Comparative Social Systems
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
The course aims at:
a. Presenting the main theoretical interpretations that have been proposed to explain the specificity and differentiation factors of modern social systems;
b. Providing the most effective empirical and analytical tools for the systematic comparison of contemporary societies, with applications to both qualitative and quantitative indicators.
a. Presenting the main theoretical interpretations that have been proposed to explain the specificity and differentiation factors of modern social systems;
b. Providing the most effective empirical and analytical tools for the systematic comparison of contemporary societies, with applications to both qualitative and quantitative indicators.
Expected learning outcomes
The course gives the opportunity to acquire the following competences:
a. critical understanding of the main transformation trends at country level and regional areas which are relevant in the process of globalization;
b. ability to apply the main tools of comparative analysis of social systems;
c. ability to apply the analytical categories and the tools learned in the course to other national cases, with specific reference to the preparation of the master thesis.
a. critical understanding of the main transformation trends at country level and regional areas which are relevant in the process of globalization;
b. ability to apply the main tools of comparative analysis of social systems;
c. ability to apply the analytical categories and the tools learned in the course to other national cases, with specific reference to the preparation of the master thesis.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course is structured in three parts:
Module 1: the method.
a. Social systems, definitions and mechanisms. Micro and macro approaches: the functions of the social system, the mechanisms of regulation of the social system.
b. The components of a social system: economy, politics, social structure, culture and institutions.
c. The comparison at macro level.
d. The transformation of contemporary social systems and modernization processes.
is. Social systems and the challenge of globalization.
Module 2: Social systems compared over time
a. The historical change of social systems and the specificity of capitalism
b. Why the socialist systems have not survived
c. The historical evolution of capitalism: competitive phase, protectionist-oligopolistic phase, Fordist phase, post-Fordist phase, industrial districts, global capitalism and its weaknesses
d. Why capitalism is constantly evolving and its previous forms have not survived.
Module 3: the comparison of social systems in space
the debate on models of capitalism.
a. Three models of capitalism
b. The effects of globalization on the models of capitalism
c. How to measure globalization and its consequences
d. The responses of nation states to the global crisis and to the pandemic emergency
e. The problem of competition between social systems: convergence or divergence?
f. Competition on the market and competition trough the war.
Module 1: the method.
a. Social systems, definitions and mechanisms. Micro and macro approaches: the functions of the social system, the mechanisms of regulation of the social system.
b. The components of a social system: economy, politics, social structure, culture and institutions.
c. The comparison at macro level.
d. The transformation of contemporary social systems and modernization processes.
is. Social systems and the challenge of globalization.
Module 2: Social systems compared over time
a. The historical change of social systems and the specificity of capitalism
b. Why the socialist systems have not survived
c. The historical evolution of capitalism: competitive phase, protectionist-oligopolistic phase, Fordist phase, post-Fordist phase, industrial districts, global capitalism and its weaknesses
d. Why capitalism is constantly evolving and its previous forms have not survived.
Module 3: the comparison of social systems in space
the debate on models of capitalism.
a. Three models of capitalism
b. The effects of globalization on the models of capitalism
c. How to measure globalization and its consequences
d. The responses of nation states to the global crisis and to the pandemic emergency
e. The problem of competition between social systems: convergence or divergence?
f. Competition on the market and competition trough the war.
Prerequisites for admission
Although the admission interview to the course has ascertained the basic knowledge of general sociology, referable to an introductory course of 6 credits at the undergraduate level, it is helpful to suggest an introductory manual to the course of Comparative Social Systems for students who do not possess the basic knowledge and the language of sociological discipline. An introductory manual to Sociology for undergraduate students, could be Bagnasco, Barbagli, Cavalli, Elementi di Sociologia, Bologna, Il Mulino.
Teaching methods
The teaching activity takes place with lectures, which consist of exposing the topic, its applications and subsequent discussion through voluntary interventions in the classroom and questions by the students through the use of the Chat function of Microsoft Teams, in case of lessons on line.
Teaching Resources
For attending students: Slides supplied by the teacher and a free choice of 6 chapters from the book:
A. Martinelli, A. Cavalli, European Society, Brill
For non attending students:
A. Martinelli, A. Cavalli, European Society, Brill
A. Martinelli, A. Cavalli, European Society, Brill
For non attending students:
A. Martinelli, A. Cavalli, European Society, Brill
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final exam aims to assess the student's preparation with regard to the following aspects of the discipline (with reference to Dublin Descriptors 1 and 2: use of knowledge and comprehension skills): ability to analytically grasp the relevant aspects of a social system, to understand its essential mechanisms, to identify the appropriate conceptual tools and to derive empirically suitable variables for the purposes of a comparative exercise, also in relation to the databases available in open access on the web-sites of the most authoritative international institutions.
For all students, the exam is divided into a written test, based partly on closed-ended questions and partly on open-ended questions. The mark is assigned on the basis of the correct answers on the total number of questions.
Foreign students are granted 10 minutes bonus during the duration of the test, to take into account the greater linguistic difficulties they face in taking the exam.
Attending students are subjected to a test relating to the classroom program and the reference material (slides downloadable from the course website) (30 questions), in addition to four chapters chosen from the refernce text by
Martinelli-Cavalli (24 questions).
Non-attending students are subjected to a test focused exclusively on the reference text (60 questions).
In case of restrictions related to the CoViD-19 infection, the exam will be organized remotely with joint use of the ZOOM platform and the Exam.net software
For all students, the exam is divided into a written test, based partly on closed-ended questions and partly on open-ended questions. The mark is assigned on the basis of the correct answers on the total number of questions.
Foreign students are granted 10 minutes bonus during the duration of the test, to take into account the greater linguistic difficulties they face in taking the exam.
Attending students are subjected to a test relating to the classroom program and the reference material (slides downloadable from the course website) (30 questions), in addition to four chapters chosen from the refernce text by
Martinelli-Cavalli (24 questions).
Non-attending students are subjected to a test focused exclusively on the reference text (60 questions).
In case of restrictions related to the CoViD-19 infection, the exam will be organized remotely with joint use of the ZOOM platform and the Exam.net software
SPS/07 - GENERAL SOCIOLOGY - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Chiesi Antonio Maria
Professor(s)
Reception:
Monday 16:00 to 18:00
Department room n. 311 starting on August 31st