The Alma Mater University of Bologna’s Department of Political and Social Sciences (DSPS) is a key reference point in the field of political and social studies. It gathers the legacy and the tradition of several historic Alma Mater institutes, such as the former Political Science and Politics, Institutions and History Departments in Bologna Campus, and the former Faculty of Political Science “R. Ruffilli” – Forlì Campus. DSPS, hence, embraces the University of Bologna’s heritage in political and social science research and teaching and unites scholars active in these fields.

According to the QS World University Rankings, the University of Bologna is the only Italian university among the first 100 higher education institutions in the world with reference to Political Science and International Studies. The Department pursues international, high-quality research in different areas: political theory; comparative politics; politics of non-European countries; public administration and public policy; social and political communication; organizational studies; cultural studies; legal and judicial systems; international relations; political and economic history.

The Department of Political and Social Sciences has been recently recognized among the Italian “Departments of Excellence”. At the national level, only six departments within the "Political and Social Sciences" area have received this recognition.

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