OVERVIEW

This course is one of the core courses of the degree program (in the “Decision-Making and Organizational Processes” disciplinary area) and is taught by a tenured faculty member of the University affiliated with the Department of Political and International Sciences. The course falls under the scientific-disciplinary sector GSPS-07/A (Sociology of Political Phenomena).

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to identify new opportunities for PA development based on the acceleration of its digital transformation process. Students who attend all the lessons and participate in the exercises provided during the teaching will: a) know the specific socio-political concepts related to the focus of the teaching; b) be able to understand the transformations in the relations between citizens and PA in the face of the latter's digital transformation; c) be able to apply knowledge and comprehension skills in the field of designing digital personal services

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will: 1) gain knowledge of the digitization strategies implemented by the EU and in Italy; 2) develop skills related to digital government tools and initiatives; 3) be able to critically navigate a strategic transformation context concerning the impact of digitization processes on policy and administrative action.

PREREQUISITES

A basic understanding of the concepts and approaches of the sociology of political phenomena can facilitate comprehension of the course material. Students who have not yet acquired these skills are advised to read an introductory textbook on political sociology: F. De Nardis, *Manuale di Sociologia politica*, McGraw-Hill, or similar works. 

TEACHING METHODS

The course includes lectures and exercises. It will be possible to participate remotely via Teams—the “Digital Relations Between Citizens and the Public Administration” team. Students are asked to register on Aulaweb to receive updates. 

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course structure includes an in-depth exploration of the following topics: 

- Institutional transformation; the relationship between citizens and the public sector; the social and political effects of digitization; the digital transition; the digitization of the public sector; open government; technological sovereignty; open data; artificial intelligence; and e-democracy.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The texts and course materials will be available on Aulaweb

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

LUCA RAFFINI (President)

ANDREA FABRIZIO PIRNI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

21 september 2026

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

FURTHER INFORMATION

​Students who have previously duly filed a certification of DSA, disability or other special educational needs are advised to contact both the contact person Prof. Aristide Canepa (aristide.canepa@unige.it) and the professor at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination modalities that, while respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning patterns and provide suitable compensatory tools.

To request compensatory tools or dispensatory measures, students with disabilities or SLD must fill in the dedicated Webform available at https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa, at least 7 working days before the exam.
Students with SEN may instead send their request by e-mail to the lecturer, copying the Department Representative, Prof. Aristide Canepa (aristide.canepa@unige.it) and the Inclusion Office (inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it).
Requests from students will be assessed by the lecturer and may be approved or rejected.