B8315 - STORIA DEL PENSIERO POLITICO (A-L)

Learning outcomes

The objective of the course is to provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the theoretical and practical issues that have shaped the history of Western political thought in the modern and contemporary periods. Upon completion of the course, students will have acquired: a thorough knowledge of the processes through which the principal traditions of political thought have emerged, along with their fundamental conceptual and structural features; the analytical tools necessary to interpret the interconnections between the development of political doctrines and the historical evolution of social dynamics and political institutions, both at the national and international levels; and the ability to critically assess the historical and doctrinal dimensions of the relationship between war and politics

Course contents

The course, which includes lectures, covers the history of political thought as a field of Western knowledge handed down through the writings of leading political thinkers. It is evident that, within the framework of historical contexts, doctrines are proposed with the objective of facilitating comprehension of the internal dynamics of political entities, in addition to their external interactions. These doctrines are intended to provide a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies inherent in the functioning of political units, both within the confines of their internal structures and in their external relations with other entities. The course will address the history of modern and contemporary political thought through the analysis of two concepts: the concept of freedom and the concepts of peace and war. In particular, the following areas will be the focus of the research:
i) The concept of freedom in the modern and contemporary era;
ii) The relationship between liberalism and democracy from the post-revolutionary to the contemporary era;
iii) The theory of forms of government since classical antiquity;
iv) The political concepts of peace and war, analysing the texts of the main modern and contemporary Western political thinkers.

Readings/Bibliography

R. Gherardi (a cura di), La politica e gli Stati, Roma, Carocci, 2022 (terza edizione);

F. Raschi, Un liberalismo (quasi) introvabile, Le Monnier, 2025;

A. Campi, M. Chiaruzzi (a cura di), Pensiero politico e relazioni internazionali. dalla modernità al mondo globale, Rubbettino, Soveria Mannelli, in corso di pubblicazione;

Non-attending students must add the following text:

J.J. Chevallier, Le grandi opere del pensiero politico, Il Mulino, 1998;

 

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching methods

The course consists of 30 lectures and aims to introduce students to the acquisition of the basic conceptual and theoretical tools through the reading and conceptual analysis of classic texts by political authors, aimed at providing the conceptual tools and vocabulary proper to the history of modern and contemporary political thought.

Assessment methods

Throughout the duration of the course, three written assessments will be administered, each corresponding to a specific component of the course programme. The evaluation of these tests will serve the purpose of monitoring each individual's learning progress.
The institutional component will comprise three tests, each comprising five open-ended questions. The allotted time for completion of each test will be 40 minutes.
Participation in the tests is reserved for students who have attended the lectures (the lecturer reserves the right to collect students' signatures to verify their attendance).
Students who have completed and passed the three written tests will be required to undertake a final supplementary test on a monograph. The monograph will be selected by the student from the list provided above.
In the event of a student failing a test, whether due to achieving insufficient marks or being absent, they will be required to retake the test. A retake test is also provided for one of the tests that the student did not pass. It is to be noted that retakes will be held during the designated examination sessions.
In order to be considered for admission to the final examination, it is necessary to achieve a sufficient weighted average of the three written tests.
In the event of an average grade falling below the required level, students are required to retake the written examination on the entire programme during the designated examination sessions.
The primary objective of the final examination is to evaluate the students' aptitude for analysing, critiquing and comprehensively assessing the subject matter, in addition to their understanding of any components of the programme that have not been addressed in the intermediate assessments. The final mark will thus encompass both an evaluation of the students' knowledge of the course topics and their aptitude in employing scientifically appropriate language. Additionally, it will assess their capacity to critically re-evaluate the notions and concepts acquired throughout the course.
The final assessment is based on the aggregate score from the three written tests and, where relevant, the final test. It also considers the proportion of the programme's content covered by the tests. The student's attainment of a comprehensive understanding of the topics covered, in conjunction with their critical application and demonstration of mastery, is a noteworthy accomplishment.

In all cases, the objective of the examination is to evaluate the skills and knowledge acquired, as well as the student's ability to navigate the sources and bibliographic material pertinent to the examination. Particular attention is paid to the student's capacity to master the content, summarise and analyse the topics and concepts, and focus on the theoretical and conceptual links in the thinking of the authors studied.
The assessment scale that will be utilised is outlined below:
An excellent grade is awarded to students who demonstrate a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the topics covered, with the ability to think critically and independently, complete mastery of the language of the discipline, and a high level of clarity in their presentation. It is evident that the responses provided are consistently pertinent, well-reasoned, and exhibit a commendable degree of intellectual maturity.
The student's performance is satisfactory (27 to 28). They demonstrate a satisfactory overall understanding of the topics, with well-developed analytical and summarising skills. They use appropriate specific language and show good critical autonomy, albeit with some slight inaccuracies or hesitations.
The subject's performance was satisfactory, with a correct preparation that demonstrated a strong emphasis on memorisation. However, the ability to summarise and analyse was found to be limited, though it was acknowledged that these skills were present. The language employed is correct, yet not always precise, and the presentation can, on occasion, be somewhat awkward or superficial.
Sufficient (18 to 21): The student demonstrates a rudimentary grasp of the subject matter, exhibiting clear lacunae in their comprehension and utilisation of the language of the discipline. The presentation is uncomplicated and occasionally lacks precision, yet it is adequate to illustrate fundamental preparation.
Insufficient (below 18): the test reveals significant deficiencies in knowledge, inadequate language skills, and an inability to navigate the course content. The absence of a coherent understanding of the topics in question renders a positive assessment unfeasible.

Teaching tools

Readings from classical texts; Power Point presentations

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Raschi