91233 - Diversity and Inequalities in Global Phenomena

Learning outcomes

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

- identify and critically analyze the main research traditions in the study of globalization, diversity and with particular reference to the analysis of diversity and inequality.

- distinguish different types of tools and methodologies to analyze case studies and social inequality phenomenons.

Course contents

The course focuses on the explanation and understanding of three concepts: globalisation, equality and inequality.

The work will be carried out within the framework of sociological theory through its specific language and instruments.

In the first section, the concepts of Globalisation, Equality/ Inequality will be explored by referring to the contributions and theories that from classical authors up to the contemporary sociological debate allow us to understand and analyse inequalities.

The phenomenon of Globalisation will then be introduced in an attempt to answer the following questions: What does Globalisation mean? How can it be politically analysed?

Finally, the topic of social acceleration will be introduced as a form of radicalising the Globalisation process that touches aspects of individual and social life. The lectures will develop around the following questions: What is it all about? How can its complexity be grasped? What are the challenges it poses?

In the second part of the course, a seminar mode of work will be adopted, dividing the participants into two groups in order to explore the effects and processes associated with the development of inequality in contemporary times.

Through individual in-depth studies and group work carried out under the supervision of the lecturer, the following themes will be investigated:

- welfare and social risks;

- generations and life course perspectives;

- gender and inequalities;

- migration, differences and inequalities;

- digital inequalities.

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Readings/Bibliography

Regularly attending students:

 

Lectures:

Giancola, O. e Salmieri, L. (a cura di), Sociologia delle disuguaglianze. Teorie, metodi, ambiti, Roma, Carocci editore, 2020 [capitoli 1; 2]

· Beck, U., Che cos’è la globalizzazione. Rischi e prospettive della società planetari, Roma, Carocci editore, 2018.

. Rosa, H., Accelerazione e alienazione. Per una teoria critica del tempo nella tarda modernità, Einaudi Editori: Torino, 2015.

Workshops:

· Giancola, O. e Salmieri, L. (a cura di), Sociologia delle disuguaglianze. Teorie, metodi, ambiti, Carocci editore: Roma, 2020 [capitoli 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11]

 

At the beginning of the course - after the two seminar lecture groups have been set up and each participant has been assigned a topic for workshps - further materials and papers will be assigned by the lecturer.

Teaching methods

The course adopts a method of organization of the teaching that provides for the division into two different sections. One section consists of frontal lessons (32) and aims at introducing students to the acquisition of basic conceptual and theoretical tools. Another section, organized in seminar mode (14 hours), is aimed at the application of knowledge and their deepening.

First part of the course (32 hours): frontal Through traditional lectures (and with the use of slides when necessary) are presented and discussed the contents of the course considered essential to understand the concepts of globalization, diversity and inequality. The first part of the course is therefore aimed at the acquisition of knowledge (of facts/events, procedures, concepts, theories).

Second part of the course (14 hours): seminar. In the seminar part of the course it is the interaction between students and with the teacher to be used: hence the division into 2 groups.

The students are asked to carry out a structured activity in the classroom to compare and verify the knowledge acquired through the reading of the indicated texts: they are therefore required to come to class having already read the assigned material, and are asked to reflect and elaborate on what they have learned.

Each seminar group participates in only one weekly lesson. In this way, the student has an adequate time to read, deepen and study the material, indicated by the teacher, in preparation for the lesson.

Assessment methods

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Attending students:

In order to be considered as attending, it is necessary to attend 80% of the lectures, the presentation and the aalysis of a paper as well as all the activities that the lecturer will propose during the course.

The final grade will be the result of a series of partial tests, the content and characteristics of which are set out below.

- Intermediate test (end of October) in written form. The test will consist of three open questions relating to the content of the part of the lectures. (The grade obtained will contribute 45%).

- Presentation of a thematic study agreed upon with the lecturer at the beginning of the course and delivery of short papers referring to the documents being studied (abstracts, reviews, critical questions, etc.) (these activities will contribute to 30% of the final grade).

- Classroom participation and discussion during all lectures (these activities will contribute to 25% of the final grade).

NON-attending students:

Non-attending students will have to take a written test related to the texts indicated in the bibliography for non-attending students.

The test will consist of 3 open questions referring to the institutional part of the course + 2 open questions referring to the chosen monograph. The duration of the test will be 120 minutes. [The grade obtained will contribute to 55% of the final grade].

The aim of the oral test is to verify the student's ability to apply the notions and knowledge learnt and to make the necessary logical-deductive connections.

Grading system valid for all students irrespective of the type of test taken:

- Insufficient: not even approximate or incorrect knowledge of the subject, insufficient expository ability and use of appropriate vocabulary.

- 18-21: elementary knowledge of the subject, and/or not always correct, partial expository skills, sufficient use of appropriate vocabulary.

- 22-25: satisfactory knowledge of the subject, fairly sound expository skills, fair use of appropriate vocabulary.

- 26-29: good or very good knowledge of the subject, good or very good expository skills, good use of appropriate vocabulary.

- 30: precise knowledge of the subject, excellent expository skills, very good use of appropriate vocabulary.

- 30 cum laude: precise knowledge of the subject, excellent exposition skills, very good use of appropriate vocabulary and relevant personal reworking of knowledge.

Teaching tools

During the course, where deemed necessary, the teacher will make use of slides and/or other digital contributions (videos; short films; posts on social networks; presentations, etc.) useful to exemplify and actualize the concepts presented in the classroom.

Office hours

See the website of Elena Macchioni