Sociology of Intercultural Relations
A.Y. 2021/2022
Learning objectives
The course aims to address the issue of intercultural relations from a sociological point of view. In contexts increasingly marked by difference, multiculturalism and globalization we need to learn the key elements that may facilitate or hinder intercultural relations, both in formal and institutional, as in informal settings.
Expected learning outcomes
The course provides students with theoretical and practical tools to read and interpret the places of work and social life, based on a non essentialist vision of culture and to be able to undertake autonomously further study and action in these areas.
Lesson period: Second 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
Lesson period
Second semester
The course will be carried out by remote through the Microsoft Teams Platform. Students will find the link to access the course on the Ariel Platform. The online lectures will be partly 'frontal' and partly dedicated to discussions, team works, and exercises. Digital tools made available by the platform to coordinate and evaluate students' works during the course will be also used.
Course syllabus
The course aims at stimulating in students a reflection on the different theoretical approaches to the concept of difference and on the respective sociological implications, in terms of relational dynamics with it and of theoretical and practical proposals for its effective recognition in contemporary multicultural societies, as well as to develop intercultural sensitivity and competences for effective communicative behaviors in the interaction between different cultural groups.
Specifically, the course will be organized around the following main themes:
- Relevance of difference in multicultural societies: what differences; difference as essence and as process; fear of difference; main areas and proposals of multiculturalism.
- Development of intercultural sensitivity and competence: constructivist cognitivism; ethnocentrism and ethnorelativism; sympathy/empathy; obstacles to intercultural communication.
- Relationship with otherness: relational dynamics between community and foreigner; the gaze on the other, the gaze of the other; the other in Arab culture; prejudices, stereotypes and discrimination.
- Media and intercultural dialogue: main narrative styles and medial frames in immigration news and interference of medial narratives in intercultural practices with migrants.
- Relational reason: the perspective of relational sociology as a proposal for a better management of the encounter between cultures in contemporary society...beyond interculturality?
Students attending the course are expected to acquire the skills to recognize, understand and discuss:
- the main typologies (and their implications) of the demands for the recognition of own's cultural differences, what areas they concern and what normative and pragmatic proposals have been put forward so far;
- the main theoretical paradigms on which the proposed approach to intercultural communication is based, the practical implications in terms of developing intercultural sensitivity and competence, and the main obstacles;
- the contribution of classical Western sociology on the relationship between foreigner and community, and a non-Western sociological perspective on the relationship with otherness;
- the main media styles in reference to the phenomenon of migration and the implications for intercultural dialogue practices in interested publics;
- the principles of relational sociology as applied to the field of multiculturalism and interculturality.
Specifically, the course will be organized around the following main themes:
- Relevance of difference in multicultural societies: what differences; difference as essence and as process; fear of difference; main areas and proposals of multiculturalism.
- Development of intercultural sensitivity and competence: constructivist cognitivism; ethnocentrism and ethnorelativism; sympathy/empathy; obstacles to intercultural communication.
- Relationship with otherness: relational dynamics between community and foreigner; the gaze on the other, the gaze of the other; the other in Arab culture; prejudices, stereotypes and discrimination.
- Media and intercultural dialogue: main narrative styles and medial frames in immigration news and interference of medial narratives in intercultural practices with migrants.
- Relational reason: the perspective of relational sociology as a proposal for a better management of the encounter between cultures in contemporary society...beyond interculturality?
Students attending the course are expected to acquire the skills to recognize, understand and discuss:
- the main typologies (and their implications) of the demands for the recognition of own's cultural differences, what areas they concern and what normative and pragmatic proposals have been put forward so far;
- the main theoretical paradigms on which the proposed approach to intercultural communication is based, the practical implications in terms of developing intercultural sensitivity and competence, and the main obstacles;
- the contribution of classical Western sociology on the relationship between foreigner and community, and a non-Western sociological perspective on the relationship with otherness;
- the main media styles in reference to the phenomenon of migration and the implications for intercultural dialogue practices in interested publics;
- the principles of relational sociology as applied to the field of multiculturalism and interculturality.
Prerequisites for admission
Curiosity and sensitivity towards cultural difference, interest in observing forms of interaction between different cultures. Possession of basic sociological knowledge is desirable, but not mandatory, in particular in relation to the Sociology of Cultural Processes.
Teaching methods
The course (entirely in virtual classroom) includes frontal lessons in which the topics (themes, perspectives of analysis and theoretical paradigms) proposed by the bibliographical references of the program will be introduced, explained and contextualized; during the frontal lessons, the active participation of the students will be stimulated. Students will be invited to revise and discuss together, at the beginning of each lesson, the main themes dealt with in the previous lesson, as well as to share feedback, impressions and requests for clarification at the end of the lesson. These frontal lessons will be alternated with shared reflections on some concrete situations of intercultural relations, as well as the exposition, by the students, of group work through classroom presentations.
