Society, Law, and Development
A.Y. 2021/2022
Learning objectives
The course's objective is primarily to explore the basic sociological concepts in the understanding of modern societies and their development, with a particular emphasis on sustainability. The workshop on Social mobility and social inequality will examine the theoretical approaches of the social sciences to inequalities.
Expected learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
- articulate orally and in writing an original and critical stance on the different social theories concerning the functioning of social groups and individual behaviour.
- understand and evaluating critically the core sociological and socio-legal concepts, which are relevant to sustainable development;
- understanding the methodology of formulating hypotheses and verifying testable propositions in the social sciences.
- articulate orally and in writing an original and critical stance on the different social theories concerning the functioning of social groups and individual behaviour.
- understand and evaluating critically the core sociological and socio-legal concepts, which are relevant to sustainable development;
- understanding the methodology of formulating hypotheses and verifying testable propositions in the social sciences.
Lesson period: First semester
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 semester
More specific information on the delivery modes of training activities for academic year 2021/2022 will be provided over the coming months, based on the evolution of the public health situation
Course syllabus
Society, law, and development (Prof. Luigi Cominelli)
(6 ECTS)
· Introduction: sustainability and society (week 1)
· Sociological concepts and social research methods (week 2)
· Groups, classes and inequality (week 3)
· Social Action and Organizations (week 4)
· Law and Development (week 5)
· Conflict and violence (week 6)
· Behavior and emotion (week 7)
· Behavior and sustainability (week 8)
· Law and social control - Deviance (week 9)
· Legal pluralism and globalization (week 10)
Workshop on: Social mobility and social inequality (Prof. Barbara Bello)
(3 ECTS)
1) In/equalitity: Theories and definitions in an interdisciplinary perspective (week 1)
2) From "Gender" and "Race" to "GendeRace" responses to inequalities and beyond: A field of intersectionality studies (week 2)
3) Differentiated legal status and crimmigration: Citizenship, Denizenship and "Other" status (week
4) Forms of capital and social mobility (week 4)
5) Subaltern and post-colonial studies: Epistemology of the South (week 5)
6) How many "Worlds"? Linking the micro to the macro (week 6)
7) Hate speech, freedom of expression and inequalities in the web (week 7)
8) Agency, empowerment and civil resistance: trans/national movements and NGOs (week 8)
9) Anthropocene: climate change and inequalities (week 9)
10) Development and Feminism (week 10)
(6 ECTS)
· Introduction: sustainability and society (week 1)
· Sociological concepts and social research methods (week 2)
· Groups, classes and inequality (week 3)
· Social Action and Organizations (week 4)
· Law and Development (week 5)
· Conflict and violence (week 6)
· Behavior and emotion (week 7)
· Behavior and sustainability (week 8)
· Law and social control - Deviance (week 9)
· Legal pluralism and globalization (week 10)
Workshop on: Social mobility and social inequality (Prof. Barbara Bello)
(3 ECTS)
1) In/equalitity: Theories and definitions in an interdisciplinary perspective (week 1)
2) From "Gender" and "Race" to "GendeRace" responses to inequalities and beyond: A field of intersectionality studies (week 2)
3) Differentiated legal status and crimmigration: Citizenship, Denizenship and "Other" status (week
4) Forms of capital and social mobility (week 4)
5) Subaltern and post-colonial studies: Epistemology of the South (week 5)
6) How many "Worlds"? Linking the micro to the macro (week 6)
7) Hate speech, freedom of expression and inequalities in the web (week 7)
8) Agency, empowerment and civil resistance: trans/national movements and NGOs (week 8)
9) Anthropocene: climate change and inequalities (week 9)
10) Development and Feminism (week 10)
Prerequisites for admission
None
Teaching methods
The first part of the course will deal with the most influential theories of power, status, social stratification, justice, development and bureaucracy, with references to the latest empirical research and the support of selected readings of the classics of sociology and social sciences. With the theoretical foundations and concepts of sociology, we will review the methods of social research, to understand the capabilities and limitations of field research. In the second part, the course will explore the social foundations of development, underdevelopment and inequality, with its dynamics of social change, both inter-state and inter-individual. In the third part, the course will analyze the reciprocal interactions between society and the legal system, that is, how the law affects and is affected by the most important social processes. We will address in particular the issues of law as a social institution, the perception and the sense of justice, the management and resolution of conflicts, and the processes of globalization and migration.
Teaching Resources
Selected chapters from the following textbooks, which are available on the UNIMI digital library or open-access:
- Frank Elwell, Sociocultural Systems (https://www.aupress.ca/books/120219-sociocultural-systems/)
- The Cambridge Handbook of Sociology
- The Cambridge Handbook of Environmental Sociology
- The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Sociology
Further readings will be provided on ARIEL.
- Frank Elwell, Sociocultural Systems (https://www.aupress.ca/books/120219-sociocultural-systems/)
- The Cambridge Handbook of Sociology
- The Cambridge Handbook of Environmental Sociology
- The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Sociology
Further readings will be provided on ARIEL.
Assessment methods and Criteria
1. Course attendance and class discussion of reading assignments: 30%
2. A mid-term oral test (October/November): 30%
3. A final-term written test (January/February): 40%
2. A mid-term oral test (October/November): 30%
3. A final-term written test (January/February): 40%
Society, law, and development
SPS/12 - SOCIOLOGY OF LAW, DEVIANCE AND SOCIAL CHANGE - University credits: 6
Lessons: 42 hours
Professor:
Cominelli Luigi
Workshop on: Social mobility and social inequality
SPS/12 - SOCIOLOGY OF LAW, DEVIANCE AND SOCIAL CHANGE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 21 hours
Professor:
Bello Barbara Giovanna
Professor(s)
Reception:
Office hours: Tuesday 10,30 am-12,30 pm (online on MS Teams, Team code 7kv5eto)
Room 2011 - Dept. Cesare Beccaria - Sect. Philosophy and Sociology of Law