Economic and Political Geography
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the basic concepts of Economic and Political Geography (the nation state, borders, boundaries, sovereignty, globalization, economic development and growth, fight against poverty, etc.) in an interdisciplinary perspective, emphasizing the deep interrelationships between the two dimensions, in order to facilitate the understanding of the dynamics underway in the contemporary world. Taking into account both the historical evolution and the general principles of economic and political theory and the approaches that characterize them, studied in a critical key, the course explains how the interrelationships between the variable economic structures and forms of political organization have shaped the geographies of human societies and vice versa. It also aspires to provide adequate skills to read the interactions between geography, economics and politics, with the aim of developing, within the limits of the human sciences, embryonic predictive abilities.
Expected learning outcomes
Ability to understand the fundamental concepts and themes of Economic and Political Geography. By the end of the course the student will have acquired the basic knowledge to understand the global economic and political dynamics that depend on geographical factors and that in turn react to these factors producing more or less predictable results. Ability to understand, analyze and interpret, applying the theoretical tools and knowledge acquired, the most relevant phenomena readable through the lens of Economic and Political Geography, which is based on a complex multidisciplinary perspective, often absent in similar subjects.
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
TEACHING METHODS
Classes will be taught following the lessons timetable and will be live-streamed on Zoom (or on Microsoft Teams in case of difficulties). Students will be able to attend remotely, following the lessons timetable.
SYLLABUS
The course programme is unchanged. However, the specific contents of classes will adapt to the teaching methods outlined above.
TEACHING RESOURCES
Reference materials will be indicated on the Ariel course website.
ASSESSMENT METHODS AND CRITERIA
The course will involve lectures, the participation of experts and class discussions. All students are strongly encouraged to actively participate during class discussions and activities.
The examination will take place in the scheduled sessions.
Students will be graded on their ability to examine specific topics explained during the classes or in books and book chapters, to draw logical conclusions and on their ability to engage in reflexive and independent thinking.
Detailed instructions will be provided in class.
Classes will be taught following the lessons timetable and will be live-streamed on Zoom (or on Microsoft Teams in case of difficulties). Students will be able to attend remotely, following the lessons timetable.
SYLLABUS
The course programme is unchanged. However, the specific contents of classes will adapt to the teaching methods outlined above.
TEACHING RESOURCES
Reference materials will be indicated on the Ariel course website.
ASSESSMENT METHODS AND CRITERIA
The course will involve lectures, the participation of experts and class discussions. All students are strongly encouraged to actively participate during class discussions and activities.
The examination will take place in the scheduled sessions.
Students will be graded on their ability to examine specific topics explained during the classes or in books and book chapters, to draw logical conclusions and on their ability to engage in reflexive and independent thinking.
Detailed instructions will be provided in class.
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 teaching distance lessons but also a constant interaction with the students attending.
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:
- G. Dematteis, C. Lanza, F. Nano, A. Vanolo, Geografia dell'economia mondiale, Utet Università, 2010, 4a ed.
Furthermore, the knowledge of ONLY ONE book from those indicated below is required:
- A. Violante, A. Vitale, L'Europa alle frontiere dell'Unione, Milano, Unicopli, 2010.
- M. Graziano, Frontiere, Il Mulino 2017.
- Ch. S. Maier, Dentro i confini. Einaudi 2019.
- F. Dini, P. Romei, F. Randelli, Geografia Economica. Mercati, imprese, ambiente e le sfide del mondo contemporaneo. Mondadori Università, 2020.
- E. Bignante, F. Celata, A. Vanolo, Geografie dello sviluppo: una prospettiva critica e globale, Utet, 2014.
- D. Acemlogu, J. A. Robinson, Perchè le nazioni falliscono. Alle origini di potenza, prosperità e povertà. Il Saggiatore, 2013.
- H. De Soto, Il mistero del capitale. Perché il capitalismo ha trionfato in Occidente e ha fallito nel resto del mondo. Garzanti, 2001.
- R. Coase, N. Wang, Come la Cina è diventata un paese capitalista, IBL Libri, Milano, 2014.
- M. G. Mian, Artico. La battaglia per il grande Nord. Neri Pozza, Vicenza 2018.
- D. Little, Orientalismo americano. Stati Uniti e Medio Oriente dal 1945, Liberilibri, Macerata, 2007.
- A. Raviola, L'Europa dei piccoli Stati. Dalla prima età moderna al declino dell'Antico Regime. Carocci, Roma 2008.
- J. Breuilly, La formazione dello Stato nazionale tedesco, Il Mulino, 2004.
- O. Barié, Dalla guerra fredda alla grande crisi. Il nuovo mondo delle relazioni internazionali. Il Mulino, 2013.
- A. Violante, C. Fiamingo (a cura di), La Grande Muraglia è crollata, Mimesis, 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:
- G. Dematteis, C. Lanza, F. Nano, A. Vanolo, Geografia dell'economia mondiale, Utet Università, 2010, 4a ed.
Furthermore, the knowledge of ONLY ONE book from those indicated below is required:
- A. Violante, A. Vitale, L'Europa alle frontiere dell'Unione, Milano, Unicopli, 2010.
- M. Graziano, Frontiere, Il Mulino 2017.
- Ch. S. Maier, Dentro i confini. Einaudi 2019.
- F. Dini, P. Romei, F. Randelli, Geografia Economica. Mercati, imprese, ambiente e le sfide del mondo contemporaneo. Mondadori Università, 2020.
- E. Bignante, F. Celata, A. Vanolo, Geografie dello sviluppo: una prospettiva critica e globale, Utet, 2014.
- D. Acemlogu, J. A. Robinson, Perchè le nazioni falliscono. Alle origini di potenza, prosperità e povertà. Il Saggiatore, 2013.
- H. De Soto, Il mistero del capitale. Perché il capitalismo ha trionfato in Occidente e ha fallito nel resto del mondo. Garzanti, 2001.
- R. Coase, N. Wang, Come la Cina è diventata un paese capitalista, IBL Libri, Milano, 2014.
- M. G. Mian, Artico. La battaglia per il grande Nord. Neri Pozza, Vicenza 2018.
- D. Little, Orientalismo americano. Stati Uniti e Medio Oriente dal 1945, Liberilibri, Macerata, 2007.
- A. Raviola, L'Europa dei piccoli Stati. Dalla prima età moderna al declino dell'Antico Regime. Carocci, Roma 2008.
- J. Breuilly, La formazione dello Stato nazionale tedesco, Il Mulino, 2004.
- O. Barié, Dalla guerra fredda alla grande crisi. Il nuovo mondo delle relazioni internazionali. Il Mulino, 2013.
- A. Violante, C. Fiamingo (a cura di), La Grande Muraglia è crollata, Mimesis, 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 difficult topics and contents, the personal in-depth study and understanding of the manuals and chosen texts will be highly appreciated. 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
Professor(s)
Reception:
Monday 15.30-18.30
office n. 12, Department of International Studies Conservatorio street, 7