Economic and Political Geography
A.Y. 2022/2023
Learning objectives
The course aims to increase the students' awareness of the growing importance of the geopolitical factor in the presence and development of primary forms of organized crime. It analyses the role that States and their conflicts or alliances can have (and often have) in the generation or stabilization of criminal scenarios.
The concept of geopolitics is used in a perspective that goes beyond interstate relations and the dynamics of formation and recognition of States and governments. Within different international contexts, such perspective explains the development of illegal activities and violent practices as possibly used by States and governments, or legitimized in their own or others' territory, including cases of violation of internationally recognized principles and values, such as human rights.
The course explores some cases in history that are useful to identify the several ways geopolitical and criminal dimension can be connected. Among them, the case of post-war Italy, where the Sicilian mafia enjoyed forms of tolerance, if not even legitimation, because of the division of the world operated in Yalta and the crucial geopolitical position of the country. The different case of the Balkan wars of the late twentieth century reveals the repercussions of those conflicts on the genesis and growth of new criminal groups (or on the opportunities opened up for pre-existing criminals). The role played by colonialism in the Far East is also studied, as contributing to favourable scenarios for the development of criminal activities and illegal economy.
By exploring these and other study contexts, the course aims to develop the students' ability to analyze the relationships between different criminal phenomenologies and the typical characteristics of international historical contexts in the light of geopolitical variables. More generally, the course will provide students with the adequate complex approach that is necessary for the study of the causes behind the presence of organized crime in global society, and enhance their skills for the evaluation of national and international strategies to counter it.
The concept of geopolitics is used in a perspective that goes beyond interstate relations and the dynamics of formation and recognition of States and governments. Within different international contexts, such perspective explains the development of illegal activities and violent practices as possibly used by States and governments, or legitimized in their own or others' territory, including cases of violation of internationally recognized principles and values, such as human rights.
The course explores some cases in history that are useful to identify the several ways geopolitical and criminal dimension can be connected. Among them, the case of post-war Italy, where the Sicilian mafia enjoyed forms of tolerance, if not even legitimation, because of the division of the world operated in Yalta and the crucial geopolitical position of the country. The different case of the Balkan wars of the late twentieth century reveals the repercussions of those conflicts on the genesis and growth of new criminal groups (or on the opportunities opened up for pre-existing criminals). The role played by colonialism in the Far East is also studied, as contributing to favourable scenarios for the development of criminal activities and illegal economy.
By exploring these and other study contexts, the course aims to develop the students' ability to analyze the relationships between different criminal phenomenologies and the typical characteristics of international historical contexts in the light of geopolitical variables. More generally, the course will provide students with the adequate complex approach that is necessary for the study of the causes behind the presence of organized crime in global society, and enhance their skills for the evaluation of national and international strategies to counter it.
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
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 in-presence didactic lectures, which are simultaneously delivered electronically, maintaining constant interaction with students.
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:
- M. Jones, R. Jones, M. Whitehead, M. Woods, D. Dixon, M. Hannah, Introduzione alla Geografia politica. Spazi, luoghi, politiche, Torino, UTET Università, 2021 (Capitoli 1,2,3,5,6,8,9,11).
- W. Reinhard, Storia dello stato moderno, Bologna, il Mulino, 2010.
TEACHING UNIT B
- F. Dini, P. Romei, F. Randelli, Geografia Economica. Mercati, imprese, ambiente e le sfide del mondo contemporaneo. Mondadori Università, 2020.
EXAM PROGRAM FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
For the examination, knowledge of the texts relating to teaching units A and B is required:
- M. Jones, R. Jones, M. Whitehead, M. Woods, D. Dixon, M. Hannah, Introduzione alla Geografia politica. Spazi, luoghi, politiche, Torino, UTET Università, 2021 (Capitoli 1,2,3,5,6,8,9,11).
- W. Reinhard, Storia dello stato moderno, Bologna, il Mulino, 2010.
TEACHING UNIT B
- F. Dini, P. Romei, F. Randelli, Geografia Economica. Mercati, imprese, ambiente e le sfide del mondo contemporaneo. Mondadori Università, 2020.
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.
- E. Bignante, F. Celata, A. Vanolo, Geografie dello sviluppo. Una prospettiva critica e globale, Utet, 2022 (seconda edizione). (Capitoli 1,2,5,6)
- J. Baechler, Le origini del capitalismo, IBL Libri 2015.
- N. Rosenberg, L. E. Birdzell, Come l'Occidente è diventato ricco. Le trasformazioni economiche del mondo industriale. Il Mulino 1997.
- D. Acemlogu, J. A. Robinson, Perchè le nazioni falliscono. Alle origini di potenza, prosperità e povertà. Il Saggiatore, 2013.
