Learning objectives
Goals of the course:
The course will explore the theme of the relationship between the ecological crisis and the need for a renewal of theory and practice of democratic institutions. Will be taken into considerations the main environmental emergencies and the way in which they are presented and discussed in political space by the different institutional and non-institutional political actors. Aspects such as resource depletion, biodiversity loss, pollution, climate change, environmental conflicts and climate refugees brought about a rethinking of the foundations of the political community and a thorough assessment of the limits of traditional forms and institutions of democracy. Topics such as awareness of the limits, inter-generational responsibility, the contribution of scientific and social knowledge, transparency in information and communication, awareness of the risks and possible consequences of public choices, the rethinking of the decision-making process through the instruments of deliberative and participatory democracy are the crucial pivot to define the direction and prospects of contemporary democracy.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
Title:
Towards an ecological democracy? Public discussion and political participation facing the environmental crisis
Course program:
After an introduction to political communication and environmental communication, we will address some of the emerging ecological problems. We will analyze the experiences and experiments of innovation of institutions and practices policies, as participatory democracy, deliberative democracy, introduction of procedural rights, use of digital technologies, transformation of the decision-making arenas, reform of the constitutional texts. The course will include seminars with scholars and experts in the field of social and political communication, journalism and environmental sciences.
Full programme
Corso di Laurea Magistrale in Giornalismo e cultura editoriale
Sociology of political communication (6 CFU)
Prof. Marco Deriu
Dipartimento di Lettere, Arti, Storia e Società
II semester
Titolo del corso: Towards an ecological democracy? Public discussion and political participation facing the environmental crisis
Goals of the course:
The course will explore the theme of the relationship between the ecological crisis and the need for a renewal of theory and practice of democratic institutions. Will be taken into considerations the main environmental emergencies and the way in which they are presented and discussed in political space by the different institutional and non-institutional political actors. Aspects such as resource depletion, biodiversity loss, pollution, climate change, environmental conflicts and climate refugees brought about a rethinking of the foundations of the political community and a thorough assessment of the limits of traditional forms and institutions of democracy. Topics such as awareness of the limits, inter-generational responsibility, the contribution of scientific and social knowledge, transparency in information and communication, awareness of the risks and possible consequences of public choices, the rethinking of the decision-making process through the instruments of deliberative and participatory democracy are the crucial pivot to define the direction and prospects of contemporary democracy.
Course program:
After an introduction to political communication and environmental communication, we will address some of the emerging ecological problems. We will analyze the experiences and experiments of innovation of institutions and practices policies, as participatory democracy, deliberative democracy, introduction of procedural rights, use of digital technologies, transformation of the decision-making arenas, reform of the constitutional texts. The course will include seminars with scholars and experts in the field of social and political communication, journalism and environmental sciences.
Bibliography:
- Lecture notes.
-George Lakoff, Pensiero politico e scienza della mente, Bruno Mondadori, 2009.
- At the end of the course a thematic bibliography will be supplied in which students will choose two texts to conduct a personal investigation for the final exam.
Bibliography
Bibliography:
- Lecture notes.
-George Lakoff, Pensiero politico e scienza della mente, Bruno Mondadori, 2009.
- At the end of the course a thematic bibliography will be supplied in which students will choose two texts to conduct a personal investigation for the final exam.
Teaching methods
Lectures and interactive lessons combined with discussion time. Vision, comment and discussion of films and documentaries. The course will include seminars with scholars and experts in the field of social and political communication, journalism and environmental sciences.
Assessment methods and criteria
Personal student's paths to explore specific issues, with the production of written paper and final oral examination.
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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