91191 - Power Relations And Victimization Processes

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to provide an advanced and critical overview of the role of victims of crime, abuse of power, social exclusion and repression in contemporary society with regards to the main theoretical approaches in the discipline as a reflection of the changing of structure dynamics and relations at all levels. At the end of the course students will be able to: analyze processes of victimization in contemporary societies in a broader political and socio-economic context; set the peculiar condition of victims in the frame of multiple interactions with regards to national and supra national Institutions; recognize the ambivalence of victims’ role inside the judiciary and criminal justice systems in a comparative perspective; apply the “new” victimology of human rights in an original and interdisciplinary approach that transcends current official and social perspectives of victimization and its sources.

Course contents

This course offers an advanced and critical exploration of the role and representation of victims in contemporary society. Drawing on key theoretical frameworks in victimology and related disciplines, it examines how processes of victimization are shaped by broader political, socio-economic, and cultural dynamics. Students will engage with the historical and theoretical foundations of victimology, while critically analyzing how victims have entered public discourse and are constructed through media narratives and social debates.

The course will address different categories of victims, with particular focus on gender-based violence, cyberviolence, and structural inequalities, using comparative and interdisciplinary perspectives. Case studies will highlight the ambivalent position of victims within judicial and criminal justice systems, as well as the implications of a “new” victimology rooted in human rights.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Analyze victimization processes within broader political, socio-economic, and cultural dynamics.

• Evaluate media and public discourse in the social construction of victim identities.

• Apply a human-rights–informed, interdisciplinary victimology framework to real-world cases (GBV, cyberviolence, structural inequality).

FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS: the admission to the course is allowed to incoming students at Master's level; Undergraduate students must demonstrate to having already aquired those competences in the following disciplines: Sociology of Law; Sociology of Deviance, Crimonology; Victimology, Media Studies

Students with DSA or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is recommended to contact the responsible University office in good time (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it): it will be their responsibility to propose any adaptations to the students concerned, which must however be submitted, with a 15-day notice, to the approval of the teacher, who will evaluate the opportunity also in relation to the educational objectives of the course.

The course will be held in the FIRSR SEMESTER.
Classes will be conducted in English.

Readings/Bibliography

Compulsory readings for attending students:

Christie, N. (1986) The ideal victim. From crime policy to victim policy.

Haslam, N. (2006). Dehumanization: An integrative review. Personality and social psychology review, 10(3), 252-264.

Van Dijk, J. (2009). Free the victim: A critique of the western conception of victimhood. International Review of Victimology, 16(1), 1-33.

Vezzadini, S. (ed.) (2024), Ideal and real victims. Political discourse and media representation in contemporary societies, BUP, (OPEN ACCESS) - Part 1, pp. 1-54

At least one from:

Baxter, V. (2005). Civil society promotion of truth, justice, and reconciliation in Chile: Villa Grimaldi. Peace & Change, 30(1), 120-136.

Boltanski, L. (2000) The Legitimacy of Humanitarian Action and Their Media Representations: The Case of France, Ethical Perspectives, 7(1), pp.3-16.

Borer, T. A. (2003). A taxonomy of victims and perpetrators: Human rights and reconciliation in South Africa. Human rights quarterly, 25(4), 1088-1116.

Chouliaraki, L. (2008). The Mediation of suffering and the vision of a cosmopolitan public, Television & New media, 9 (5), pp. 371-391

Fernandes-Neto, A., Knapp, A., & Morbin, E. (2024). Latin American migrants as offenders and victims: Rethinking the binomial. In Vezzadini (2024), Ideal and real victims. Political discourse and media representation in contemporary societies, Chap. 4, pp. 97-111

García, C., Nodari, M. E. R., & Russo, E. The case of Stefano Cucchi. In Vezzadini (2024), Ideal and real victims. Political discourse and media representation in contemporary societies, Chap. 8, pp. 173-196

Gius, C. (2022) Addressing the Blurred question of ‘responsibility’: insights from online news comments on a case of nonconsensual pornography, Journal of Gender studies, pp. 193-203

Kovalsky, E., & Watkins-Hayes, C. (2016). The Discourse of Deservingness: Morality and the Dilemmas of Poverty Relief in Debate and Practice, pp. 193-220

Meyer, S. (2016). Still blaming the victim of intimate partner violence? Women’s narratives of victim desistance and redemption when seeking support, Theoretical criminology, 20(1), 75-90.

Shildrick, T., (2018). Lessons from Grenfell: Poverty propaganda, stigma and class power. The Sociological Review Monographs, 66(4), pp. 783–798

Compulsory readings for non attending students:

Borer, T. A. (2003). A taxonomy of victims and perpetrators: Human rights and reconciliation in South Africa, Human rights quarterly, 25(4), 1088-1116.

