In this course, aspects of social citizenship and social solidarity are dealt with in reference to social and gender inequalities, identity issues, migration and labour. Other topics that we will discuss are European identity and Europeanisation, institutional and political change, minorities, environmental issues, political populism.
I module. Non attending students can choose one of the following texts:
• Ayelet Shachar, The Birthright Lottery: Citizenship and Global Inequality, Harvard University
Press, Cambridge 2009.
• Leonardi L. & Scalise G., Social Challenges for Europe. Addressing failures and perspectives of the
European Project, Il Mulino, Bologna 2019.
II module. Non attending students can choose one of the following texts:
• Leonardi L., Tracce di un Rinascimento dell’Europa? La società europea tra conflitti di valore e
sfide globali, Il Mulino, Bologna 2020.
• Crouch C., Society and Social Change in 21st Century Europe, Palgrave Macmillan, London 2016.
The texts for attending students will be made available and suggested on Moodle.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
In terms of knowledge, the aim of this course is to develop the students’ capacity to critically understand social transformations in Europe, in particular the processes of change of social citizenship and solidarity. To this end, first we will provide them with a basic knowledge of institutions, actors, and ongoing processes of consolidation and change occurring at the continental level. Second, we will deploy a variety of critical and analytical tools (theories, concepts, empirical research methodologies, data sources) necessary to interpret the social dimension of the European integration process. Students will also be encouraged to understand social change in strict connection to both political and economic change.
In terms of skills, the course will: a) enable the students to conduct independent empirical research on the main phenomena characterising European societies; b) enable a critical approach to interpret European policies, with a specific focus on social citizenship and solidarity; c) enable the students to write short essays related to the sociology of Europe.
At a practical level, the students will develop: 1) oral communication skills; 2) academic writing abilities; 3) collaboration and teamwork capacities.
The acquired theoretical and methodological knowledge can be applied in public and private research institutions, in organisational and managerial roles within Non-Governmental Organisations, lobbies and companies operating at the European level, in fields such as migration, employment, education, gender equality, and social cohesion.
Prerequisites
Required skills
Basic knowledge of general sociology as well as English language skills are required to profitably follow the course.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Methods
I aim at obtaining interactive discussions in class on the basis of everybody’s actual knowledge of the reading of the materials assigned for each week. In my experience, such readings and discussions are an effective pedagogical tool for learning about a discipline, in this case that of social science, its methods, its concepts, and about social transformations in Europe in particular. Not the least, when successful, each class becomes an agreeable time and nice record for everybody.
In the first module, the instructor will offer a lecture on the week’s topic. In order to keep attention high and link theories to contemporary developments, lessons will also include the distribution of press articles and the screening of videos. In the second module, the students will be encouraged to work in small groups in order to prepare their oral presentations.
I plan to have the contribution of international scholars and researchers.
Further information
Structure of the course
The course will be divided in two modules. In the first one, the professor will offer lectures and interactive seminars with the eventual contribution of external researchers and scholars. For some activities, the Moodle space will be used. In the second module, the students will be asked to give an oral presentation to the class about the topics illustrated and discussed within the course.
Type of Assessment
Type of Assessment
Attending students will be asked to read the assigned materials for each session, present their own work and actively contribute to the classes. The final evaluation will be based on active participation, one in-class presentation, a final written report. For grading purposes, these different components carry the following weights:
• Attendance and active participation will constitute 30% of the total course mark;
• The oral presentation will constitute 30% of the total course mark;
• The final report will constitute 40% of the total course mark.
In-class presentation: all students, divided in small groups, are required to give a presentation to the class taking into consideration at least two analytical levels: politics from below and institutional politics. Presenters will have about 45 minutes, then a collective debate will follow, and the professor will act as a facilitator. In their presentation, students are expected to clearly introduce the topic, describe how it is framed at the societal and political level, considering both the problems and challenges, and the possible solutions. The presentations should also include references to the academic debate on the issue, of which we will talk together during the course. Finally, students are encouraged to express their point of view on the selected topic.
Final Essay. The final report is a 5/6 pages long thoughtful text on a specific aspect of one of the issues we have dealt with in the course. I suggest the students to proceed as follows: start from a research question that they are genuinely curious about. A research question should reflect an underlying tension and should force to weigh evidence and compare different opinions. Then, they can state a thesis, that is what kind of argument they hope to make. They also have to identify and indicate at least two bibliographical sources that are useful to address the question, specifying why the sources in question are apposite. Finally, they have to fully report their references.
Specific questions for writing the assessment and/or the research question may also be assigned by the professor.
The essay should be structured as follows: a title; the issue and argument (why the student has chosen it and the main thesis); an outline of the essay; the unfolding of the argument along entitled sections; a conclusion that reassesses the student’s point and that provides bibliographical clues for further reflection. It should include a bibliography.
Essay grading: The essay will be evaluated along the clarity of its argument, the clarity of its structure, the consistency of its follow-up, its engagement with the literature of the field, and the perspectives it opens for further reflection.
Non-attending students are required to sit for a two-hour written exam on the topics covered in the reading list of the course. The exam will consist in a short essay to two open-ended questions (out of three) of your choice. In order to pass the examination, the students must demonstrate knowledge of relevant theories and concepts as well as their critical and analytical ability to address contemporary social change in Europe.
Course program
Description of the course
The course adopts a comparative perspective to analyse contemporary European societies, social citizenship and social solidarity focusing on the main transformations and challenges linked to the processes of globalization and Europeanisation. In particular, we will address social and political changes, the crisis of social policy and of the welfare state, and the new demands for social citizenship and well-being linked to emerging social inequalities. A special attention will be devoted to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemics, also looking at the economic and social policies promoted by the EU to respond to the multilevel crisis which has ensued. The analysis is based on concepts and evidence coming from different sociological approaches, studies on Europeanisation, social movement studies, studies on parties and political systems.