Economic and Political Geography
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The aim of this Course is to provide an introduction to concepts and principles of Economic and Political Geography. It identifies the fundamental factors and relationships which are central to the formation of economic and political systems. It examines how the inter-relationships between changing economic structures and forms of political organization have shaped the geographies of human societies. This Course aims also at giving a basic knowledge of the concepts and the keywords of Economic and Political Geography (nation-state, borders, sovereignty, globalization, economic development and growth, political factors - domestic and international - that hinder economic development and so on), seen with a critical approach. The knowledge of political and economic geography will be complemented with the ability to analyze international relations from the point of view of geography, with some predictive capability.
Expected learning outcomes
Undefined
Lesson period: First 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
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First trimester
Course syllabus
The first teaching unit, dedicated to the political dimension of geography, will explore the fundamentals of the scientific discipline, i.e. space, territoriality and its historicity, the formation, and transformation of modern territorial states, frontiers and boundaries, the location and organization of political power within them and in different forms of coexistence. In this section will be also discussed issues related to the relationship between state/territory/economy, their mutual interaction, new forms of emerging regionalism, old and new forms of nationalism, the problems related to natural resources and the resulting latent or current conflicts, and the emerging geography of networks. Particular attention will be paid to new barriers, modern linear borders and their economic spin-offs ("neo-protectionism"), as they re-emerge globally. It will also provide a geographical-political picture of the major world regions (emerging or declining, compact or fragmented) of Western and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Arctic region, characterized by growing international disputes.
The second teaching unit, dedicated to the economic dimension of world geography, will deal first of all with globalization, its significance - both diachronic and synchronic - and its manifestations and consequences for the contemporary reality of the planet. It will then deal with the theme of the economic cycle and crises in their concrete origins and in economic theory, that of international trade and its implications, and finally that of economic development, productive transformations, and growth (economic growth), in spatial and geographical dimensions.
The second teaching unit, dedicated to the economic dimension of world geography, will deal first of all with globalization, its significance - both diachronic and synchronic - and its manifestations and consequences for the contemporary reality of the planet. It will then deal with the theme of the economic cycle and crises in their concrete origins and in economic theory, that of international trade and its implications, and finally that of economic development, productive transformations, and growth (economic growth), in spatial and geographical dimensions.
Prerequisites for admission
Prerequisites to attending the Course with profit are a good knowledge of world geography, modern and contemporary history, political theory and the fundamentals of economics. Suggested training:
International Relations, Political Science, Political Economy, Modern History, Economic History, History of Political Doctrines.
International Relations, Political Science, Political Economy, Modern History, Economic History, History of Political Doctrines.
Teaching methods
The course includes face-to-face teaching lessons but also constant interaction with the students attending. The institutional course will also be accompanied by a Laboratory held by a Professor (Research Assistant) with many years of experience. The modalities of attendance of the Laboratory will be provided at the beginning of the Institutional Course.
Teaching Resources
EXAM PROGRAM FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS
The exam requires knowledge of the course notes and the texts relating to teaching units A and B, i.e.:
TEACHING UNIT A
- J. Painter, A. Jeffrey, Political Geography, Turin, UTET, 2011.
- W. Reinhard, History of the Modern State, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010.
TEACHING UNIT B
- G. Dematteis, C. Lanza, F. Nano, A. Vanolo, Geografia dell'economia mondiale, Utet Università, 2010, 4th ed.
EXAM PROGRAM FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
For the examination, knowledge of the texts relating to teaching units A and B is required:
TEACHING UNIT A
- J. Painter, A. Jeffrey, Political Geography, Turin, UTET, 2011.
- W. Reinhard, History of the Modern State, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010.
TEACHING UNIT B
- G. Dematteis, C. Lanza, F. Nano, A. Vanolo, Geografia dell'economia mondiale, Utet Università, 2010, 4th ed.
Furthermore, the knowledge of ONLY ONE book from those indicated below is required:
- A. Violante, A. Vitale, L'Europa alle frontiere dell'Unione, Milan, Unicopli, 2010.
- D. Acemlogu, J. A. Robinson, Perché le nazioni falliiscono, Milano, Il Saggiatore 2013.
