POLITICAL CONCEPTS AND METHODS
- Academic year
- 2021/2022 Syllabus of previous years
- Official course title
- CONCETTI E METODI DELLA POLITICA
- Course code
- LM6340 (AF:341255 AR:187245)
- Modality
- On campus classes
- ECTS credits
- 6
- Degree level
- Master's Degree Programme (DM270)
- Educational sector code
- SPS/01
- Period
- 1st Semester
- Course year
- 2
- Moodle
- Go to Moodle page
Contribution of the course to the overall degree programme goals
Expected learning outcomes
Pre-requirements
Contents
This 30-hour course aims to introduce students to some key modern political concepts, i. e. the concepts of “State”, “sovereignty”, “social contract theory”, “Constitutional State”, “public opinion”, “corporatism”, “equality”, "liberty", "citizenship", "representation", "pluralism" ecc. In order to understand them, it is necessary to exercise critical reflection, since political language is always ambiguous, always already subject to different interpretations, traversed by the long-term conflicts that emerged around them. This is also the reason why it is indispensable to situate these concepts within their own historical context. In the final part of the course, it will become possible to analyse some contemporary uses of such concepts, especially in the field of international relations and intercultural exchange.
Textbooks:
Nicola Matteucci, Lo Stato moderno. Lessico e percorsi, il Mulino, Bologna 1997 (or in later editions).
Robert E. Bedeski, The Evolution of the Modern State in China: Nationalist and Communist Continuities, in "World Politics", Jul., 1975, Vol. 27, No. 4 (Jul., 1975), pp. 541-568.
Sherman A. Jackson, Islamic Reform between Islamic Law and the Nation-State, in John L. Esposito, Emad El-Din Shahin (ed. by), The Oxford Handbook of Islam and Politics, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2013, pp. 42-55.
Oscar Oszlak, The Historical Formation of the State in Latin America: Some Theoretical and Methodological Guidelines for Its Study, in "Latin American Research Review", 1981, Vol. 16, No. 2 (1981), pp. 3-32.
Referral texts
Nicola Matteucci, Lo Stato moderno. Lessico e percorsi, il Mulino, Bologna 1997 (or in later editions).
Robert E. Bedeski, The Evolution of the Modern State in China: Nationalist and Communist Continuities, in "World Politics", Jul., 1975, Vol. 27, No. 4 (Jul., 1975), pp. 541-568.
Sherman A. Jackson, Islamic Reform between Islamic Law and the Nation-State, in John L. Esposito, Emad El-Din Shahin (ed. by), The Oxford Handbook of Islam and Politics, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2013, pp. 42-55.
Oscar Oszlak, The Historical Formation of the State in Latin America: Some Theoretical and Methodological Guidelines for Its Study, in "Latin American Research Review", 1981, Vol. 16, No. 2 (1981), pp. 3-32.
The following list does not cover the textbooks. It covers some texts I could mention during the lectures.
J. Habermas, Solidarietà fra estranei, trad. it. di L. Ceppa, Guerini, Milano 1997.
J. Habermas, Teoria dell'agire comunicativo, trad. it di P. Rinaudo, il Mulino, Bologna 1986, 2 voll.
Th. Hobbes, Leviatano, ed. it. di A. Pacchi, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2014.
H. Kelsen, Lineamenti di dottrina pura del diritto, ed. it. a cura di M. G. Losano, Einaudi, Torino 1966.
N. Luhmann, Potere e complessità sociale, trad. it. di R. Schmidt e D. Zolo, il Saggiatore, Milano 2010.
J. Rawls, Una teoria della giustizia, ed. it. di S. Maffettone, Feltrinelli, Milano 1983.
J.J. Rousseau, Contratto sociale, in Id., Scritti politici, ed. it. a cura di M. Garin, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1994.
M. Weber, Economia e società, ed. it. a cura di P. Rossi, Edizioni di Comunità, Torino 1986.
Assessment methods
As in the previous academic years, though, the exam will be oral. It will be structured in the following manner: students are required to answer four questions related to the contents developed within the course and the textbooks. Furthermore, the questions will be aimed to test the understanding of the conceptual contents and to develop the capacity to reflect critically on them. In order to pass the exam, at least three questions must be answered. The exam takes about twenty-five minutes.
The textbooks and the assessment methods are not different for non attending students. The latter are, though, invited to contact me (via email) in order to get an overview of the course.
Teaching methods
Teaching language
Further information
Type of exam
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals
This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Cities, infrastructure and social capital" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development