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Università degli Studi di Parma Università degli Studi di Parma
Second cycle degree course in
Journalism, editorial culture, environmental and multimedia communication
Università degli Studi di Parma
Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries

HISTORY OF POLITICAL IDEAS
cod. 01949

Academic year 2023/24
1° year of course - First semester
Professor
Matteo TRUFFELLI
Academic discipline
Storia delle dottrine politiche (SPS/02)
Field
Discipline storico-sociali, giuridico-economiche, politologiche e delle relazioni internazionali
Type of training activity
Characterising
60 hours
of face-to-face activities
12 credits
hub: PARMA
course unit
in ITALIAN
lectures timetable unavailable
exam calls
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Learning objectives

The course aims to provide students with a critical awareness of the origin and development of the fundamental concepts of ancient and modern western political thought.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites are not required

Course unit content

The course will focus on an analysis of the origin and development of the main concepts in the ancient and modern Western political thought, by the study of the most significant authors and with particular regard to reflections on democracy, representation and freedom.

Full programme

The origins of political thought in ancient Greece; the political thought of the main Greek philosphers: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle; political thought and law in the Roman Republic; Roman thought: Polybius and Cicero; the coming of Christianity: Augustine and Aquinas; Machiavelli; More and the utopical thought; State and sovereignty: Bodin; State of nature, civil society, authority and liberty in Hobbes; Locke’s political thought; Constitution, powers and liberty in Montesquieu; liberty and equality in Rousseau; David Hume; Adam Smith; the American Revolution and “the Federalist”; Sieyes and the French Revolution; representation, parties and revolution in Burke; Kant’s political thought; liberalism: B. Constant; democracy and liberty in Tocqueville; socialist currents in the early 19th century and the communist doctrine of K. Marx; liberty and representation in John Stuart Mill; twentieth century political thought: the elitist school (Mosca, Pareto, Michels); Carl Schmitt; Max Weber; totalitarianism.

Bibliography

1) L.M. Bassani, A. Mingardi, Dalla Polis allo Stato. Introduzione alla Storia del pensiero politico, Giappichelli, Torino 2022.
2) J.-J. Chevallier, Le grandi opere del pensiero politico, il Mulino, Bologna 1998.
3) E. Greblo, Democrazia, Il Mulino, Bologna 2000..
4) M.L. Lanzillo, (a cura), LibertภLaterza, Roma-Bari 2008.
5) G. Bedeschi, Opinione pubblica, in Enciclopedia delle Scienze Sociali, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana Giovanni Treccani, Rome 1998, pp. 359-367 (http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/rappresentanza_%28Enciclopedia-delle-scienze-sociali%29/).
the bibliography is the same for non-attending students

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons, during which will be analysed parts of the main classic texts of the political thought.

Assessment methods and criteria

Written exam with 4 multiple choice items (each item values 1/30) and open-ended questions on the main arguments (each item values 5/30).

Other information

- - -

2030 agenda goals for sustainable development

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Contacts

Toll-free number

800 904 084

Student registry office

E. segreteria.corsiumanistici@unipr.it 

Quality assurance office

Education manger:
Dott.ssa Valentina Galeotti
T. +39 0521 034133
Office E. dusic.giornalismo@unipr 
Manager E. valentina.galeotti@unipr

President of the degree course

Prof. Marco Deriu
E. marco.deriu@unipr.it

Faculty advisor

Prof. Matteo Truffelli
E. matteo.truffelli@unipr.it 

Career guidance delegate

Prof.ssa Laura Gherardi
E. laura.gherardi@unipr.it

Tutor Professors

Prof. Matteo Truffelli
E. matteo.truffelli@unipr.it 

Prof. Marco Deriu
E. marco.deriu@unipr.it 

Erasmus delegates

Prof. Paola Volpini
E. paola.volpini@unipr.it 
 

Quality assurance manager

Prof. Matteo Truffelli
E. matteo.truffelli@unipr.it

Internships

Prof.ssa Sabrina Tosi Cambini
E. sabrina.tosicambini@unipr.it

Tutor students

Alberto NEGRI 

E. viola.tamani@studenti.unipr.it