OVERVIEW

The course is part the characterizing activities of the MA (“Historical-social, juridical-economic, political and international relations disciplines) and is held by Professors of the Department of Political Sciences. The course belongs to the scientific field of Sociology of political phenomena.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course provides students with the perspective with which political sociology studies the discursive dynamics of European society making. The objectives are acquiring the tools to analyze the forms, outcomes, and problems related to the construction of a European public sphere and investigate its relation to the redefinition of social and political identities and practices. The objective is also, to acquire the skills to critically investigate, from a European perspective, the processes of digitization of the public sphere, the social and political roots of polarization and debate, and the connection of these processes with populism and anti-Europeanism.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, students will have acquired the following skills

1.         The specific knowledge with which the sociological perspective analyses European society, as a sui generis society, which is constructed and transformed by the interaction between the institutional dimension and the social practices developed within civil society and everyday life.

2.         The basic knowledge for the analysis of Europeanisation processes and for the understanding of the characteristics that define European society;

3.         The ability to understand the most relevant areas of social and political change affecting European society in the context of globalisation;

4.         The ability to apply knowledge and understanding to specific contexts or case-studies aimed at the critical and autonomous analysis of specific aspects, such as the Europeanisation of everyday life and European digitisation strategies, the future of European society in the post-Covid scenario.

The teaching adheres - in agreement with Unige's shared orientation - to the promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals outlined in the UN Agenda 2030. Specifically, it will address the goal “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions,” whose objective is to promote peaceful and more inclusive societies for sustainable development; provide access to justice for all; and create efficient, accountable and inclusive bodies at all levels

PREREQUISITES

The acquisition of basic knowledge of sociology and political sociology is suggested.

To acquire a basic knowledge of political sociology we suggest:  Fabio de Nardis, Understanding Politics and Society, Springer, 2020.

To acquire a basic knowledge of sociology we suggest: Anthony Giddens and Philip W. Sutton, Essential concepts in Sociology, Polity Press, 2017.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures, group discussions of common readings, individual or group exercises.

If required by the epidemiological situation, the course will be held in distance learning mode, according to the specifications that will be published in good time on the AulaWeb instance.

Students are asked to register for the course on AulaWeb, where they will find teaching materials (texts, video lectures and any other materials), reference texts and up-to-date information on the structure of the course.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course covers the following topics:
1 Politics and society in Europe: a sociological perspective
2 Economic, political, and social integration
3 The institutional architecture of the EU
4. The European public sphere
5. Anti-Europeanism and Euroscepticism
6. The Europeanization of everyday life
7. Workshop

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

LUCA RAFFINI (President)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The lessons begin on September 29, 2025

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will be oral. The exam must be taken in Italian. ERASMUS exchange students may take the exam in English. The Commission is appointed by the Department Council and chaired by the professor in charge of the course.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam is oral. The exam aims to assess the acquisition of knowledge and the ability to critically apply the analytical tools and concepts of political sociology to the study of the European Union.
The quality of the presentation, the correct use of sociological vocabulary and the ability to think critically about the study carried out will also be assessed.
For those who participate, the assessment will also include an in-depth analysis and presentation of the case study and classroom interaction.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students who have submitted certification of learning disabilities, disabilities or other special educational needs are advised to contact both Prof. Aristide Canepa (aristide.canepa@unige.it) and the lecturer at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination methods which, in accordance with the course objectives, take into account individual learning methods and provide appropriate compensatory tools.