Society, politics and institutions: stability and change
A.A. 2021/2022
Obiettivi formativi
The course aims at
- introducing students to the fundamental tools for the analysis of politics and institutions;
- providing knowledge of the main issues discussed in contemporary philosophy of the social sciences, with particular emphasis on social ontology and rational choice theory.
- introducing students to the fundamental tools for the analysis of politics and institutions;
- providing knowledge of the main issues discussed in contemporary philosophy of the social sciences, with particular emphasis on social ontology and rational choice theory.
Risultati apprendimento attesi
At the end of the course the students will have acquired
- some basic skills in the formation and use of scientific concepts and theories;
- some basic analytical and theoretical tools for understanding and studying politics and institutions in their social contexts as well as knowledge of some causal mechanisms typically recurring in such contexts;
- the ability of conducting "power analyses" of social and political situations;
- the ability to identify and interpret broad dynamics of political and institutional change in a historical and comparative perspective;
- substantive systematic knowledge of the "European model" (market economy, liberal democracy, the welfare state and European integration) and the challenges now facing it;
- the capacity to understand the theories that philosophers, psychologists, biologists and economists have put forward to explain the emergence of institutions;
- knowledge of the cognitive skills that allow human beings to engage in coordination and cooperation, on a scale of complexity that is unknown in the natural world;
- the ability to analyse and critically assess the main arguments brought in favour and against different views concerning the nature and functions of institutions, and the emergence of cooperation;
- the capacity to identify the ways in which these debates may be resolved, and how their solutions may contribute to scientific progress and understanding;
- the capacity to present the main arguments independently, satisfying the main requirements of scholarly writing.
- some basic skills in the formation and use of scientific concepts and theories;
- some basic analytical and theoretical tools for understanding and studying politics and institutions in their social contexts as well as knowledge of some causal mechanisms typically recurring in such contexts;
- the ability of conducting "power analyses" of social and political situations;
- the ability to identify and interpret broad dynamics of political and institutional change in a historical and comparative perspective;
- substantive systematic knowledge of the "European model" (market economy, liberal democracy, the welfare state and European integration) and the challenges now facing it;
- the capacity to understand the theories that philosophers, psychologists, biologists and economists have put forward to explain the emergence of institutions;
- knowledge of the cognitive skills that allow human beings to engage in coordination and cooperation, on a scale of complexity that is unknown in the natural world;
- the ability to analyse and critically assess the main arguments brought in favour and against different views concerning the nature and functions of institutions, and the emergence of cooperation;
- the capacity to identify the ways in which these debates may be resolved, and how their solutions may contribute to scientific progress and understanding;
- the capacity to present the main arguments independently, satisfying the main requirements of scholarly writing.
Periodo: Primo trimestre
Modalità di valutazione: Esame
Giudizio di valutazione: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Corso singolo
Questo insegnamento non può essere seguito come corso singolo. Puoi trovare gli insegnamenti disponibili consultando il catalogo corsi singoli.
Programma e organizzazione didattica
Edizione unica
Responsabile
Periodo
Primo trimestre
UNITà 1: (Prof. Ferrera) A causa dell'emergenza COVID-19, per l'anno accademico in corso l'insegnamento si terrà in remoto unicamente sulla piattaforma MS Teams. La maggior parte delle lezioni sarà sincrona. L'istruttore presenterà l'argomento della giornata e stimolerà la discussione.
Una sessione extra sincrona si terrà ogni due settimane e sarà dedicata specificamente a domande e risposte. La partecipazione a sessioni di domande e risposte extra è facoltativa.
Le letture (strettamente richieste prima della lezione) riguarderanno sia questioni analitiche che sostantive relative agli argomenti presentati in ciascuna classe.
Gli studenti sono tenuti a frequentare almeno 16 sessioni per poter sostenere la prova finale e 8 sessioni per sostenere la prova intermedia.
Il corso ha una pagina web (https://ariel.unimi.it/) che include il programma, i materiali del corso e altre informazioni. Le diapositive utilizzate per ogni lezione verranno caricate dopo le lezioni. Gli studenti sono invitati a controllare regolarmente la pagina web.
Gli studenti PPPA sono tenuti a sostenere sia l'unità 1 che l'unità 2. Gli studenti di altri corsi di laurea e gli studenti Erasmus (al di fuori del PPPA) possono seguire l'unità 1 come corso 6CFU indipendente.
