C9078 - ANTROPOLOGIA DELLE MIGRAZIONI E DELLA DIVERSITÀ CULTURALE (LM)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the students are familiar with anthropology’s main theoretical and methodological approaches and its contribution to the analysis of migration and cultural diversity, including linguistic diversity. They know the conceptual history of terms such as 'culture', 'ethnicity', 'race', 'nation', 'citizenship', and 'generation', and can apply them to the analysis of human mobility and of processes of (inter)cultural differentiation, discrimination and convergence triggered by it.

Course contents

The course is structured around three main parts. The first part provides both conceptual and methodological foundations of anthropology for analyzing the relationship between im/mobility, culture, and society, particularly in so-called countries of origin. We will adopt a global and comparative perspective, and develop a critical approach to public and policy discourse on migration.

In the second part, we will use the tools and perspectives acquired to understand the governance of migration and border regimes, primarily but not exclusively in Italian and European contexts. Finally, we will analyze various aspects of socio-cultural diversification in immigrant societies, including citizenship policies, dynamics of inclusion and exclusion, and inter-generational change.

Readings/Bibliography

The syllabus - with no distinction between attending/not attending students - includes texts on general anthropology and the anthropology of migration:

- Dei F., Antropologia culturale, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2016, seconda edizione. Alternatively: Eriksen, T.H. (2017), What is anthropology?.Pluto Press. disponibile come Ebook

- Capello, Carlo; Cingolani, Pietro; Vietti, Francesco (2023): Etnografia delle migrazioni. Temi e metodi di ricerca. Roma: Carocci.

and 1 ethnographic monographs (other titles can be chosen upon consultation with the lecturer):

- Grimaldi, Giuseppe. Fuorigioco. Figli di immigrati e italianità. Un'etnografia tra Milano, Addis Abeba e Londra. Verona. Ombre Corte. 2022.

- Khosravi, Shahram. Io sono confine. Milano. Elèuthera. 2019.

- Pinelli, Barbara. Donne come le altre. Firenze. Ed.it. 2011.

- Quagliariello, Chiara. L' isola dove non si nasce. Lampedusa tra esperienze procreative, genere e migrazioni. Trezzano sul Naviglio. Unicopli. 2021.

- Vietti, Francesco (2019): Il paese delle badanti. Milano: Meltemi..

Supplementary texts of and an expanded list of ethnographic monographs will be provided on the platform Virtuale.

Teaching methods

frontal lectures, seminars, small-group work and short individual exercises.

Assessment methods

Oral examination. The interview serves to assess the achievement of the learning outcomes. It is possible to write a research essay on a topic agreed with the lecturer. The essay will be discussed during the oral examination.

Evaluation criteria

• capacity to synthetise and argument
• analytical skills
• knoweldge of the main concepts of the anthropology of migration
• Clarity of expression and accuracy in the use of terminology

Any use of genAI is forbidden during the examination and constitutes a violation of academic integrity. 

Any requests for adaptation must be submitted at least 15 days before the exam date, by sending an email to the instructor and copying (Cc) disabilita@unibo.it (in case of disability) or dsa@unibo.it (for students with specific learning disorders – SLD/DSA). Students in international exchange programs (e.g., Erasmus) may also request adaptations to the bibliography and assessment methods by email at least 15 days in advance.

Teaching tools

presentation slides, audio-visual material, e-learning activities. Regarding the option of the essay, please follow the guidelines "Use cases of generative artificial intelligence in preparing student work to be assessed — University of Bologna" [https://www.unibo.it/en/university/statute-standards-strategies-and-reports/artificial-intelligence/use-cases-of-generative-artificial-intelligence-in-preparing-student-work-to-be-assessed]

Office hours

See the website of Paolo Gaibazzi