OVERVIEW

The analysis of the relationships between individuals and political institutions is a pivotal topic of sociology and it allows to understand the current developments of our democratic system. The course aims at addressing the sociological analysis of political phenomena with a particular attention to the characteristics and functions of political parties and social movements within contemporary societies.  

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Getting acquainted with sociological thought, through a diachronic analysis of the major theories. Reading at least three classics of this discipline, each one on a specific, different topic.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course will provide students with proper tools to address and understand political and social phenomena in a deeply changing context. Students will study in depth those actors, like political parties and social movements, that can influence the relationship between politics and society and they will analyze how those actors changed within current democracies. 

TEACHING METHODS

Lecture 

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

In the first part of the course, after the presentation and analysis of the main theories of sociological thought, a sociological analysis of political phenomena will be developed. The second part of the course will consider the role and development of political parties and social movements within contemporary democracies. Particular attention will be given to the analysis of those political (5Star Movement, Podemos) and social (Occupy, 15M Movement, Black Lives Matter) actors that characterized contemporary western democracies. 

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

S. GIDDENS, Capitalismo e teoria sociale, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2009.
D. DELLA PORTA, M. DIANI, I Movimenti sociali, Roma, La Nuova Italia Scientifica, 1997.
A. PIZZORNO, Le radici della politica assoluta, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1993.

One text to choose among the following: 

C. CROUCH, Postdemocrazia, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2005.

P. GERBAUDO, The Mask and the Flag, London, Hurst and Company, 2017.

M.E. LANZONE, Il MoVimento Cinque Stelle, Novi Ligure, Edizioni Epoké, 2015.

C.J. LEBRON, The Making of Black Lives Matter, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2017. 

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ENRICO BIALE (President)

VALERIA OTTONELLI

MIRELLA PASINI

DANIELE ROLANDO

LESSONS

LESSONS START

February 14 2018

Class schedule

SOCIOLOGY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Oral exam during exam session. The oral exam can be partially replaced by a written essay (only for attending students).

Exam schedule