Learning objectives
At the end of the course, students are expected to be able to:
- define some key concepts related to the study of political sociology;
- develop critical reflections on the relationship between politics and society;
- identify the main historical phases and political perspectives that characterize social and socio-ecological movements;
- distinguish, contextualize and deepen some contents brought by the socio-ecological movements.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
“Politics” is one of the most abused and mistreated words in contemporary societies. Usually used to speak of the action of political parties, electoral dynamics and "dirty" interests, Politics on the other hand - in its original meaning - refers to something broader and deeper, which concerns everyone's daily life. Politics is what concerns the civil, collective, public dimension of existence, anything that goes beyond the strictly individual and private experience. Politics, therefore, concerns both the institutional dynamics and the processes of participation and conflict between social groups, associations, social movements, interest groups.
This course aims to provide some elements to understand the social basis of politics, and to deepen the tools useful for interpreting the multiple and mutual influences between politics and society. Furthermore, it aims to provide some "political" interpretations of the current ecological crisis afflicting contemporary societies.
In the first part of the course, basic concepts of general sociology will be reviewed. Subsequently, some key themes of political sociology will be introduced, such as: power, state, violence, domination, administration, nationalism, populism, lobbying, participation, conflict, etc. The second part of the course will focus on ecological issues, analyzing the discourses and actions of some social movements engaged in conflicts, protests and alternative proposals concerning the environment and the territory.
Theoretical lessons will be held in an interactive and dialogical way, with the aim to stimulate critical reflections of the students. Some lessons will be dedicated to the in-depth analysis of case studies, referring to specific environmental conflicts and socio-ecological movements, also with the presence of guests (scholars of socio-ecological movements, but also activists).
Full programme
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Bibliography
The course will be based on the following texts, which are also those that compose the theoretical/institutional part to be prepared for the exam:
Fabio De Nardis (2023). Sociologia Politica. Per comprendere i fenomeni politici contemporanei, Mc Graw Hill, Milano. In particular, the following chapters and paragraphs: 2, 4.1, 4.2, 5, 6.3, 6.4, 7.1, 8, 9, 10, 11.
Luigi Pellizzoni (ed., 2023), Introduzione all'ecologia politica, Il Mulino, Bologna. In particular, the following chapters: 3, 9, 11, 16.
In addition to the chapters that constitute the theoretical/institutional part, a bibliography concerning environmental conflicts and socio-ecological movements will be prepared. Attending students will also choose one of the books listed in this bibliography to prepare for the oral exam. Non-attending students will choose two of these books.
The thematic bibliography for the monographic in-depth study and all course materials, including the slides, can be downloaded from the platform Elly in the page dedicated to the course "Political sociology, environmental conflicts and socio-ecological movements".
Above all, non-attending students are reminded to check the available teaching material and the information provided by the teacher via the platform Elly.
Teaching methods
The course uses and integrates different teaching methods: frontal lessons; interactive lessons; case studies; lessons with “external guests”; view and discussion of movies and documentaries.
Assessment methods and criteria
The preparation for the exam, both for attending and non-attending students, consists of a general preparatory study (theoretical/institutional chapters and topics covered in class) and a monographic study: an elected book for attending students, two elected books for non-attending students.
The exam will take place through an oral interview in order to verify the knowledge of the basic concepts and theories of the discipline and the ability to support reasoning and critical discussion on the topics under study, also in relation to current political and social reality.
The oral exam will last approximately 30 minutes.
The evaluation criteria of the oral exam are the following: knowledge of the contents of the course; ability to express clearly and coherently; ability to formulate judgments independently and critically. The student who strongly fails to meet the criteria listed above will be judged insufficient. The student who demonstrates an acceptable level with respect to the criteria listed above will obtain a low or medium-low mark (18-23/30); the student who demonstrates a good level with respect to the criteria listed above will obtain a medium or medium-high mark (24-27/30); a high mark (28/30 upwards) will be obtained by the student who demonstrates an excellent level with respect to the criteria listed above, also obtained through personal insights. The vote will be communicated at the end of the oral exam.
Other information
Communications regarding changes to reception hours, exams or anything else, are communicated on the teacher's personal page: https://personale.unipr.it/it/ugovdocenti/person/245835
Exceptionally, ad hoc communications can be added via email.
The students' reception is online on Teams, by prior arrangement via email (niccolo.bertuzzi@unipr.it).
