Knowledge: K-1. Advanced knowledge and understanding of the processes of economic, social, and political change, as well as the structures that constitute societies (markets, families, institutions) from an analytical, methodological, and empirical perspective. K-4. Knowledge of comparative analysis and historical analysis applied in the major scientific contributions in Social Sciences. K-5. Knowledge of the internal logic of a scientific publication, examining the clarity of exposition, as well as the consistency between theory, analytical strategy, indicators, results, and conclusions. K-10. Advanced knowledge and understanding of the economic, social, and institutional bases of the functioning of political regimes. Skills: S-1. Ability to synthesize the main theories and empirical contributions in one or more contemporary debates from an interdisciplinary perspective. S-4. Ability to select and apply the method of comparison or historical analysis to the study of a political, economic, or social phenomenon. S-5. Skill in organizing and expressing ideas clearly and unambiguously, and in supporting theoretical arguments on a topic through critical analysis of the literature. S-10. Understand the origin of the institutions of different regimes and their effects on the functioning of the political system. Competencies: C-1. Ability to apply knowledge on existing theoretical and empirical debates in an original development of one's own ideas in a context of academic or applied research. C-4. Ability to select cases and apply the comparative method and/or historical analysis when providing an empirical response to a research question within the framework of applied or academic research. C-5. Ability to identify the strengths and weaknesses of scientific publications in an area of study and to justify the advancement in the knowledge frontier that is intended to be achieved in the research project. C-10. Ability to apply theoretical knowledge and methodological advances on the subject in the development of a research paper in the area of Political Science.

1. The comparative method and the problem of causality. 2. Methodological questions on case studies and variables. 3. State and nation theories. 4. Political regimes. 5. The determinants of political regimes. 6. Democratization theories. 7. The logic of authoritarian regimes. 8. The great debates on the autonomy of institutions. 9. Institutions as being in states of equilibrium. 10. Theories on the instability of presidentialism. 11. Determinants and consequences of electoral systems. 12. The latest literature on historical legacies and path-dependence.

Training activities: AF1 - Theoretical class AF3 - Theoretical-practical class: learning theoretical content on mathematics, statistics, and causal inference. AF5 - Tutoring: the possibility of establishing weekly meetings with the professor teaching the course. AF6 - Individual student work. Teaching Methodologies: MD1 - Lectures in class by the professor with the support of computer and audiovisual media, in which the main concepts of the subject are developed. MD2 - Critical reading of texts recommended by the subject professor: press articles, reports, manuals, and/or academic articles. MD4 - Presentation and discussion in class, under the moderation of the professor, on topics related to the content of the subject, as well as practical cases.