82414 - Policy Theories of Multiculturalism

Learning outcomes

Provide students the tools to understand and analyze theoretical and practical matters discussed by political theories about multiculturalism, multicultural society and the crisis of Western democracy.

Course contents

The course will be based on the analysis of multiculturalism matter from a theoretical and historical politica perspective. During the lessons, the hypothesis of multiculturalism as an important point of view on the Western political theory will be investigated: so we will deep analyse the concept of sovereignty and the political concept related to it (freedom, equality, representation, political subject, constitution, nation, etc.).

Multiculturalism will be considered as a specification of much more wider matters, or as the contemporary name given to the raise of conflicts in the our contemporary political space in which the difference between inside and outside as well as the difference between ourselves and others or the difference between domestic and international political space can be no more easily defined and then arranged. For that, we'll discuss the most important political concepts of multiculturalism' theories and we'll analyze the different meanings of the word "multiculturalism" between Europe and America.

Then, the course will match some issues of multicultural political theory with some recent discussions about individual and collective rights, tolerance, race and racism, identity and difference, culture and cultures, migrations.

Readings/Bibliography

Students attending the course
See the list in the Italian version.

Students not attending the course

Since the bibliography for students not attending the course is much different from that of the attending ones, not attending students are kindly requested to meet the teacher at least once before the exam to get in touch with the program.

Teaching methods

20 two hours classes (twice a week for 10 weeks).

Lectures, seminars, students' presentations

Assessment methods

The assessment methods are different and they depend on the status of the student, attending or not attending. We remember that a student is considered an attending student if he attends 70% of the class-hours at least.

Grades are based on:

Students attending the course

- 50%, class participation

- 50%, knowledge in political theories of multiculturalism and skill in dealing and discussing some issues about multiculturalism during class-hours.

Students not attending the course

100%, knowledge in political theories of multiculturalism and skill in dealing and discussing some issues about multiculturalism during oral examination.

Teaching tools

Video, films

Office hours

See the website of Maria Laura Lanzillo