rivisteweb.it/doi/10.53227/101176

- Marco Valbruzzi, L’età delle cyber-elezioni: dal voto elettronico alla digitalizzazione elettorale, in
"Rivista di Digital Politics", 3(1), 2023, pp. 3-28, https://www.rivisteweb.it/doi/10.53227/107474

- Fortunato Musella, Digital regulation: come si cambia la Pubblica amministrazione, in "Rivista di
Digital Politics", 2(1-2), pp. 3-32, 2022, https://www.rivisteweb.it/doi/10.53227/105064

- Mauro Santaniello, La regolazione delle piattaforme e il principio della sovranità digitale, in
"Rivista di Digital Politics", 1(3), 2021, https://www.rivisteweb.it/doi/10.53227/103806

- Maurizio Ferraris, The Danger: Digicracy and Artificial Intelligence, on "Rivista di Digital Politics" 3/2023, pp. 481-492, doi: 10.53227/113106

- Mauro Calise, Fortunato Musella, Digicracy – A user guide, on "Rivista di Digital Politics" 3/2023, pp. 461-480, doi: 10.53227/113105

The aim of the course is to analyze the political transformations linked to digital. At the end of the course students will be able to distinguish and analyze the premises and political consequences of digital innovations, propose appropriate tools and methods for their analysis and understand and manage adequate databases for their evaluation. They will also have the necessary skills to apply the knowledge of Political Science and its methodologies, with particular reference to the field of digital politics.

No prerequisites.
However, it is advisable to have successfully passed the Political Science and Statistics exams.

The course is divided into 10 lectures. In each lecture a reference framework of the topics covered is provided and time is devoted to discussion. Attendance is strongly encouraged. Slides, if any, will be made available to students on the Uniupo Virtual platform (dir.uniupo.it). Based on University provisions and subject to changes in the health situation and in the related safety protocols, lessons will be held in presence. Questions, comments, observations are welcome at any time of the lecture. These interruptions do not cause disturbance, on the contrary, they allow to better "explain" what is debated by the teacher.

The teacher could add further material during the course.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/servicesstudents-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The choice whether to attend the exam as attending or not attending student depends on the student him/herself. The teacher does not determine the "category" of attending or non-attending. The syllabus is the same. At the end of the course there will then be an oral test of three-to-five questions aimed at verifying learning, correct exposure, and the ability to make connections between the topics covered. Warning: It will in no way be possible to access the exam session without prior registration on the platform. Students are required to come to the exam with a university badge and an identification document. Non-registered students and students without a valid ID will not be admitted.

The course is aimed, on the one hand, at transmitting basic knowledge of digital politics and, on the other, at providing specific methodological tools for analyzing and understanding digital politics. In particular, the analysis conducted during the course will provide students with a method of independent observation and analysis of the main processes of change linked to new information and communication technologies.

At the end of the course, students are able to describe and interpret the political changes related to digital in their main aspects and their transformations. They show the ability to interpret contemporary political and social phenomena thanks to the use of general theories and through a comparative methodology. They also have linguistic and logical tools to communicate the knowledge acquired.