Learning objectives
The course aims at discussing the broad concept of peace through a multidisciplinary approach. More specifically – building upon research and teaching carried out by its faculty in the field of economics, sociology, international and European Union law and political science – B4PEACE aims at investigating both the internal and the external dimension of peace in the European Union. On the one hand, its goal is to explore the theoretical determinants of the European Peace at the domestic level (the development of the European Social Model as a tool for social cohesion and its possible evolution); on the other, it aims at discussing its main international implications (the promotion of democracy, peace and security by the European Union).
Knowledge and Understanding:
the course provides students with an overview of the European peace in its multiple dimensions. It also offers some theoretical tools that are needed to critically understand both the evolution of the Welfare state in Europe and the principles that shape the European Foreign Policy. At the end of the course, students will acquire a basic knowledge of the European Social Model and understand the role of the EU as a Global Actor of Peace.
Applying knowledge and understanding:
peace is a multi-faceted phenomenon that has to be studied in its multiple dimensions. For this reason, besides knowledge, the course will provide students with a method for the study of social science phenomena, adopting an innovative approach to teaching. At the end of the course, students should be able to apply their knowledge to the study of other relevant social issues, analyzing social science topics through a multidisciplinary approach.
Making judgments:
the course offers a multidisciplinary knowledge on the evolution of the European Social Model and on the European approach to foreign policy. At the end of the course, it is expected that students will be able to formulate their own point of view on those issues, critically understanding both the relationship between economic growth, social inclusion and welfare policies carried out in the EU, and the European Union’s role in maintaining and promoting peace, democracy and human rights also outside its borders.
Communication:
the inter- and multidisciplinary of the course should also impact on students’ ability to communicate their own point of view on European issues using the jargon that is used in Politics, Sociology, Law and Economics. Moreover, at the end of the course they should be able to clearly express and debate any point related to both the European Social Model and the European Foreign and Security Policy, making reference to the main theoretical perspectives and to the founding principles of the European Union.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
For a course description, see https://cdl-spri.unipr.it/b4peace
Please note that the whole program for the B4PEACE course (including schedule, required readings and assessment methods and criteria) will be available on the project website (www.b4peace.unipr.it) and on Elly before the beginning of the course. Students are advised to check out those websites for a better understanding of the course.
The Sociology Module is divided into two parts:
FIRST PART (Prof. Pellegrino)
This activity aims at providing students with possible scenarios on the evolution of Welfare State in Member States. The first class shows how different European welfare systems are currently challenged by the transformation of poverty in Europe (youth unemployment and solitude among elders) and by the decline of political participation. The second part will debate the evolution of welfare in a “Participatory” direction (increased citizens’ involvement in the management of social policies) showing how it may strengthen the construction of a true European citizenship. In particular, the attention will be focused on:
- Patterns of welfare systems in Europe
- The transformation of poverty
- Participatory welfare and European Citizenship
SECOND PART (Prof. Marchetti)
This teaching activity aims at providing the analytical lenses to understand and grasp the production of borders within and outside the EU territories. The EU borders are here highlighted through the “mobility” of a category of migrants – refugees – subjected to restricted policies and control measures that strongly affect their lives under the rhetoric of a permanent “migration/refugee crisis”. The issue of how internal and external borders are formally and informally produced within the territories is linked to a focus on those social practices worked out by local actors (both natives and migrants) in order to face, overcome, and resist such restrictions. Indeed, a specific focus is given to the social practices of alternative integration emerging by alliances between host local communities and forced migrants. In particular, the attention will be focused on:
- Critical concept of “borders” in relation to “mobility”
- European Border Regime
- Critical theories on migration and refugees
- Social practices of integration
Full programme
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Bibliography
The program and all readings materials will be available on the project website (www.b4peace.unipr.it) and on Elly before the beginning of the course.
FIRST PART (Prof. Pellegrino)
Required readings: will be handed out by the instructor in class.
SECOND PART (Prof. Marchetti)
Excerpts from the following volumes (provided by the instructor):
- Marchetti Chiara, 2019 (forthcoming), Asylum seekers and refugees in Italy: who and how transmits values during reception experience, Routledge
- Fontanari Elena, 2018, Lives in Transit: An Ethnographic Study of Refugees’ Subjectivity across European Borders, Routledge
- De Genova Nicholas & Tazzioli Martina (Eds.), 2016, Europe/Crisis: New Keywords of “the Crisis” in and of “Europe”: New Keywords Collective (pp. 25-28). (Near Futures Online; Vol. 1). New York: Zone Books.
Teaching methods
Theoretical approach (lecture) and case study analysis (FIRST PART). Seminar-style lectures with the involvement of a Political Scientist as a discussant; debates and discussion of case studies (SECOND PART)
Assessment methods and criteria
Attending Students will be evaluated through a midterm exam and a final paper.
MIDTERM: The midterm exam will be scheduled after the first part of the B4PEACE course for attending students. The midterm exam will be written and divided in two sections:
a) a first section with 10 closed-ended questions (multiple choice) on topics discussed in the first part of the course;
b) a second section with 4 open-ended questions on topics discussed in the first part of the course.
Students’ knowledge and understanding of concepts, approaches and paradigms will be assessed through the first, multiple choice section (1 point for each question). Their ability to apply their knowledge and understanding, and to make judgements will be verified through the four open questions (5 points max for each question).
FINAL EXAM: For the second part of the course, students will be asked to submit a short essay connecting issues that have been discussed in seminars with EXT Professors. This final exam will also evaluate Students’ ability to make interdisciplinary references among topics.
Non attending Students are kindly required to contact the module’s coordinator for the required readings and the evaluation
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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