Gli esami si terranno unicamente in presenza, come previsto dalla normativa attualmente vigente, gli studenti che intendono sostenere l'esame devono essere muniti di Certificazione Verde valida. Qualora la regolamentazione non consentisse lo svolgimento di esami scritti in presenza, con svolgimento in aula, l'esame si svolgerà in forma scritta attraverso la modalità Moodle SEB predisposta dall'Ufficio Servizi e Tecnologie Didattiche. I criteri di valutazione rimangono invece invariati rispetto alle modalità tradizionali di verifica dell'apprendimento.
UNITÀ 2: Tutte le lezioni saranno tenute in presenza e tutti gli studenti sono caldamente invitati a partecipare. Gli studenti frequentanti devono essere muniti di Certificazione Verde valida e devono prenotare un posto prima di ogni lezione tramite l'app di Ateneo. Ogni lezione sarà trasmessa in streaming online tramite Teams per gli studenti che non riescono a prenotare un posto o non possono partecipare per altri motivi. Le lezioni rimarranno disponibili per alcuni giorni e poi verranno rimosse definitivamente dalla piattaforma.
Una sessione extra sincrona si terrà ogni due settimane e sarà dedicata specificamente a domande e risposte. La partecipazione a sessioni di domande e risposte extra è facoltativa.
Le letture (strettamente richieste prima della lezione) riguarderanno sia questioni analitiche che sostantive relative agli argomenti presentati in ciascuna classe.
Gli studenti sono tenuti a frequentare almeno 16 sessioni per poter sostenere la prova finale e 8 sessioni per sostenere la prova intermedia.
Il corso ha una pagina web (https://ariel.unimi.it/) che include il programma, i materiali del corso e altre informazioni. Le diapositive utilizzate per ogni lezione verranno caricate dopo le lezioni. Gli studenti sono invitati a controllare regolarmente la pagina web.
Gli studenti PPPA sono tenuti a sostenere sia l'unità 1 che l'unità 2. Gli studenti di altri corsi di laurea e gli studenti Erasmus (al di fuori del PPPA) possono seguire l'unità 1 come corso 6CFU indipendente.
Gli esami si terranno unicamente in presenza, come previsto dalla normativa attualmente vigente, gli studenti che intendono sostenere l'esame devono essere muniti di Certificazione Verde valida. Qualora la regolamentazione non consentisse lo svolgimento di esami scritti in presenza, con svolgimento in aula, l'esame si svolgerà in forma scritta attraverso la modalità Moodle SEB predisposta dall'Ufficio Servizi e Tecnologie Didattiche. I criteri di valutazione rimangono invece invariati rispetto alle modalità tradizionali di verifica dell'apprendimento.
UNITÀ 2: Tutte le lezioni saranno tenute in presenza e tutti gli studenti sono caldamente invitati a partecipare. Gli studenti frequentanti devono essere muniti di Certificazione Verde valida e devono prenotare un posto prima di ogni lezione tramite l'app di Ateneo. Ogni lezione sarà trasmessa in streaming online tramite Teams per gli studenti che non riescono a prenotare un posto o non possono partecipare per altri motivi. Le lezioni rimarranno disponibili per alcuni giorni e poi verranno rimosse definitivamente dalla piattaforma.
Prerequisiti
n.a.
Modalità di verifica dell’apprendimento e criteri di valutazione
Classes will start with short lectures by the instructor, followed by discussions. The final exam will consist of a test with multiple choice and open questions. Evaluation will be based on both participation and the test score.
Unit 1
Programma
Detailed outline
Week 1-
What is politics? What are institutions?
· Concepts and conceptions
· Power and political production
Week 2 -
What are institutions? Does politics need a space?
· Political institutions
· Territorial and membership boundaries
Week 3 -
Does politics need a space? The role of "bounding"
· How were nation-states built?
· Borders and citizenship
Week 4 -
Is politics inherently coercive? Varieties of "binding"
· The monopolization of coercive resources
· Direct rule and the role of violence
· Non-coercive constriction
· Government or governance? The shadow of hierarchy
Week 5 -
Compound and multilevel polities: how can they keep together? - I
· Lessons from the U.S.
· What is the EU?
Week 6 -
Does solidarity matter for polity maintenance? The role of "bonding"
· What is the EU? (continued)
· Social sharing as a political "glue".
· "Caritas" and "civitas": the roots of the European social model
· From "fraternity" to solidarity
Week 7 -
Does politics require a "demos"? The autonomy of politics
· A variety of institutional spheres
· Religion and science: do they need politics?
