59239 - Sociology of Territory

Academic Year 2018/2019

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Forli
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Sociology (cod. 8495)

Learning outcomes

The aims of this course is showing the connections between social system and territory (natural and cultural resources, production system, communication and transport infrastructures, settlement processes). Students will be able to individuate the factors which change the equilibrium between human society, settlement forms and territorial relations. At the end of the course, students will also be able to individuate territorial problems as well as to define methodological tools and research steps to focus on them.

Course contents

In the first part of the course (30 hours), some important topics for the sociology of territory will be considered (city, environment and tourism), as well as some related topics (land consumption, territorial regeneration, tourism and local development). Attention will also be paid to the role of sociologists in territorial planning, with attention to the research steps and the research tools they can use.

In the second part (30 hours), the aim is showing some examples of territorial studies in the national and international debate. For this reason, a study on an Italian interior area (the Appennino Bolognese) and a study on a neighborhood in a big American city (Villa Victoria in Boston) will be presented.

Readings/Bibliography

Compulsory texts for the exam (for attending students)

For the part one:

A. Mela, M.C. Belloni, L. Davico, Sociologia e progettazione del territorio, Carocci, Roma, 2006.

For the part two:

G. Manella (a cura di), Per una rinascita delle aree interne. Una ricerca nell'Appennino Bolognese, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2017.

M.L. Small, Villa Victoria. Povertà e capitale sociale in un quartiere di Boston, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2011.

Attending students are also expected to discuss teaworks presented by groups of 3-5 students and selected by the teacher on research topics of contemporary sociology of territory.

Compulsory texts for the exam (for attending students)

A. Mela, M.C. Belloni, L. Davico, Sociologia e progettazione del territorio, Carocci, Roma, 2006.

G. Manella (a cura di), Per una rinascita delle aree interne. Una ricerca nell'Appennino Bolognese, FrancoAngeli, Milano, in corso di stampa.

One of the following books:

M. Castrignanò, A. Landi (a cura di), La città e le sfide ambientali globali, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2016.

A. Mela, Sociologia delle città, Carocci, Roma, 2006.

A. Savelli, Sociologia del turismo, Hoepli, Milano, 2012.

M.L. Small, Villa Victoria. Povertà e capitale sociale in un quartiere di Boston, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2011.

Teaching methods

The course is based on lectures and seminars with guests. It also   includes the use of Powerpoint slides as well as videos that will be discussed at class.

Assessment methods

The assessment will focus on the critical and methodological skills acquired by students and their ability to confront the texts and topics dealt with during the course.

For attending students, assessment will be done through a written and an oral part.

The written part will consist on two written tests with 3 open questions (60 minutes): the first one will focus on the text Sociologia e progettazione del territorio plus eventual material uploaded on AMS Campus, the second one on the text Per una rinascita delle aree interne plus eventual material uploaded on AMS Campus. Students who do not pass one or both tests will have to repeat it/them through an oral talk in the exams after the end of the course.

The oral part will consist on the presentation at class of  teaworks (3-5 students). The research topics will be decided with the teacher in the first part of the course. This part will receive from 0 to 2 points, which will be added to the average of the grades obtained in the two written tests.

For non-attending students, assessment of learning will take place through a talk about two compulsory books plus one to choose (look at the section "Readings/Bibliography" for further details). Talks will take place in the exams after the end of the course.

 

Office hours

See the website of Gabriele Manella