Comparative Social Systems
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The course aims at providing suitable theoretical and analytical tools for the analysis of comparative social systems according to the main scientific approaches. Particular attention will be devoted to the main authors who have systematically dealt with concepts such as structure and social system and reflected on the interactions existing among different levels (macro vs. micro). Moreover, the comparison among different social systems will also focus on new issues such as those related to the field of migration, unemployment, and cultural diversity through a wide-ranging overview on a number of systemic variables (structural, relational, discursive, etc.) which play a crucial role in influencing actors' attitudes and conducts.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, will have pursued:
1. General competences
Knowledge and understanding of the main sociological approaches for the comparative study of social systems. Critical understanding of the main concepts related to the study of social systems (such as, inter alia, structure, system, order, episteme, habitus and structuration). Understanding of the effects of social systems on actors' attitudes and behaviours and of the restructuring of the system thanks to the agents themselves.
2. Specific competences
Understanding of the fields of migration, unemployment and cultural diversity through a comparative empirical study of social systems within a wide range of countries characterized by specific "opportunity structures".
1. General competences
Knowledge and understanding of the main sociological approaches for the comparative study of social systems. Critical understanding of the main concepts related to the study of social systems (such as, inter alia, structure, system, order, episteme, habitus and structuration). Understanding of the effects of social systems on actors' attitudes and behaviours and of the restructuring of the system thanks to the agents themselves.
2. Specific competences
Understanding of the fields of migration, unemployment and cultural diversity through a comparative empirical study of social systems within a wide range of countries characterized by specific "opportunity structures".
Lesson period: Third trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
A-K
Lesson period
Third trimester
Course syllabus
The program is devided in three parts. The first part concerns the analysis of the main aspects of modern western society. The focus will be on the main sociological concepts such as sthe birth of modern society, the social structure, religion, stratification. The knowledge of these arguments is necessary for the analysis of the different societies considered in the second and third part. The analysis and comparison of the following processes of modernization: USA, China, Japan, Iran and India.
Prerequisites for admission
no prerequisite required
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons; video projections about issues raised in the lessons; guest speaker's lessons that can contribute to the knwoledge of the different topics requested for the exam. Student participations in class with oral presentation on a chosen topic related to the material requested for the exam.
Teaching Resources
Ritzer, G. (2013) Introduzione alla sociologia, UTET, Torino; M. Graziosi, Alla Radice della Morale, Liguori;
Un testo a scelta tra i seguenti: Rana Mitter, La Cina moderna, Bruno Mondadori, 2009; Edward Luce A dispetto degli dei. L'inaspettata ascesa dell'India moderna, Editore Università Bocconi, 2007; Renzo Guolo, Generazione del fronte e altri saggi sociologici sull'Iran, Guerini, 2008; Chie Nakane, La società giapponese, Cortina.
Un testo a scelta tra i seguenti: Rana Mitter, La Cina moderna, Bruno Mondadori, 2009; Edward Luce A dispetto degli dei. L'inaspettata ascesa dell'India moderna, Editore Università Bocconi, 2007; Renzo Guolo, Generazione del fronte e altri saggi sociologici sull'Iran, Guerini, 2008; Chie Nakane, La società giapponese, Cortina.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Written exam which consists of a written test of 4 open questions. The questions will be graded each on the scale o-30. The students may have the possibility to give a short oral presentation in class about a chosen topic connected to the material requested for the exam.
Unità didattica 1
SPS/07 - GENERAL SOCIOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unità didattica 2
SPS/07 - GENERAL SOCIOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unità didattica 3
SPS/07 - GENERAL SOCIOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
L-Z
Responsible
Lesson period
Third trimester
Course syllabus
The course is divided into three modules. The starting point will be the analysis of the formation and fundamental characteristics of the so-called "modern western society". To this end, the first module focuses on the introduction of fundamental concepts of sociology in order to provide students with the necessary basic knowledge in view of subsequent in-depth study and comparison with other models of society: India, Japan, China. Specifically, the lessons of the first module addresses the following topics: the birth of modern society, the social structure, social control and deviance, religion, gender difference, family, social stratification, etc. aimed at providing students with the basic tools for the comparison with other societies: India, Japan and China. For this part students should refer to a textbook of sociology.
The second module will deal with the analysis of other models of social organization such as those of the following countries: China, India, and Japan.
The last part (the third module) will deal with topics related to intercultural relations and differences and the relation with otherness. After an introductory part aimed at providing a critical review of the conceptual tools mostly used in the field of social sciences - such as race, ethnicity, culture, stranger, stereotypes, prejudices, etc. - the course will focus on the analysis of the growing visibility of Islam in Europe and on the opportunities, as well as problems, related to the recognition of a truly European Islam in the public sphere.
The second module will deal with the analysis of other models of social organization such as those of the following countries: China, India, and Japan.
The last part (the third module) will deal with topics related to intercultural relations and differences and the relation with otherness. After an introductory part aimed at providing a critical review of the conceptual tools mostly used in the field of social sciences - such as race, ethnicity, culture, stranger, stereotypes, prejudices, etc. - the course will focus on the analysis of the growing visibility of Islam in Europe and on the opportunities, as well as problems, related to the recognition of a truly European Islam in the public sphere.
