28248 - Political Theory (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students will acquire a deep knowledge of the theoretical and historical coordinated of a critical analysis of political concepts. By applying the fundamental tools of the history of political thought and of political theory, the course will make possible for students to critically assess the analyzed authors and to grasp both the specificity of the singular texts and the theoretical and historical framework in which they are placed.

Course contents

Theories and critiques of social reproduction

The term "social reproduction" has assumed a central role in political theory since the 1970s, driven by the feminist movement and the need to analyze labor and the position of women within capitalist societies. Recognizing this centrality, the course examines the history of theories and critiques of social reproduction through the perspectives of Marx and Marxist thought (Luxemburg, Althusser), French sociology (Bourdieu), cultural studies (Stuart Hall), and feminist political theory (Dalla Costa, Delphy, Social Reproduction Theory). The course aims to investigate how the relationship between production and reproduction has been articulated, addressing issues of time, space, and institutions (family, school and university, State, law, media) in social reproduction; the political productivity and legitimizing function of ideology and cultural representations; and the interconnectedness of racial and patriarchal oppression with exploitation. This module is part of the integrated course (IC) on Political History and Theory.

Readings/Bibliography

SECTION A. 

— Nancy Fraser, La fine della cura. Le contraddizioni sociali del capitalismo contemporaneo, Milano – Udine, Mimesis, 2017.

SECTION B.

1) Althusser L., Lo Stato e i suoi apparati, Roma, Editori Riuniti, 1997.

2) Bhattacharya T. (a cura di), Social Reproduction Theory. Remapping Class, Recentering Oppression, Pluto Press, London, 2017.

3) Bourdieu P., Passeron J.C., La riproduzione. Elementi per una teoria del sistema scolastico, Rimini, Guaraldi, 1972 (first part) (risorsa online:

https://monoskop.org/images/f/f4/Bourdieu_Pierre_Passeron_Jean_Claude_La_riproduzione_Elementi_per_una_teoria_del_sistema_scolastico_1972.pdf )

 with

Pierre Bourdieu, Il dominio maschile (1998), Milano, Feltrinelli, 2009.

4) Dalla Costa M., Potere femminile e sovversione sociale, Venezia, Marsilio, 1972 (risorsa online: https://www.commoningtimes.org/texts/mdc_potere_femminile_e_sovversione_sociale.pdf)

with

— Christine Delphy, Il nemico principale. 1. Economia politica del patriarcato (1998), a cura di Deborah Ardilli, Milano, VandA edizioni, 2022.

5) Hall S., Il soggetto e la differenza. Per un’archeologia degli studi culturali e postcoloniali, Roma, Meltemi, 2006.

6) Rosa Luxemburg, L’accumulazione del capitale. Contributo alla spiegazione economica dell’imperialismo, Milano, PGreco, 2012, cap. I, parte III (capitoli XXV-XXXII).

7) K. Marx, Il capitale, vol. I, sezione IV, cap. XIII – Macchine e grande industria, pp. 501-656; sezione VII, cap. XXI – Riproduzione semplice e cap. XXII – Trasformazione del plusvalore in capitale, cap. XXIII – La legge generale dell’accumulazione capitalistica [fino al par. “Illustrazione della legge generale”], Torino, UTET, 2013, pp. 727-824 [o altre edizioni].

Teaching methods

Teaching consists of lectures combined with the close reading and critical discussion of selected texts. Each class introduces a major theme or author through the historical contextualisation and critical analysis of key texts. Students are encouraged to participate actively by asking questions and contributing to class discussion.

Assessment methods

Students enrolled in this module as part of the Integrated Course (IC) in History and Political Theory must complete the oral examinations for both components of the Integrated Course within the same examination session. The final mark will be the arithmetic mean of the marks obtained in the two components.

Attending Students

Students who attend at least 75% of the classes are considered attending students.

Attending students may choose to submit a final paper (5,000–7,000 words, including footnotes and bibliography) based on the compulsory readings listed in Section A and one text or group of texts selected from Section B of the bibliography.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

A limited, declared, and non-substantive use of artificial intelligence is permitted for support activities such as summarising or rephrasing. The substantive use of AI to produce any part of the assessed work is not permitted. Accordingly, papers must go beyond merely summarising the assigned readings. They are expected to include properly referenced quotations (with page numbers), close textual analysis, and a clear, well-developed argument.

The paper is intended to demonstrate the knowledge and understanding acquired during the course, with particular attention to the student's ability to identify and discuss the conceptual and political connections between the authors studied. All selected texts must be discussed and cited in the paper.

The paper must be submitted by email to the instructor at least one week before the examination date. No oral discussion of the paper is required. Students will receive both their mark and the assessment of their paper by email before the examination date.

The cover page must include the student's name, student ID number, studio.unibo.it email address, the date of the examination session, and, where applicable, an indication that the student is enrolled in the Integrated Course.

Any recognised academic referencing style may be used, provided that it is applied consistently throughout the paper.

Non-attending Students

Students who attend less than 75% of the classes are considered non-attending students.

Non-attending students are required to take an oral examination based on the compulsory readings listed in Section A and two texts or groups of texts selected from Section B of the bibliography.

Assessment Criteria

Assessment will place particular emphasis on the student's ability to engage critically with the primary sources and the examination bibliography, to identify relevant information, and to use it to explain and establish connections between the themes and problems addressed in the course.

The assessment will evaluate:

• knowledge and understanding of the subject;

• the ability to summarise and critically analyse themes and concepts;

• the ability to communicate clearly and effectively using appropriate disciplinary terminology.

Excellent marks will be awarded to students who demonstrate a comprehensive and coherent understanding of the topics covered in the course, the ability to engage with them critically, and a confident and accurate command of appropriate academic language and disciplinary terminology.

Good marks will be awarded to students who demonstrate a sound knowledge of the subject together with satisfactory analytical skills and the ability to synthesise complex arguments, although their use of disciplinary terminology may not always be fully accurate or appropriate.

A pass mark will be awarded to students who demonstrate a basic but sufficient knowledge of the examination material, together with limited analytical skills and occasional inaccuracies in language or terminology.

A failing mark will be awarded where there are substantial gaps in knowledge, inappropriate or inaccurate use of disciplinary language, or an inability to engage effectively with the primary sources and the examination bibliography.

For students enrolled in the Integrated Course (History of Political Doctrines LM + Political Theory), the final mark will be the arithmetic mean of the marks obtained in the two modules.

Examination Sessions

Examination sessions are scheduled in the following months of the academic year (one session per month): January, February, March, May, June, July, September, October, and November.

All examination sessions are open to all students.

Teaching tools

Power point (uploaded on Virtuale)

 

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities:

 please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Paola Rudan