SCIENZE POLITICHE E SOCIALISociology and Social WorkAcademic Year 2022/2023

1006418 - SOCIOLOGIA DEI FENOMENI POLITICI

Teacher: GIOVANNI PIAZZA

Expected Learning Outcomes

The course aims to provide the theoretical and empirical knowledge, and the analytical tools related to the main concepts, actors and processes studied by the political sociology. In addition, the course aims to stimulate reflection and the ability of critical interpretation by the students concerning the contemporary political phenomena, also by using the computer media and audio-visual devices (internet links, projections of graphs, tables, pictures and videos).

Course Structure

Frontal/traditional teaching

Required Prerequisites

No mandatory prerequisites. It is preferable to have basic knowledge of general sociology and political science

Attendance of Lessons

Not mandatory but recommended

Detailed Course Content

Politics and political sociology. Power and social forms. Power in the Marxist tradition. The modern state, nation and nationalism, theories. Public policies and neoliberalism. Political violence: police power, terrorism, armed struggle, wars and revolutions. Participatory and deliberative democracy. Neoliberalism and post-democracies. Political participation. Social Movements: approaches, social structures and change, identity, emotions and symbolic production, organization and networks, repertoires of action and political context; movements and globalization. Ideologies and political cultures; right / left, populism. Communication and political processes: languages, rituals, media politics, election campaigns, new media. Territorial movements (No Muos). Movements in schools and universities. The squatting movements for housing and social centers at national and transnational level. Migrants and protests in Sicily.

Textbook Information

-de Nardis F. (2023) (Seconda edizione), Sociologia politica. Per comprendere i fenomeni politici contemporanei. Milano, McGraw-Hill: cap. 1 (par. 1.1, 1.2), pp. 1-13; cap. 4 (par. 4.1, 4.2, 4.3.1), pp. 107-120; cap. 5 (par. 5.1, 5.4) pp. 149-158, 176-192; cap. 7 (par. 7.1, 7.2, 7.3), pp. 231-258;  cap. 8 (par. 8.1.2, 8.1.3, 8.2, 8.2.1, 8.2.2, 8.4.3), pp. 286-310, 344-345; cap. 10, pp. 375-418;  cap. 11 (par. 11.1, 11.2, 11.4), pp. 421-439, 456-461;  cap. 12, pp. 463-487.

 -della Porta, D. e Piazza, G. (2016), “Il cambiamento di scala del Movimento No MUOS: oltre la protesta contro l’inquinamento elettromagnetico”, in StrumentiRes. Rivista online della Fondazione RES, Anno VIII, n. 2, Giugno, pp. 1-28.

-Piazza, G. (2014), “Non solo studenti: le ondate di protesta nelle scuole e nelle università”, in L. Alteri e L. Raffini (a cura di), La nuova politica. Movimenti, mobilitazioni e conflitti in Italia, EdiSES, Napoli, pp. 51-70.

-Piazza G. (2012), “Il movimento delle occupazioni di squat e centri sociali in Europa. Una introduzione”, in Partecipazione e Conflitto, n. 1, Franco Angeli, Milano, pp. 5-18;

-Frazzetta, F. e G. Piazza (2022), “L’evoluzione del movimento dei centri sociali in Italia: dalle occupazioni “polivalenti” (multitasking) agli spazi con specifica destinazione d’uso”, in Criticity (a cura di), Futuri Urbani: Città Viva - Vol. III, Contrabbandiera editrice, Firenze, pp. 48-63;

-Frazzetta, F. e G. Piazza (2018), “Solo per andare via: le proteste dei/delle migranti in Sicilia”, in S. Mazzone (a cura di), Narrare le migrazioni. Tra diritto, politica, economia, Bonanno Editore, Acireale-Roma, pp.143-156.

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

Oral exam

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

What is politics, political sociology, power, the state, the nation, participation, democracies, social movements, political cultures, ideologies, political communication, etc.?
Versione in italiano