OVERVIEW

The course introduces the major themes in western political thought from ancient times to contemporary public life – the idea of democracy, the principles of political obligation, constitutionalism, utopianism, the concept of civil and political rights, the relation between economy and politics. – by analyzing their conceptual development in the works of major authors, and by focusing on the link between such themes and the social and institutional contexts.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Knowing and understanding the main features of the history of political thought, from ancient Greece to the 20th century, by retracing their historical context and by critically analyzing the thought of the most prominent authors.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Aims:

- Defining context and purpose of the history of political thought

- Assessing the main themes of Western political thought by way of precise and specific lectures

- Introducing students to the knowledge of the most important works in the history of political thought

- Supplying intellectual tools in order to grasp the meaning of contemporary debates

Learning Outcomes:

- Comprehension and commentary of classic and contemporary texts

- Reinforcement of argumentative skills as to political issues

- Ability to grasp the historical and conceptual roots of contemporary debates

PREREQUISITES

- Interest for political phenomena

- Basic knowledge of historical eras and philosophical schools

TEACHING METHODS

Traditional lectures, reading of classic, modern and contemporary texts plus direct participation of students by means, as well, of the online platform Aulaweb.

Unless otherwise stated, lessons will be held on Microsoft Teams platform, more specifically by means of the Team named “Storia delle dottrine politiche 2020/21” (code of access e9qws5c).

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

"So this is how liberty dies...with thunderous applause". The crisis of democracy from Aristotle to populism

In a period of crisis of democratic ideals, this course will retrace the origin and evolution of such ideals; it will focus on political theorists who cherished democratic ideals as well as on those who criticized and questioned such ideals and their intrinsic value. A specific focus will be devoted to the current debate over the limits of western democratic systems.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

For students who attend classes on a regular basis (cfu 6):

1) A book chosen among the following:

- H. Kelsen, La democrazia, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010 (pp. 45-72, 153-203, 219-274);

- G. Mosca – V. Pareto – R. Michels – A. Gramsci, Élites (le illusioni della democrazia), Milano, GOG edizioni, 2019;

- S. Weil, Contro i partiti. Solo ciò che è giusto è legittimo, Prato, Piano B edizioni, 2017.

2) A book chosen among the following:

- S. Levitsky – D. Ziblatt, Come muoiono le democrazie, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2020;

- C. R. Sunstein, #Republic. La democrazia nell’epoca dei social media, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2017;

- N. Urbinati, Io, il popolo. Come il populismo trasforma la democrazia, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2020;

- R. A. Ventura, La guerra di tutti. Populismo, terrore e crisi della società liberale, Roma, Minimum Fax, 2019.

For students who cannot attend classes on a regular basis (cfu 6):

1) A book chosen among the following:

- H. Kelsen, La democrazia, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010 (pp. 45-72, 153-203, 219-274);  

- G. Mosca – V. Pareto – R. Michels – A. Gramsci, Élites (le illusioni della democrazia), Milano, GOG edizioni, 2019;

- S. Weil, Contro i partiti. Solo ciò che è giusto è legittimo, Prato, Piano B edizioni, 2017.

2) A book chosen among the following:

- F. D’Agostini – M. Ferrera, La verità al potere. Sei diritti aletici, Torino, Einaudi, 2019;

- F. Pallante, Contro la democrazia diretta, Torino, Einaudi, 2020.

3) A book chosen among the following:

- S. Levitsky – D. Ziblatt, Come muoiono le democrazie, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2020;

- C. R. Sunstein, #Republic. La democrazia nell’epoca dei social media, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2017;

- N. Urbinati, Io, il popolo. Come il populismo trasforma la democrazia, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2020;

- R. A. Ventura, La guerra di tutti. Populismo, terrore e crisi della società liberale, Roma, Minimum Fax, 2019.

For students who attend classes on a regular basis (cfu 9):

1) A book chosen among the following:

- H. Kelsen, La democrazia, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010 (pp. 45-72, 153-203, 219-274);  

- G. Mosca – V. Pareto – R. Michels – A. Gramsci, Élites (le illusioni della democrazia), Milano, GOG edizioni, 2019;

- S. Weil, Contro i partiti. Solo ciò che è giusto è legittimo, Prato, Piano B edizioni, 2017.

2) A book chosen among the following:

- F. D’Agostini – M. Ferrera, La verità al potere. Sei diritti aletici, Torino, Einaudi, 2019;

- F. Pallante, Contro la democrazia diretta, Torino, Einaudi, 2020.

3) A book chosen among the following:

- S. Levitsky – D. Ziblatt, Come muoiono le democrazie, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2020;

- C. R. Sunstein, #Republic. La democrazia nell’epoca dei social media, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2017;

- N. Urbinati, Io, il popolo. Come il populismo trasforma la democrazia, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2020;

- R. A. Ventura, La guerra di tutti. Populismo, terrore e crisi della società liberale, Roma, Minimum Fax, 2019.

For students who cannot attend classes on a regular basis (cfu 9):

1) S. Petrucciani, Democrazia, Torino, Einaudi, 2014.

2) A book chosen among the following:

- H. Kelsen, La democrazia, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010 (pp. 45-72, 153-203, 219-274);  

- G. Mosca – V. Pareto – R. Michels – A. Gramsci, Élites (le illusioni della democrazia), Milano, GOG edizioni, 2019;

- S. Weil, Contro i partiti. Solo ciò che è giusto è legittimo, Prato, Piano B edizioni, 2017.

3) A book chosen among the following:

- F. D’Agostini – M. Ferrera, La verità al potere. Sei diritti aletici, Torino, Einaudi, 2019;

- F. Pallante, Contro la democrazia diretta, Torino, Einaudi, 2020.

4) A book chosen among the following:

- S. Levitsky – D. Ziblatt, Come muoiono le democrazie, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2020;

- C. R. Sunstein, #Republic. La democrazia nell’epoca dei social media, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2017;

- N. Urbinati, Io, il popolo. Come il populismo trasforma la democrazia, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2020;

- R. A. Ventura, La guerra di tutti. Populismo, terrore e crisi della società liberale, Roma, Minimum Fax, 2019.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

February 15, 2021

Class schedule

HISTORY OF POLITICAL DOCTRINES

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will be carried out by means of an oral test.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The final test will ascertain the students’ knowledge and  comprehension of classic and contemporary texts, the reinforcement of their argumentative skills as to political issues and the ability to grasp the historical and conceptual roots of contemporary debates.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students who cannot attend classes on a regular basis, are kindly asked to get in touch with prof. Giordano by writing an e-mail to alberto.giordano@edu.unige.it.