Insegnamento a.a. 2021-2022

30481 - CURRENT POLITICAL PHENOMENA I

Department of Social and Political Sciences

Course taught in English
Go to class group/s: 31
BIG (3 credits - I sem. - OBS  |  SPS/04)
Course Director:
CAMILLA PAGANI

Classes: 31 (I sem.)
Instructors:
Class 31: CAMILLA PAGANI


Suggested background knowledge

Basic knowledge of political science and general knowledge of international relations and current events. Curiosity and critical thinking are welcome. Regular reading of the press is encouraged.

Mission & Content Summary

MISSION

This 24-hours course is divided in two different modules conducted by two professors. Our aim will be to focus on two complementary topics: the specific example of the Franco-German relations and contemporary theories on security issues. Both topics have a peculiar role in shaping the current public debate. Paris and Berlin play a leading role in EU affairs, while security has become a key political concept, especially after 9/11 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Part I - "The Franco-German Relations - Quo Vadis?" (prof. Beda Romano) Part II - "Exploring the "Security Phenomenon" (prof. Camilla Pagani)

CONTENT SUMMARY

Part I - "The Franco-German Relations - Quo Vadis?" (prof. Beda Romano)

This 12-hours module aims to give undergraduate students a political and economic overview of the current Franco-German relations, showing how they evolved after the Fall of the Berlin Wall and how they will possibly develop in the future. Both the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent decision by the UK to leave the European Union are dramatic factors at play. German reunification has changed the balance of power between the two partners as will Brexit and the current health crisis do. While at first the relationship was characterized by a common interest to reconciliate, nowadays it is marked mainly by the need to reconciliate interests. Students will be encouraged to participate in class discussions, ask questions and intervene on the issues at stake. They will be called upon to read academic works as well as institutional documentation and media articles in advance. The main objective of this module is to enable students to understand the bilateral relation and put it into perspective at the European level.

 

Part II - "Exploring the "Security Phenomenon" (prof. Camilla Pagani)

Security is a fundamental topic in international relations theories, but its meanings and uses are much broader and overlap with many other disciplines. This preliminary module intends to explore the "security phenomenon" by analysing it from a philosophical and critical perspective. What are the origins and political implications behind the concepts of human security, biosecurity, the securitization of migration and others? How has "security" become a political and dogmatic object? Through the analysis of fundamental philosophical texts as well as contemporary case studies, security will be assessed in relation to the main topics of political theory: the state, the individual, warfare, liberty, migration, human rights, health and development. The main objective of this module is to help students to develop analytical and critical skills in the field of security.


Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • PART I (prof. Beda Romano)

    - to have a historical background in Franco-German relations

    - to understand the cultural differences between the two countries

    - to interpret current affairs through the lens of classics

    - to have an understanding of current European politics

     

    PART II (prof. Camilla Pagani)

    - to become familiar with the concept of "security" from a philosophical and critical perspective

    - to understand and critically analyse the main concepts of political theory

    - to analyse texts and articles from journals/books of political theory, philosophy and international organisations

    - to present and discuss specific political topics both in group and individually

    - to evaluate and compare different schools and authors of political theory

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...

 

 

  • Part I (prof. Beda Romano)

    -to be able to interpret the evolution of Franco-German relations and their interaction with EU politics

     

     

    Part II (prof. Camilla Pagani)

    - to be able to conduct academic research in the field of security studies

     

Teaching methods

  • Face-to-face lectures

DETAILS

Part I (prof. Beda Romano)

 

Students will be encouraged to participate in class discussions, ask questions and intervene on the issues at stake. They will be called upon to read academic works as well as institutional documentation and media articles in advance.

 

Part II (prof. Camilla Pagani)

 

During each lecture there will be an interactive session where students will have the opportunity to discuss a text or a case study. Students are expected to actively participate in class debates and share their personal viewpoints with their peers. They will be encouraged to read all materials in advance.

 


Assessment methods

  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Individual assignment (report, exercise, presentation, project work etc.)
x    

ATTENDING STUDENTS

Part I (prof. Beda Romano)

 

Attending students are required to write an essay (ca. 1,000 words) on a specific topic between two options and send it by email to beda.romano@unibocconi.it by the 30th of October 2021 (50% of the final grade).

 

This individual assignment will permit to verify students' knowledge and understanding of the course as expressed in the ILO section. In particular the ability of the student to understand the cultural differences between France and Germany; to interpret current affairs through the lens of classics and to have an understanding of current European politics.

 

Part II (prof. Camilla Pagani)

 

Attending students are required to write an essay (ca. 1,000 words) on a specific topic between two options (to be chosen after the first lecture) and send it by email to camilla.pagani@unibocconi.it by the 15th of November 2021 (50% of the final grade).

 

This individual assignment is aimed at verifying students' knowledge and understanding of the course as expressed in the ILO section. In particular the ability to critically analyse the concept of "security"; the ability to properly identify the main theoretical and political fields to which security can be applied; the ability to discuss and compare different texts and articles of political theory, philosophy and international relations with regard to the topic of security.


NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

Part I (prof. Beda Romano)

Non-attending students are required to write an essay (ca. 1,000 words) on a specific topic between two options and send it by email to beda.romano@unibocconi.it by the 30th of October 2021 (25% of the final grade).

 

This individual assignment will permit to verify students' knowledge and understanding of the course as expressed in the ILO section. In particular the ability of the student to understand the cultural differences between France and Germany; to interpret current affairs through the lens of classics and to have an understanding of current European politics.

 

Part II (prof. Camilla Pagani)

Non-attending students are required to write an essay (ca. 1,000 words) on a specific topic between two options (to be chosen after the first lecture) and send it by email to camilla.pagani@unibocconi.it by the 15th of November 2021 (25% of the final grade).

 

This individual assignment is aimed at verifying students' knowledge and understanding of the course as expressed in the ILO section. In particular the ability to critically analyse the concept of "security"; the ability to properly identify the main theoretical and political fields to which security can be applied; the ability to discuss and compare different texts and articles of political theory, philosophy and international relations with regard to the topic of security.


Teaching materials


ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

All reading materials will be indicated in the syllabus which will be published at the beginning of September

Last change 17/09/2021 18:13