2018/2019

2020/2021

DM270

SPS/01 (POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY)

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

PERCORSO COMUNE

3°

1st semester (28/09/2020 - 11/12/2020)

6

40 lesson hours

English

ORAL TEST

CARTER IAN FRANK (titolare) - 2 ECTS
LEGNANTE GUIDO - 2 ECTS
PARRI LEONARDO - 2 ECTS

This is a Master-level course, which means that visiting students should normally be in at least their fourth year of academic study. Students are expected to have some knowledge of the basic tools of at least one of the following disciplinary areas: political science, sociology, economics, law, contemporary history.

The course is intended primarily for non-Italian students and assumes no prior acquaintance with Italian politics or society. However, Italian students are also welcome.

The course aims to introduce students to the main features of the Italian political system and issues in Italian society.

By the end of the course, students should have become familiar with the main Italian political, economic and social institutions; with the main challenges affecting the contemporary Italian political system, the Italian economy, and Italy-EU relations; and with some important contemporary Italian policy questions and ethical controversies. Through participation in seminars and essay writing, students will also improve their presentational, analytical and argumentative skills.

The course is divided into three modules, each covered by a different professor. The modules will proceed in tandem rather than one after the other.

The three modules are:
1. Italian political ideals (Professor responsible: Ian Carter).
2. Italian politics (Professor responsible: Guido Legnante)
3. Italian economy and society (Professor responsible: Leonardo Parri).

More specifically, topics covered will include; Italian economic development; regional differences; the Italian welfare state; the Italian party system; media and electoral campaigns in Italy; Ethical and policy dilemmas arising from the covid pandemic; issues of toleration and multiculturalism; political corruption; the impact of European integration on Italian politics and policies; changing Italian attitudes towards Europe.

Updated information on the course – including the updated course programme and schedule – will be available through KIRO.

The course consists of 20 classes, roughly a half of which are introductory lectures. The lectures are followed by seminars involving active participation by the students.

Lectures and seminars are held by different members of the Department of Political and Social Sciences.

The purpose of the lectures is to provide background knowledge that will be useful for the seminars, in which students are required to give oral presentations and discuss them with other students.

During the covid pandemic, some classes are held on-premises with zoom connections for those unable to attend in person, while others are held entirely online. Students need to pay close attention to KIRO for up-do-date information about which of these modes of teaching applies to each individual class.

Readings will be indicated by the course convenor at the beginning of the course and will be made available through KIRO.

Students will be assessed on the basis of:
(1) attendance and general participation (10%);
(2) the oral presentation in class (20%);
(2) an assessed essay (50%);
(4) an oral exam based on some specific readings relating to the course (20%).

Further details about assessment are provided in class and via the course page on KIRO. All interested students should sign up for the course on KIRO.

The final essay must be written in English under the supervision of one of the course lecturers. The subject can be related either to the presentation the student has delivered in class or based on another topic relevant to the course. In either case, the essay topic must be discussed and approved by the relevant lecturer.

The maximum length for the essay is 3,500 words.

Attendance of lectures and seminars is compulsory for all those taking the attending-students' exam as outlined above.
In order to qualify for the exam, students must have a 70% attendance rate.
Students who are unable to attend classes or are unwilling to participate actively in classes that are recorded for teaching purposes (as a measure taken in the face of the pandemic), should contact the course leader.


An important note for visiting students:
If you are planning to leave Pavia at the end of the semester, please be sure to plan ahead carefully. Check the dates of the "appelli di esame" (exam appointments) well in advance, allowing for the time needed to complete all of the necessary steps before you leave Pavia. These are: contacting your essay supervisor, completing the essay, handing it in, and receiving your feedback and your mark, registering the exam mark online.