· Culture, identity and nationalism
· Political ethics
Week 8 -
Mid-term test
Week 9 -
Political conflicts: a mixed blessing?
· Social cleavages
· Politicization(s)
· Conflicts and institutions
Week 10 -
Solidarity beyond the nation state
· Globalization and interdependence
· European integration
Final test
Week 1-
What is politics? What are institutions?
· Concepts and conceptions
· Power and political production
Week 2 -
What are institutions? Does politics need a space?
· Political institutions
· Territorial and membership boundaries
Week 3 -
Does politics need a space? The role of "bounding"
· How were nation-states built?
· Borders and citizenship
Week 4 -
Is politics inherently coercive? Varieties of "binding"
· The monopolization of coercive resources
· Direct rule and the role of violence
· Non-coercive constriction
· Government or governance? The shadow of hierarchy
Week 5 -
Compound and multilevel polities: how can they keep together? - I
· Lessons from the U.S.
· What is the EU?
Week 6 -
Does solidarity matter for polity maintenance? The role of "bonding"
· What is the EU? (continued)
· Social sharing as a political "glue".
· "Caritas" and "civitas": the roots of the European social model
· From "fraternity" to solidarity
Week 7 -
Does politics require a "demos"? The autonomy of politics
· A variety of institutional spheres
· Religion and science: do they need politics?
· Culture, identity and nationalism
· Political ethics
Week 8 -
Mid-term test
Week 9 -
Political conflicts: a mixed blessing?
· Social cleavages
· Politicization(s)
· Conflicts and institutions
Week 10 -
Solidarity beyond the nation state
· Globalization and interdependence
· European integration
Final test
Metodi didattici
Attending students. Evaluation will be based on session participation, the mid-term and the final test scores. The mid term test will consist of a set of multiple choice questions on the readings. The final test will also include a few multiple choice questions and in addition a short essay. The dates of the tests will be communicated on the first day and will be posted on the course webpage on ariel.
The mid term result and the final grade of unit 1 will be communicated by mail to each student. For PPPA students, the grade of unit1 must be averaged with the grade of unit2. The averaged grade will appear on your formal records through these steps:
1. passing successfully the tests of both unit 1 and unit 2 (>18) and receiving both the unit grades and the averaged grade - the latter will be included in the mail communicating the grade of the second of the two tests (be it unit 1 or 2);
2. registering the averaged grade during the first formal exam session ("appello d'esame") available (dates to be communicated) for either unit 1 or unit 2.
Non-PPPA attending students taking only unit 1 can register the grade at the first available exam session ("appello d'esame") of unit 1 itself.
Non attending students (less than 16 sessions or no sessions at all) have a different reading list. The exam will consist of a sit-down test (multiple and open questions) on the days of formal "appelli di esame".
The mid term result and the final grade of unit 1 will be communicated by mail to each student. For PPPA students, the grade of unit1 must be averaged with the grade of unit2. The averaged grade will appear on your formal records through these steps:
1. passing successfully the tests of both unit 1 and unit 2 (>18) and receiving both the unit grades and the averaged grade - the latter will be included in the mail communicating the grade of the second of the two tests (be it unit 1 or 2);
2. registering the averaged grade during the first formal exam session ("appello d'esame") available (dates to be communicated) for either unit 1 or unit 2.
Non-PPPA attending students taking only unit 1 can register the grade at the first available exam session ("appello d'esame") of unit 1 itself.
Non attending students (less than 16 sessions or no sessions at all) have a different reading list. The exam will consist of a sit-down test (multiple and open questions) on the days of formal "appelli di esame".