Prerequisites for admission
No specific knowledge is required to attend the course.
Teaching methods
The course includes frontal lectures, meetings with guests and privileged witnesses and an active participation of the students through interventions, written or oral presentations and group work.
Teaching Resources
First module
Ritzer, G. (2013) Introduzione alla sociologia, UTET, Torino.
Second module
A text of students' choice between:
Rana Mitter, La Cina moderna, Bruno Mondadori, 2009;
Edward Luce A dispetto degli dei. L'inaspettata ascesa dell'India moderna, Editore Università Bocconi, 2007;
Elise K. Tipton, Il Giappone moderno, Einaudi, 2011.
Third module
The reference materials for this module are:
Massari, M., "Islamofobia e retoriche dell'alterità" in M. Massari, Il corpo degli altri. Migrazioni, memorie, identità, Orthotes, Napoli-Salerno, 2017, pp. 67-90;
Massari, M., "Le altre donne: Islam, relazioni di genere e costruzioni sociali della modernità", in M. Massari, Il corpo degli altri. Migrazioni, memorie, identità, Orthotes, Napoli-Salerno, 2017, pp. 91-111;
Siebert, R., "Il lascito del colonialismo e la relazione con l'altro", in T. Grande, E. G. Parini (a cura di), Sociologia. Problemi, teorie, intrecci storici, Carocci, Roma, 2014, pp. 291-305;
Tabboni, S., "L'altro", in S. Tabboni, Lo straniero e l'altro, Liguori, Napoli, 2006, pp. 7-35;
Tabboni, S., "Lo straniero", in S. Tabboni, Lo straniero e l'altro, Liguori, Napoli, 2006, pp. 37-55.
For the oral presentation and/or final paper, attending students will receive further suggestions for useful reading (essays, articles that will be made available on Ariel).
Ritzer, G. (2013) Introduzione alla sociologia, UTET, Torino.
Second module
A text of students' choice between:
Rana Mitter, La Cina moderna, Bruno Mondadori, 2009;
Edward Luce A dispetto degli dei. L'inaspettata ascesa dell'India moderna, Editore Università Bocconi, 2007;
Elise K. Tipton, Il Giappone moderno, Einaudi, 2011.
Third module
The reference materials for this module are:
Massari, M., "Islamofobia e retoriche dell'alterità" in M. Massari, Il corpo degli altri. Migrazioni, memorie, identità, Orthotes, Napoli-Salerno, 2017, pp. 67-90;
Massari, M., "Le altre donne: Islam, relazioni di genere e costruzioni sociali della modernità", in M. Massari, Il corpo degli altri. Migrazioni, memorie, identità, Orthotes, Napoli-Salerno, 2017, pp. 91-111;
Siebert, R., "Il lascito del colonialismo e la relazione con l'altro", in T. Grande, E. G. Parini (a cura di), Sociologia. Problemi, teorie, intrecci storici, Carocci, Roma, 2014, pp. 291-305;
Tabboni, S., "L'altro", in S. Tabboni, Lo straniero e l'altro, Liguori, Napoli, 2006, pp. 7-35;
Tabboni, S., "Lo straniero", in S. Tabboni, Lo straniero e l'altro, Liguori, Napoli, 2006, pp. 37-55.
For the oral presentation and/or final paper, attending students will receive further suggestions for useful reading (essays, articles that will be made available on Ariel).
Assessment methods and Criteria
There will be two written tests for attending students: one at the end of the second module (on the contents of the first and second modules) and one at the end of the course (on the contents of the third module). In both cases, the test will consist of three open questions evaluated on a scale of 0-30.
Attending students can choose to participate in team work and produce a written essay (on the contents of the first and second modules). This work will be discussed in the classroom and, if its assessment receives a good evaluation, will complement the final exam mark.
For not attending students the exam is written and consists of three open questions concerning the texts of the program, evaluated on a scale of 0-30.
The assessment will take into account the ability to critically address the programme topics, to compare different social systems in order to show the differences and similarities between the social organizations and the types of social interaction forming different societies, to analyse the formation of modern society in Western Europe focusing in particular on the western model of civilization.
Attending students can choose to participate in team work and produce a written essay (on the contents of the first and second modules). This work will be discussed in the classroom and, if its assessment receives a good evaluation, will complement the final exam mark.
For not attending students the exam is written and consists of three open questions concerning the texts of the program, evaluated on a scale of 0-30.
The assessment will take into account the ability to critically address the programme topics, to compare different social systems in order to show the differences and similarities between the social organizations and the types of social interaction forming different societies, to analyse the formation of modern society in Western Europe focusing in particular on the western model of civilization.
Unità didattica 1
SPS/07 - GENERAL SOCIOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Santoro Monica
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Santoro Monica
Unità didattica 2
SPS/07 - GENERAL SOCIOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Santoro Monica
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Santoro Monica
Unità didattica 3
SPS/07 - GENERAL SOCIOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Massari Monica
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Massari MonicaProfessor(s)
Reception:
Presso lo studio della docente (piano ammezzato sopra al bar) o su Teams