Global Processes of Information Society

The concept of globalization has been traditionally the object of academic and political controversies, that have been exacerbated by the development of the past decade (2007-2008 Great Recession, emergence of populism, etc.). Rhetorics, myths, and biases surround today the concept of globalization especially on issues such as the future of work, robotisation, immigration, free-trade and protectionism, fake news and populism. In this context the course aims to treat, not only the key topics falling under the globalization label, but also to critically analyse the main rhetorics, myths, prejudices, and biases surrounding the debate on globalisation, confronting them with robust and valid scientific and empirical evidence. Hence, the objective of the first part of the course is providing students with epistemological and methodological foundations, as well as the understanding of rhetorical discourse and of the heuristic and of the cognitive and emotional biases that limit individuals' rationality and contribute to generate prejudices and distorted views. The objective of the second part of the course is that of applying the lenses provided in the first part to selected controversial issues that are central in the debate on globalisation.

The learning objective is two-fold, that is enable students
- To critically read and appraise the results of empirical research, available statistics, and the information spread by broadly defined media (both off and online)
- To select a topic, gather and appraise different sources, to develop their own critical analysis to be presented in class and that can eventually become the topic of their graduation thesis.