Maestri of Political Science

In Italian the word "Maestri" is associated with those that lead the way; this successor to "Masters of Politics" continues the editors' re-evaluation and appreciation of the works of those political scientists that have gone before. Its basis is the belief that the future development and sophistication of the discipline will benefit from a critical understanding of the works of early political "giants" such as Gabriel A. Almond, Raymond Aron, Philip Converse, Maurice Duverger, Stanley Hoffmann, Paul Lazarsfeld, Elinor Ostrom, William H. Riker, Stein Rokkan and Susan Strange. The editors review and consider the maestri's contributions to the study of contemporary democracy, political culture, electoral systems, political communication, the transformation of capitalism and state formation in Europe. Maestri of Politics is aimed not only at a new generation of political scientists but is a valuable opportunity for established scholars to see new light through old windows.

Donatella Campus is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Bologna. She is the author of L'elettore pigro. Informazione politica e scelte di voto (Mulino, 2000); L'antipolitica al governo (Mulino, 2006); Comunicazione Politica: Le nuove Frontiere (2008). Gianfranco Pasquino is Professor of Political Science at the University of Bologna. He also teaches at the Bologna Center of the Johns Hopkins. Since 2005 he has been a member of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei. His most recent book is Le istituzioni di Arlecchino (2008, 5th ed.). He has also edited L'Elezione del segretario, Organizzazione e potere (2009).