UNDERSTANDING THE MEDITERRANEAN

This course will provide students with a critical, multidimensional understanding of the contemporary Mediterranean world from both European/Western and Global South perspectives. It will introduce key approaches and debates in Mediterranean studies and it will provide an overview of the changing political, cultural and economic significance of the region during recent decades. The course will consider a series of topics such as urbanization, cultural heritage, environmental change and maritime economies in order to equip students with the knowledge and analytical tools necessary to pursue further research and to actively participate in discussions on the future of the Mediterranean region. The course will be structured around lectures, films and group activities and discussions. There will be some guest speakers.

By the end of the course, students will have acquired a solid understanding of:
- key theories and approaches in Mediterranean studies;
- the historical and contemporary significance of the Mediterranean region from both European/Western and Global South perspectives.
- the recent history of initiatives aimed at building political, economic and cultural relations across the Mediterranean region.

In addition, students will be able to:
- understand how major current issues such as climate change and global logistics relate to the Mediterranean area;
- apply their knowledge to propose suitable topics for research in the field of Mediterranean studies;
- engage with key debates about the future of Mediterranean region.

Criteria for admission are the same as those for the study programme of Trans-Mediterranean Studies: Migration, Cooperation and Development. A good knowledge of English is essential.

Il corso introduce ai principali concetti, le teorie e i dibattiti nel campo degli studi mediterranei, prestando particolare attenzione a come l’idea del Mediterraneo quale regione distinta sia stata elaborata e venga oggi messa in discussione. Verrà fornito un quadro delle recenti trasformazioni politiche e economiche nell’area e di come queste abbiano riconfigurato le relazioni tra le sponde Nord e Sud del mediterraneo, nonché del significato che assume di adottare un approccio specificamente transmediterraneo.

La seconda parte del corso approfondirà alcuni temi centrali nel contesto del Mediterraneo contemporaneo:
(1) L’urbanizzazione e le particolarità delle città mediterranee;
(2) Le reti e le politiche euro-mediterranee;
(3) La politica e l’economia del patrimonio culturale mediterraneo;
(4) I cambiamenti e le sfide ambientali;
(5) Il Mediterraneo come rotta logistica.

A detailed bibliography and key texts will be provided by the instructor during the course.

Students will be assessed on classroom participation and on a final exam (to be confirmed whether oral or written). The details and weighting of each assessment will be specified in the course.

The course will be structured around in-class lectures and film presentations, with some online activities. The teaching approach will encourage students’ active participation in classroom activities through group discussions on topics introduced by the teacher in class.

English

written and oral