HISTORY OF PORT ECOSYSTEMS

The History of Port Ecosystems course offers an experimental perspective of strong innovation within Comparative International Relations and, more generally, political studies. The aims to offer problem solving skills through the analysis of a fundamental subject of relations international such as port cities as ecosystems, that is, as complex systems of urban governance and interconnected networks between the Atlantic space, Europe up to the Russian space and the Asian world. It is part of the interdisciplinary perspective of the degree in Comparative International Relations. Linguistic tools, teaching materials and case studies offers students a method to analyze processes in the international arena and interaction between historical, political dynamics with legal and economic ones.

The expected learning outcomes are:
a) the consolidation and deepening of critical knowledge of some of the major turning points in the international system through the port-cities system;
b) the development of an ability to formulate original and grounded interpretations of the interactions of various international actors with the port ecosystems
c) the development of the ability to critically create, read and interpret problem solving situation, beyond the specific subject matter of the course itself;
(d) the development of the ability to communicate one's knowledge with coherence, clarity and precision, and to participate in informed debates about international affairs;
(e) the development of the ability to deepen one's knowledge in the field of international history independently.

This course requires a knowledge base in History and Political Science as per RIC admission requirements, and a basic knowledge of modern and contemporary history as per high school curricula. A good level of English language proficiency (at least B2) and a deep interest in the subject are also required.

The course is devoted to the study, also with a practical and comparative approach, of an important subject of international relations such as port cities as complex systems of urban governance and as the center of highly complex political, economic and legal networks. This "port ecosystems", with a difficult and delicate internal balance, have always coincided with regions historically subject to pressures such as migration, urban and climate changes, institutional renewal, up to recent experiences of digitalisation. When this balance breaks down or is poorly managed, situations of political, social and economic tension emerge, which require a correct analysis of the destabilizing factors and problem solving strategies for the best possible responses to critical issues. The course, in collaboration with the Gianfranco Dioguardi Foundation and the Northern Adriatic Sea Port System Authority, aims to develop skills to identify and analyze the challenges that port cities, and not only them, will face in the coming years. Interventions, even remotely, by Italian and foreign experts are envisaged, as well as direct contact with the main actors of these processes in the context of Venice and active involvement of students.

For all students
- John Darwin, "Unlocking the World: Port Cities and Globalisation, 1830 - 1930", Universität Konstanz, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcOfZnUjoNM
- Lasse Heerten, "Mooring Mobilities, Fixing Flows: Towards a Global Urban History of Port Cities in the Age of Steam", Journal of Historical Sociology, 34(2), 2021, pp. 350–374 (su Moodle)
- José Manuel Pagés Sánchez, "Port-City governance. A comparative analysis in the European context", Urban Planning department Hafencity University, Hamburg (su Moodle)
- Marketa Pape, "EU port cities and port area regeneration", EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2017/603889/EPRS_BRI(2017)603889_EN.pdf

For attending students, assessment of learning can take two forms (at their choice): in itinere with "short" final exam or by "long" final exam. For those students who do not attend classes regularly (minimum 2/3 of teaching hours), only the "long" final exam is available.

The course includes lectures by the teacher and interactive classes in which the students will discuss the assigned readings or present their own research. The in itinere tests will not only be used to determine the final grade, but will also serve as teaching tools to improve one's study over the course of the semester. A dedicated forum and specific materials, as well as specific assessment activities, will be made available on Moodle for students with enrollment code "701".

Italian

A detailed class schedule containing the indication of lesson topics and pertaining readings is available in the Moodle space of the class. Students with disabilities can contact the Disability and Accessibility Office (disabilita@unive.it) to take advantage of the services available (e.g. alternative examination methods, readers, etc.). The teacher is easily available for questions concerning the course at his office hours and by email.

oral

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