B7811 - SOCIETA', POLIZIA E SICUREZZA

Learning outcomes

The course addresses the processes of social change impacting security systems—both nationally and internationally—with particular focus on policing, prevention strategies, and the governance of crime. Students will develop analytical skills to critically assess security policies and acquire specific competencies to propose innovative and relevant solutions to today’s challenges in protecting the social fabric.

Course contents

Society, Police, and Security is an advanced course designed to explore the role of police forces and security practices in contemporary society. Through a police studies and criminological approach, the course offers theoretical and analytical tools to understand transformations in policing, social control mechanisms, the production of order, and tensions between security, freedom, and justice. Key topics include: the social, legal, and symbolic functions of police; order, security, conflict: genealogies and transformations; police and social control: theoretical and critical approaches; urban security and public space management; police, racism, gender, class: systemic discrimination and selective practices; resistance, accountability, and alternatives to coercive security. At the end of the course, students will be able to critically analyze how police institutions and security systems operate; interpret policing policies and practices as social, historical, and cultural constructs; evaluate the impact of security strategies on different social groups; understand theoretical frameworks on social control, surveillance, and insecurity. 

Readings/Bibliography

Required texts:

• Fabini, Gargiulo, Tuzza, Polizia. Un vocabolario dell’ordine, Mondadori, 2023

• Tuzza, Il dito e la luna. Ordine pubblico tra Polizia e potere politico, Meltemi, 2021

• Battistelli, La sicurezza e la sua ombra. Terrorismo, panico, costruzione della minaccia, Donzelli, 2016 (Students who attend classes regularly will only be required to study selected chapters.)

Additional readings and optional texts (at least one required):

• Fabini, Polizia e migranti in città, Carocci, 2023

• Di Giorgio, Il braccio armato del potere, Nottetempo, 2024

Additional materials (available on Virtuale):

• Selected articles

• Rawlings, Policing before the Police (2008)

• Deflem, The Handbook of Social Control, Wiley, 2018 (selected chapters for Erasmus students)

• Jobard & De Maillard, Sociologie de la police, Armand Colin, 2024 (selected chapters for Erasmus students)

Teaching methods

Lectures with audiovisual support; in-class discussions; analysis of real cases; individual and group exercises; presentations by participants.

Assessment methods

For attending students, assessment will consist of three parts:

1. Group project (20%): a collective exercise to evaluate the ability to critically apply the knowledge acquired in class.

2. Written test (50%): composed of three open-ended questions, designed to assess understanding of core concepts, appropriate use of terminology, and argumentation skills.

3. Oral exam (30%): based on one of the optional readings, aimed at deepening specific themes and evaluating original critical thinking.

For non-attending students, the final assessment consists of a single written exam with six open-ended questions, covering the required texts and one of the optional readings.

In all cases, grades will be assigned on a scale of 30. Evaluation criteria include the relevance of answers to the questions, coherence of argumentation, appropriate use of terminology, critical reasoning, and the ability to navigate the bibliography.

Particular attention will be paid to:

• Independent reflection

• Comparison of theoretical approaches

• Use of pertinent examples in support of arguments

Specifically:

• A well-structured and critical understanding of course topics, combined with strong communication skills and specialized vocabulary, will receive very good to excellent marks (27–30/30).

• Predominantly mechanical or rote knowledge, limited analytical and synthesis skills, and imprecise language will lead to fair marks (22–26/30).

• Gaps in preparation and inadequate language use—though in the context of basic knowledge—will result in grades near the pass mark (18–21/30).

• Significant gaps, inappropriate language, and poor orientation within course materials will be assessed negatively (below 18/30).

Erasmus and Overseas students must contact the instructor at the beginning of the course. They may choose to take the exam orally (in Italian) or in written form. The written exam may be taken in Italian, French, or English.

Notice for students with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or temporary/permanent disabilities:
Students are strongly encouraged to contact the University’s dedicated office in advance (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ).
The office will propose any necessary accommodations to the students concerned. These must be submitted to the course instructor at least 15 days in advance, in order to assess their suitability in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

 

Teaching tools

PC and projector. Online materials available.

Office hours

See the website of Simone Tuzza