- H. de Soto, Il mistero del capitale, Milan, Garzanti 2001.
- O. Barié, From the Cold War to the Great Crisis. The New World of International Relations. Il Mulino, Bologna 2013.
- J. Breuilly, La formazione dello Stato nazionale tedesco, Il Mulino, Bologna 2004B. A. Raviola, L'Europa dei piccoli Stati. From the early modern age to the decline of the Old Regime. Carocci, Rome 2008.
- A. Violante, C. Fiamingo (ed.), The Great Wall has collapsed, Mimesis, Milano-Udine, 2014.
- R. Coase, N. Wang, Come la Cina è diventata un paese capitalista, IBL Libri, Milan, 2014.
- M. G. Mian, Arctic. The battle for the Great North. Neri Pozza, Vicenza 2018.
- D. Little, American Orientalism. The United States and the Middle East since 1945, Liberilibri, Macerata, 2007.
- E. Bignante, F. Celata, A. Vanolo, Geografie dello sviluppo: una prospettiva critica e globale, Utet (2014).
The exam requires knowledge of the course notes and the texts relating to teaching units A and B, i.e.:
TEACHING UNIT A
- J. Painter, A. Jeffrey, Political Geography, Turin, UTET, 2011.
- W. Reinhard, History of the Modern State, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010.
TEACHING UNIT B
- G. Dematteis, C. Lanza, F. Nano, A. Vanolo, Geografia dell'economia mondiale, Utet Università, 2010, 4th ed.
EXAM PROGRAM FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
For the examination, knowledge of the texts relating to teaching units A and B is required:
TEACHING UNIT A
- J. Painter, A. Jeffrey, Political Geography, Turin, UTET, 2011.
- W. Reinhard, History of the Modern State, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010.
TEACHING UNIT B
- G. Dematteis, C. Lanza, F. Nano, A. Vanolo, Geografia dell'economia mondiale, Utet Università, 2010, 4th ed.
Furthermore, the knowledge of ONLY ONE book from those indicated below is required:
- A. Violante, A. Vitale, L'Europa alle frontiere dell'Unione, Milan, Unicopli, 2010.
- D. Acemlogu, J. A. Robinson, Perché le nazioni falliiscono, Milano, Il Saggiatore 2013.
- H. de Soto, Il mistero del capitale, Milan, Garzanti 2001.
- O. Barié, From the Cold War to the Great Crisis. The New World of International Relations. Il Mulino, Bologna 2013.
- J. Breuilly, La formazione dello Stato nazionale tedesco, Il Mulino, Bologna 2004B. A. Raviola, L'Europa dei piccoli Stati. From the early modern age to the decline of the Old Regime. Carocci, Rome 2008.
- A. Violante, C. Fiamingo (ed.), The Great Wall has collapsed, Mimesis, Milano-Udine, 2014.
- R. Coase, N. Wang, Come la Cina è diventata un paese capitalista, IBL Libri, Milan, 2014.
- M. G. Mian, Arctic. The battle for the Great North. Neri Pozza, Vicenza 2018.
- D. Little, American Orientalism. The United States and the Middle East since 1945, Liberilibri, Macerata, 2007.
- E. Bignante, F. Celata, A. Vanolo, Geografie dello sviluppo: una prospettiva critica e globale, Utet (2014).
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination will take place in the scheduled sessions, in oral form and will be aimed at verifying learning. Due to the small number of hours of teaching scheduled for the Course, which is characterized by a wide range of topics and contents, the personal in-depth study and understanding of the manuals and chosen texts will be appreciated. For those students attending the Seminar Course attached to the Institutional Course, the final exam will be preceded by a test with the Seminar Lecturer, during which critical skills and active participation will also be evaluated. The exam consists of an interview on the scheduled topics, aimed at ascertaining the candidate's degree of preparation on the texts and notes of the seminar lessons. It is also intended to verify the content, exposition and methodological skills regarding the topics of the course.
M-GGR/02 - ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Vitale Alessandro
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Vitale AlessandroProfessor(s)
Reception:
Monday 15.30-18.30
office n. 12, Department of International Studies Conservatorio street, 7