Obiettivi Formativi

Lo scopo del corso è quello di contribuire alla capacità di orientamento critico dello studente nell’ambito della storia del pensiero politico occidentale, nonché di favorire la comprensione delle principali teorie e correnti di esso, con riferimento specifico agli autori di maggiore rilievo.

Learning Goals

The aim of the course is to raise in the students a critical understanding of political thought, with special reference to Western political tradition since its birth in ancient Greece. The importance of the main political thinkers since early modern times for the building of present day political discourse is also stressed.

Metodi didattici

This course will utilize a variety of teaching methods to achieve the learning goals, including: • In-presence lectures aimed at providing students with the fundamental notions concerning the main authors and debates in the western history of political. • Each lecture will include moments designed for interactive discussions and debates about crucial concepts and problems in political thought with the aim of encouraging students to develop critical thinking and their own arguments. • The course may feature guest lectures. • Students will be invited to deliver oral presentations in which they analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources. • Attending students be provided with multimedia materials, including PPT slides, an audio podcast on the history of political thought, and relevant YouTube videos.

Teaching Methods

This course will utilize a variety of teaching methods to achieve the learning goals, including: • In-presence lectures aimed at providing students with the fundamental notions concerning the main authors and debates in the western history of political. • Each lecture will include moments designed for interactive discussions and debates about crucial concepts and problems in political thought with the aim of encouraging students to develop critical thinking and their own arguments. • The course may feature guest lectures. • Students will be invited to deliver oral presentations in which they analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources. • Attending students be provided with multimedia materials, including PPT slides, an audio podcast on the history of political thought, and relevant YouTube videos.

Prerequisiti

Una comprensione effettiva del corso di lezione e dei testi d'esame presuppone una conoscenza di base della storia e della cultura occidentale dall'antichità al XX secolo.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of the history of the Western world and its culture, from ancient times to the 20th century.

Verifiche dell'apprendimento

The examination is oral and consists of an interview on the topics and texts included in the program. >>> STUDENTS will have the opportunity to reduce the workload by delivering an oral presentation in the classroom and undertaking a mid-term exam. Hence, they will be assessed through a combination of assignments, exams, and class participation. The breakdown of the assessments is as follows: • Final exam (50%): The final exam will test students' understanding of the material covered in the second half of the course. • Mid-term exam (22%): The mid-term exam will test students' understanding of the material covered in the first three weeks of the course. • Oral presentation and slideS preparation (22%): The research paper will require students to analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources in political theory and to develop and defend their own argument about a political issue or question. • Class participation (6%): Class participation will be assessed based on students' engagement in class discussions and debates. >>> NON-ATTENDING students will be evaluated on the basis of a single examination that consists of an oral interview aimed at assessing the knowledge and understanding of a textbook.

Assessment

The examination is oral and consists of an interview on the topics and texts included in the program. >>> STUDENTS will have the opportunity to reduce the workload by delivering an oral presentation in the classroom and undertaking a mid-term exam. Hence, they will be assessed through a combination of assignments, exams, and class participation. The breakdown of the assessments is as follows: • Final exam (50%): The final exam will test students' understanding of the material covered in the second half of the course. • Mid-term exam (22%): The mid-term exam will test students' understanding of the material covered in the first three weeks of the course. • Oral presentation and slideS preparation (22%): The research paper will require students to analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources in political theory and to develop and defend their own argument about a political issue or question. • Class participation (6%): Class participation will be assessed based on students' engagement in class discussions and debates. >>> NON-ATTENDING students will be evaluated on the basis of a single examination that consists of an oral interview aimed at assessing the knowledge and understanding of a textbook.

Programma del Corso

The course offers a broad overview of the most significant ideas, thinkers, and theories in Western political thought from ancient Greece to the present. By the end of the course, students will develop a full understanding of the historical emergence and theoretical definition of key political concepts, – such as sovereignty, freedom, equality, justice, rights, citizenship, nation, revolution, and society – doctrines – such as liberalism, socialism, democracy, nationalism, conservatism, republicanism – and institutions – such as the modern State, citizenship, and constitutions – and thinkers – from Socrates to post-modern and post-colonial theorists. The course takes a contextual approach to the history of political thought. All the thinkers will be analyzed in connection with the historical context in which they operated to understand the problems and challenges they intended to address through their writings. The course focuses on the Western history of political thought. Yet, in the last two classes, it will also introduce the foundations of post-colonial theory and world history of political thought. The goal of the course is to provide students with a solid historical-theoretical foundation for addressing a wide range of political issues and challenges by developing a full understanding of the history of political thought and its relevance to contemporary political debates. The course will also provide fundamental tool to address the political problems that shape present times through historical-theoretical categories. By the end of this course, students will be able to: • Demonstrate an understanding of the key concepts and debates in the history of political thought; • Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources in political theory; • Develop their own arguments about political issues and questions; • Apply historical and theoretical knowledge to contemporary political debates; • Communicate their ideas effectively in oral form; • Engage in constructive debates with their peers.

Course Syllabus

The course offers a broad overview of the most significant ideas, thinkers, and theories in Western political thought from ancient Greece to the present. By the end of the course, students will develop a full understanding of the historical emergence and theoretical definition of key political concepts, – such as sovereignty, freedom, equality, justice, rights, citizenship, nation, revolution, and society – doctrines – such as liberalism, socialism, democracy, nationalism, conservatism, republicanism – and institutions – such as the modern State, citizenship, and constitutions – and thinkers – from Socrates to post-modern and post-colonial theorists. The course takes a contextual approach to the history of political thought. All the thinkers will be analyzed in connection with the historical context in which they operated to understand the problems and challenges they intended to address through their writings. The course focuses on the Western history of political thought. Yet, in the last two classes, it will also introduce the foundations of post-colonial theory and world history of political thought. The goal of the course is to provide students with a solid historical-theoretical foundation for addressing a wide range of political issues and challenges by developing a full understanding of the history of political thought and its relevance to contemporary political debates. The course will also provide fundamental tool to address the political problems that shape present times through historical-theoretical categories. By the end of this course, students will be able to: • Demonstrate an understanding of the key concepts and debates in the history of political thought; • Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources in political theory; • Develop their own arguments about political issues and questions; • Apply historical and theoretical knowledge to contemporary political debates; • Communicate their ideas effectively in oral form; • Engage in constructive debates with their peers.