- R. Zitelman, La forza del capitalismo. Un viaggio nella storia recente di cinque continenti. IBL Libri 2020.
- 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, 2014.
- D. S. Landes, La ricchezza e la povertà delle nazioni. Perché alcune sono così ricche e altre così povere. Garzanti, 2002.
- M. G. Mian, Artico. La battaglia per il grande Nord. Neri Pozza, Vicenza 2018.
- J. Breuilly, La formazione dello Stato nazionale tedesco, Il Mulino, 2004.
- A. Violante, C. Fiamingo (a cura di), La Grande Muraglia è crollata, Mimesis, 2014.
- Hansen V., La scoperta del mondo. L'anno Mille e l'inizio della globalizzazione, Mondadori 2021.
- Bellezza S.A. (a cura di), Atlante geopolitico dello spazio post-sovietico, Scholé (Morcelliana), 2022, (book to study for the exam along with:) Bellezza S.A., Il destino dell'Ucraina, il futuro dell'Europa, Scholé (Morcelliana), 2022.
- Cella G., Storia e geopolitica della crisi ucraina. Dalla Rus' di Kiev a oggi. Carocci, 2022 (seconda ristampa).
The exam requires knowledge of the course notes and the texts relating to teaching units A and B, i.e.:
TEACHING UNIT A:
- M. Jones, R. Jones, M. Whitehead, M. Woods, D. Dixon, M. Hannah, Introduzione alla Geografia politica. Spazi, luoghi, politiche, Torino, UTET Università, 2021 (Capitoli 1,2,3,5,6,8,9,11).
- W. Reinhard, Storia dello stato moderno, Bologna, il Mulino, 2010.
TEACHING UNIT B
- F. Dini, P. Romei, F. Randelli, Geografia Economica. Mercati, imprese, ambiente e le sfide del mondo contemporaneo. Mondadori Università, 2020.
EXAM PROGRAM FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
For the examination, knowledge of the texts relating to teaching units A and B is required:
- M. Jones, R. Jones, M. Whitehead, M. Woods, D. Dixon, M. Hannah, Introduzione alla Geografia politica. Spazi, luoghi, politiche, Torino, UTET Università, 2021 (Capitoli 1,2,3,5,6,8,9,11).
- W. Reinhard, Storia dello stato moderno, Bologna, il Mulino, 2010.
TEACHING UNIT B
- F. Dini, P. Romei, F. Randelli, Geografia Economica. Mercati, imprese, ambiente e le sfide del mondo contemporaneo. Mondadori Università, 2020.
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.
- E. Bignante, F. Celata, A. Vanolo, Geografie dello sviluppo. Una prospettiva critica e globale, Utet, 2022 (seconda edizione). (Capitoli 1,2,5,6)
- J. Baechler, Le origini del capitalismo, IBL Libri 2015.
- N. Rosenberg, L. E. Birdzell, Come l'Occidente è diventato ricco. Le trasformazioni economiche del mondo industriale. Il Mulino 1997.
- D. Acemlogu, J. A. Robinson, Perchè le nazioni falliscono. Alle origini di potenza, prosperità e povertà. Il Saggiatore, 2013.
- R. Zitelman, La forza del capitalismo. Un viaggio nella storia recente di cinque continenti. IBL Libri 2020.
- 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, 2014.
- D. S. Landes, La ricchezza e la povertà delle nazioni. Perché alcune sono così ricche e altre così povere. Garzanti, 2002.
- M. G. Mian, Artico. La battaglia per il grande Nord. Neri Pozza, Vicenza 2018.
- J. Breuilly, La formazione dello Stato nazionale tedesco, Il Mulino, 2004.
- A. Violante, C. Fiamingo (a cura di), La Grande Muraglia è crollata, Mimesis, 2014.
- Hansen V., La scoperta del mondo. L'anno Mille e l'inizio della globalizzazione, Mondadori 2021.
- Bellezza S.A. (a cura di), Atlante geopolitico dello spazio post-sovietico, Scholé (Morcelliana), 2022, (book to study for the exam along with:) Bellezza S.A., Il destino dell'Ucraina, il futuro dell'Europa, Scholé (Morcelliana), 2022.
- Cella G., Storia e geopolitica della crisi ucraina. Dalla Rus' di Kiev a oggi. Carocci, 2022 (seconda ristampa).
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination will take place in oral form in the scheduled sessions and will be aimed at verifying learning. Due to the small number of teaching hours foreseen for a course that is generally characterized by very broad and complex themes and contents, both theoretical and empirical, not only the understanding of the manuals and texts of choice will be appreciated, but also the personal exploration and critical spirit in addressing the study.
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.
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
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Monday 15.30-18.30
office n. 12, Department of International Studies Conservatorio street, 7