OVERVIEW

This teaching investigates the complex relationship between Political Thought and Sport, in Europe, from Antiquity to Modern and Contemporary times. In particular, it focuses on the authors and political debates which back the close connection between the political dimension of society and Sport as activity of importance to build and theorize the perfect policy.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This teaching aims at exploring the complex relationship between civil rights and sport in the contemporary age. In particular, it deals with the following topics: the philosophical and legal foundation of the concept of “civil rights” in the modern and contemporary period (with some hints at the classical world), the political relevance of sport competition, the ideological and propagandistic use of sport (with a focus on totalitarian regimes), the perception of sport as a field where either expressing or refusing civil rights. In particular, this theme will be investigated by adopting a multidisciplinary perspective that, on a diachronic basis, lets reconstruct the characters of the relation between rights and sport in legal and cultural history of the modern and contemporary age – mainly from the 18th century onwards. We will look at the process of juridical assertion of civil rights through the analysis of the most relevant legal devices that, since the Enlightenment, have marked, on a global scale, liberal-democratic culture. Among the aims of this class, it is also to be considered the comprehension of the ideological and theoretical background on which the constitutional assertion of civil rights (freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom of movement) relies and the essential dialogue between Western tradition and other legal/cultural systems.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students attending to this course can get these results:

- comprehending the main political debates 

- comprehending the close relationship between political reflection and sport over the centuries

- comprehending the political relevance of sport 

- comprehending the importance of sport as a means of gradual emancipation

- comprehending the usefulness of sport to build and theorize social aggregation and policy  

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of frontal lessons on the indicated contents. The teacher provides the students with further didactical papers uploaded on the Aulaweb page.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

   The teaching essentially consists of these parts:

- The main political authors and debates over the centuries

-  Political reflection and Sport in Antiquity

- Political utopia

- Political reflection and Sport in the Middle Ages

- Political reflection and Sport in Renaissance Europe

- Political reflection and Sport in Enlightment Europe

- Sport and Totalitarism

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

All students are expected to study the papers provided, and uploaded, by the teacher in the course of lessons and these books:

- Luciano Russi, La democrazia dell'agonismo: lo sport dalla secolarizzazione alla globalizzazione, Lancillotto e Nausica, 2019

- Alessandra Facchi, Breve storia dei diritti umani. Dai diritti dell'uomo ai diritti delle donne, Bologna, il Mulino, 2013.

The students who do not attend to the course must read the above mentioned books and, in addition, one of these:

- Senofonte, La Costituzione degli Spartani.

- Machiavelli, L'arte della guerra.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Students have to pass an oral exam on the materials presented during the lessons and on the recommended books. 

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Students are asked to be familiar with the didactical materials furnished by the teacher, including the suggested books, and be able to reflect on the main topics treated at lessons.  

FURTHER INFORMATION

I suggest all students, with regular certification attesting DSA or other disabilities, to get in contact with both Prof. Aristide Canepa and the teacher, at the beginning of the course, in order to choose the didactical and exam methods that best suit the student's needs in compliance to the aims of the teaching