The School is co-sponsored by: ICA-Political Communication Division (www.politicalcommunication.org/) ECREA-Political Communication Section (www.ecrea.eu/divisions/section/id/12) ISA-IPSA Committee on Political Sociology (www2.spbo.unibo.it/cps/homepage.html)

It is also endorsed by: IPSA-Political Communication Research Committee (http://rc22.ipsa.org/pages/About-RC22) ESA-Political Sociology Research Network (http://www.europeanpoliticalsociology.eu/) ECPR- Standing Group on Voting Behaviour and Public Opinion in a comparative perspective (http://povb-ecpr.org/) SISP (Italian Society of Political Science) (www.sisp.it) SISE (Italian Society of Electoral Studies) (http://www.studielettorali.it/)

OBJECTIVES The School focuses on the main theoretical and research questions regarding the relation between political communication scholarship and political science/political sociology perspectives with a special focal point on the influence of communication factors on political and electoral behaviour. The School aims to provide a high-level reflection on the current state of knowledge about political communication by asking a number of internationally renowned scholars to interact with the participants through lectures and discussion groups.

PARTICIPATION The School is open to 30 Doctoral and Master students and early career researchers from political science, political communication, sociology, and related areas, selected through an international call for applications on the basis of a cover letter, a paper outlining their research projects, a short bio and one reference letter. The enrolment fee is 400 Euro (+VAT 21%), to be paid only on acceptance of the application. The University of Milan will offer lunches, welcome & farewell dinners, refreshments and free access to the facilities of the Department. Three free enrolments are offered to applicants presenting suitable documentation of special need.

VENUE AND DURATION The School will be held at the Department of Social & Political studies of the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Milan, Italy, 16-20 July. Participants are requested to arrive on 15 July. Over 5 full working days (Monday-Friday) they will attend lectures and take part in discussion groups where they will present their research projects. The invited lecturers and local faculty will serve as discussants of the presentations. Departure 21 July. A suitable number of rooms (double and single) have been pre-booked in Milan Universities’ Student apartments at budget price. More information about options and costs will be available on the School’s website in due time. The working language is English. All participants will receive a Certificate of Completion and acknowledged 6 ECTS.

DEADLINES FOR APPLICATIONS Deadline: 28 April. Notice of acceptance will be provided by 7 May. Applications are to be submitted by completing the online registration form at http://www.dssp.unimi.it/summerschool/polcomm/index.php?id_page=1&section=1&lang=ita&style=standard. Registration should be completed by 15 May.

PROGRAMME The daily programme includes two lectures given by prominent political communication and political science scholars. In the afternoon sessions there will be room for discussion of the participants’ research projects. Three seminars in research methods will be offered during the week.

Monday 16 July - Current Theoretical Perspectives

Morning Session (09.00-13.00): • Opening Lecture by Prof. Denis McQuail (Emeritus, Univ. of Amsterdam) • Lecture by Prof. Shanto Iyengar (Stanford University) Afternoon Session (14.30-17.30) • Presentation and discussion of research projects

Tuesday 17 July - New/Social Media in Political Communication

Morning Session (09.00-13.00) • Lecture by Prof. Barbara Pfetsch (Freie Universitӓt Berlin) • Lecture by Stephen Coleman (University of Leeds) Afternoon Session (14.30-18.30) • Seminar # 1: “Research Methods for Social Media” • Presentation and discussion of research projects

Wednesday 18 July - Popularization of Politics: Implications for Research

Morning Session (09.00-13.00) • Lecture by Prof. Patricia Moy (University of Washington) • Lecture by Prof. Kees Brants (University of Amsterdam) Afternoon Session (14.30-18.30) • Seminar # 2: “ Problems and Challenges in Comparative Research” • Presentation and discussion of research projects

Thursday 19 July - Parties and Voters in a Comparative Perspective

Morning Session (09.00-13.00) • Lecture by Prof. Jacques Thomassen (University of Twente) • Seminar # 3: “Understanding the logic of Multilevel Analysis” Afternoon Session (14.30-19.30) • Presentation and discussion of research projects • Lecture by Prof. Russell Dalton (University of California, Irvine)

Friday 20 July - Structural vs. Short-term Determinants of Vote Choice

Morning Session (09.00-13.00) • Lecture by Prof. Marco Maraffi (University of Milano) • Lecture by Prof. Oddbjørn Knutsen (University of Oslo) Afternoon Session (14.30-17.30) • Presentation and discussion of research projects