Teaching Resources
References:
- Colombo, E. (2011). Le società multiculturali. Roma: Carocci (fino al cap. 6 incluso);
- Bennett, M.J. (2015). Principi di comunicazione interculturale. Paradigmi e pratiche. Milano: FrancoAngeli;
- Schutz, A. (2013). Lo straniero. Un saggio di psicologia sociale. Trieste: Asterios (fino a pag. 34);
- Simmel, G. (2006). Lo straniero (a cura di D. Simon). Roma: Il Segnalibro;
- Labib, A. (2006). "L'altro nella cultura araba", in Labib, A., Sarawi, H., Hanafi, H. L'altro nella cultura araba. Messina: Mesogea (fino a pag. 107);
- Ieracitano F., Vigneri F. (2016), «The Interference of the Mass media in the Intercultural Dialogue during the Emergency Landings in the Mediterranean: Between Reality and Representation», Journal of Mediterranean Knowledge-JMK, 1, 2, p. 143-163 (scaricabile online);
- Donati, P. (2008). Oltre il multiculturalismo. La ragione relazionale per un mondo comune. Bari: Editori Laterza;
- Additional handouts to be downloaded from the web (professor's webpage).
- Colombo, E. (2011). Le società multiculturali. Roma: Carocci (fino al cap. 6 incluso);
- Bennett, M.J. (2015). Principi di comunicazione interculturale. Paradigmi e pratiche. Milano: FrancoAngeli;
- Schutz, A. (2013). Lo straniero. Un saggio di psicologia sociale. Trieste: Asterios (fino a pag. 34);
- Simmel, G. (2006). Lo straniero (a cura di D. Simon). Roma: Il Segnalibro;
- Labib, A. (2006). "L'altro nella cultura araba", in Labib, A., Sarawi, H., Hanafi, H. L'altro nella cultura araba. Messina: Mesogea (fino a pag. 107);
- Ieracitano F., Vigneri F. (2016), «The Interference of the Mass media in the Intercultural Dialogue during the Emergency Landings in the Mediterranean: Between Reality and Representation», Journal of Mediterranean Knowledge-JMK, 1, 2, p. 143-163 (scaricabile online);
- Donati, P. (2008). Oltre il multiculturalismo. La ragione relazionale per un mondo comune. Bari: Editori Laterza;
- Additional handouts to be downloaded from the web (professor's webpage).
Assessment methods and Criteria
Interim evaluations consisting of group work projects on some of the topics addressed during the course. The working projects will consist of case study analyses, through which students will have to demonstrate the adequate application of the perspectives and theoretical paradigms introduced and discussed during the lessons. Specifically, each group will work on two projects, the first to be presented in the (virtual) classroom, the second to be handed in by the end of the course. The grade of the two interim evaluations will account for 40% of the final grade. The remaining 60% will be assigned on the basis of the results of a final closed-ended test, to be performed in person, aimed at assessing the knowledge of the topics covered in the course not concerned by the interim evaluations.
Students who decide not to attend the course and therefore not to participate in the interim evaluations, as well as attending students who do not reach the minimum score of 18/30 as a result of the interim evaluations, will perform, in addition to the closed-ended test, a written test (in presence) consisting of three open-ended questions (the closed-ended test must be successfully passed in order for the second written test to be included in the overall evaluation). Two questions will focus on the presentation of two case studies that the students will have to analyze through the concepts and the analysis perspectives proposed by the bibliography of the course; the third question will be aimed at the exposition of one of the theoretical paradigms proposed by the bibliography of the course.
If it is not possible to perform the written tests, these will be replaced by oral tests through the Microsoft Teams platform.
Students who decide not to attend the course and therefore not to participate in the interim evaluations, as well as attending students who do not reach the minimum score of 18/30 as a result of the interim evaluations, will perform, in addition to the closed-ended test, a written test (in presence) consisting of three open-ended questions (the closed-ended test must be successfully passed in order for the second written test to be included in the overall evaluation). Two questions will focus on the presentation of two case studies that the students will have to analyze through the concepts and the analysis perspectives proposed by the bibliography of the course; the third question will be aimed at the exposition of one of the theoretical paradigms proposed by the bibliography of the course.
If it is not possible to perform the written tests, these will be replaced by oral tests through the Microsoft Teams platform.
SPS/08 - SOCIOLOGY OF CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Vigneri Francesco
Educational website(s)