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

The aim of the course is to provide an advanced and critical overview and understanding of the role of victims of crime and 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 level in the "global era".

Readings/Bibliography

FOR NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS:

1) Davis P., Francis P. and Greer C., Victims, Crime and Society, SAGE Publications Ltd., London, 2012, pp 1-279.

2) van Dijk J.J.M., Free the Victim, A critique of the Western conception of victimhood, International Review of Victimology, 16(1), 2009, pp 1-33

3) N. Christie, The Ideal Victim, in: From Crime Policy to Victim Policy , Springer, 1986, pp 17-30

4) Report of the Special Adviser J. Milquet - European Commission, Strengthening Victims' Rights; from Compensation to Reparation. For a new EU Victims' rights strategy 2020-2025, March 2019, on the website: https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/strengthening_victims_rights_-_from_compensation_to_reparation_rev.pdf

FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS:

During the lessons articles and other documents will be given to students, for the preparation of papers and comments, and to promote the discussion in the class.

Teaching methods

Lessons and lectures in the classroom, with the active and direct partecipation of students (for example presentation and discussion of papers on specific topics). With regards to this last opportunity, further information would be given to students at the beginning of the course.

Assessment methods

For attending students only, the final mark will be reached through the evaluation during the course, regarding partexipation, discussion of articles, presentation and discussion of papers students will be required to prepare in small groups.
For non attending students, the exam is an oral one in the dates on the website (June, July and September).

Teaching tools

Power point slides, articles given by the teacher during the lessons, vision in the classroom of films.

Links to further information

https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/susanna.vezzadini/

Office hours

See the website of Susanna Vezzadini