Boltanski, L. (2000) The Legitimacy of Humanitarian Action and Their Media Representations: The Case of France, Ethical Perspectives, 7(1), pp.3-16.

Chouliaraki, L. (2008). The Mediation of suffering and the vision of a cosmopolitan public, Television & New media, 9 (5), pp. 371-391

Christie, N. (1986) The ideal victim. From crime policy to victim policy.

Haslam, N. (2006). Dehumanization: An integrative review. Personality and social psychology review, 10(3), 252-264.

Kovalsky, E., & Watkins-Hayes, C. (2016). The Discourse of Deservingness: Morality and the Dilemmas of Poverty Relief in Debate and Practice, pp. 193-220

Van Dijk, J. (2009). Free the victim: A critique of the western conception of victimhood. International Review of Victimology, 16(1), 1-33.

Vezzadini, S. (ed.) (2024), Ideal and real victims. Political discourse and media representation in contemporary societies, BUP, (OPEN ACCESS) - Part 1, pp. 1-54

At least one from:

Baxter, V. (2005). Civil society promotion of truth, justice, and reconciliation in Chile: Villa Grimaldi. Peace & Change, 30(1), 120-136.

Fernandes-Neto, A., Knapp, A., & Morbin, E. (2024). Latin American migrants as offenders and victims: Rethinking the binomial. In Vezzadini, S. (eds.) (2024), Ideal and real victims. Political discourse and media representation in contemporary societies, Chap. 4, pp. 97-111

García, C., Nodari, M. E. R., & Russo, E. The case of Stefano Cucchi. In Vezzadini, S. (eds.) (2024), Ideal and real victims. Political discourse and media representation in contemporary societies, Chap. 8, pp. 173-196

Gius, C. (2022) Addressing the Blurred question of ‘responsibility’: insights from online news comments on a case of nonconsensual pornography, Journal of Gender studies, pp. 193-203

Meyer, S. (2016). Still blaming the victim of intimate partner violence? Women’s narratives of victim desistance and redemption when seeking support, Theoretical criminology, 20(1), 75-90.

Shildrick, T., (2018). Lessons from Grenfell: Poverty propaganda, stigma and class power. The Sociological Review Monographs, 66(4), pp. 783–798

Suggested Viewing (both attending and not attending students)
The documentaries listed below are not required for the course. They are recommended for students who wish to deepen their understanding of the case studies discussed in class and explore the topics from additional perspectives.

- Grenfell: Uncovered (Netflix, 2025)
- On My Skin (Netflix, 2018)
- The Missing Picture (Prime Video, 2013)
- Long Night's Journey into Day (2000 - access via video.alexanderstreet.com)
- SlutWalk: A Day in Her Heels (2015 - https://youtu.be/6ij2tMxpCqg?si=d-AQuXB9eo1OsH7B)

NB. The list of readings could undergo some minor variations. The complete list of course materials will be published shortly before the beginning of the semester here and the virtual spaces of the course since next early September.

Teaching methods

Active learning is an integral part of this course. Some days I will lecture for much of the class. However, students are expected to engage actively in the discussion of the readings and media texts we will be presenting in class.


Teaching materials will include slides, videos, and other media contents.

Assessment methods

Attending students

The final mark will be the result of the sum of two different marks:

Individual or group presentation........... 40%

Final paper……………………………………………….60%

Group presentation

Students will be responsible for participating in a group presentation on a topic of interest. In particular, students will be asked to critically engage in the analysis of a social communication campaign or to design a campaign over a topic of their choice. Substantial use of class materials and readings is expected for this assignment. There will be space for an interactive dialogue with the rest of the class after each presentation. The presentations will be scheduled by the end of the semester.

In general, group presentations will be assessed as follows:

18–23: presentation is sufficiently well-organized, limited analytical insight, strongly descriptive approach, overall correct use of language.

24–27: well-organized presentation, appropriate discussion of the selected topics, good analytical skills though not particularly complex, correct use of language.

28–30: excellently organized presentation, thorough discussion of the selected topics, strong analytical and critical skills, good command of specific terminology.

30 cum laude: outstanding and in-depth presentation, excellent critical analysis and ability to make connections, excellent command of specific terminology.

The final exam will be on all the required readings for attending students. It will be a written exam with 3 questions that students are expected to answer in 75 minutes.

Final paper

The final paper is intended to provide students with the opportunity to fully explore their favorite topic and to examine it from a more empirical perspective.

More details on both the assignments will be given in class

NB: Attendance and class participation

Attendance is strongly encouraged and expected. Students are expected to read the assigned chapters or material prior to class and participate in class discussions. Ask questions, be curious!

Students that are NOT attending classes:

Written exam………………………..100%

Final exam

The final exam will be on all assigned readings.It will consist in 5 questions that students are expected to answer in 120 minutes.

Teaching tools

Lectures, slides, video, websites, reports, case studies.

Office hours

See the website of Chiara Gius