Materiale di riferimento
Readings for attending students
· M. Ferrera, Togetherness: polity and politics (to be provided)
· M.Ferrera, EU solidarity: a political justification (to be provided)
· M. Stoppino, What is politics (to be provided)
· Week-specific readings (to be provided in advance of sessions on the course website)
Readings for non-attending students
Students who will not be able to attend at least 16 sessions (2 hrs each) of the course will have to take a separate sit-down test. For dates contact dr. Gianluca Pozzoni. The test will consist of both multiple choice and open questions, based on the following readings:
Required
· S.Bartolini, The Political, ECPR Press, 2018
· M.Ferrera, The Boundaries of Welfare, Oxford University Press, 2005
· L.Van Middleaar, Passage to Europe, Yale, Yale University Press
Recommended (for those who have no prior knowledge of the two topics)
Usherwood and Pinder, The European Union: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, 2018
M.Ferrera, The Welfare State, in International Encyclopedia of Political Science, 2019 (to be provided by the instructor)
· M. Ferrera, Togetherness: polity and politics (to be provided)
· M.Ferrera, EU solidarity: a political justification (to be provided)
· M. Stoppino, What is politics (to be provided)
· Week-specific readings (to be provided in advance of sessions on the course website)
Readings for non-attending students
Students who will not be able to attend at least 16 sessions (2 hrs each) of the course will have to take a separate sit-down test. For dates contact dr. Gianluca Pozzoni. The test will consist of both multiple choice and open questions, based on the following readings:
Required
· S.Bartolini, The Political, ECPR Press, 2018
· M.Ferrera, The Boundaries of Welfare, Oxford University Press, 2005
· L.Van Middleaar, Passage to Europe, Yale, Yale University Press
Recommended (for those who have no prior knowledge of the two topics)
Usherwood and Pinder, The European Union: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press, 2018
M.Ferrera, The Welfare State, in International Encyclopedia of Political Science, 2019 (to be provided by the instructor)
Unit 2
Programma
- Individualismo e teoria della scelta razionale
- Convenzioni e problemi di coordinazione
- Il problemi della cooperazione
- L'evoluzione della cooperazione
- Norme sociali
- Intenzionalità collettiva
- La teoria delle regole costitutive
- Convenzioni e problemi di coordinazione
- Il problemi della cooperazione
- L'evoluzione della cooperazione
- Norme sociali
- Intenzionalità collettiva
- La teoria delle regole costitutive
Metodi didattici
Lezioni frontali, discussioni seminariali
Materiale di riferimento
Una lista completa del materiale sarà fornita sul site Ariel del corso (https://fgualaspisc.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/) Fra i testi principali:
* Weber, M. (1921) "The Interpretive Understanding of Social Action", in Readings in the Philosophy of the Social Sciences, edited by M. Brodbeck. Macmillan, pp. 19-33.
* Guala, F. (2016) Understanding Institutions, Princeton University Press, Ch. 2 ("Games")
* Lewis, D. (1969) Convention. Blackwell, selected paragraphs from Chs. 1 and 2.
* Peterson, M. (ed. 2015) The Prisoner's Dilemma. Cambridge University Press (Introduction).
* Handout on Repeated Games
* Camerer, C. F., & Fehr, E. (2004) "Measuring social norms and preferences using experimental games: A guide for social scientists", in J. Henrich et al (eds.) Foundations of Human Sociality, Oxford University Press.
* Frank, R. H. (1988) Passions within Reason, Norton (Ch.3: "A Theory of Moral Sentiments")
* Alexander, J. M. (2019) "Evolutionary Game Theory", Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2019/entries/game-evolutionary/ [online], especially sections 1,2,3,5.
* Okasha, S., (2013) "Biological Altruism", Stanford Encyclopedia of Philoso-phy https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2013/entries/altruism-biological/
* Bicchieri, C. (2006) The Grammar of Society, Cambridge University Press, Ch. 1 ("The rules we live by"). [S&G, ariel]
* Gilbert, M. (1990) "Walking Together: A Paradigmatic Social Phenomenon", Midwest Studies in Philosophy 15: pp. 1-14.
* Searle, J. (2005) "What Is an Institution?", Journal of Institutional Economics 1: 1-22
* Guala, F. and Hindriks, F. (2015) "A Unified Social Ontology", Philosophical Quarterly 165 (2015): 177-201.
* Weber, M. (1921) "The Interpretive Understanding of Social Action", in Readings in the Philosophy of the Social Sciences, edited by M. Brodbeck. Macmillan, pp. 19-33.
* Guala, F. (2016) Understanding Institutions, Princeton University Press, Ch. 2 ("Games")
* Lewis, D. (1969) Convention. Blackwell, selected paragraphs from Chs. 1 and 2.
* Peterson, M. (ed. 2015) The Prisoner's Dilemma. Cambridge University Press (Introduction).
* Handout on Repeated Games
* Camerer, C. F., & Fehr, E. (2004) "Measuring social norms and preferences using experimental games: A guide for social scientists", in J. Henrich et al (eds.) Foundations of Human Sociality, Oxford University Press.
* Frank, R. H. (1988) Passions within Reason, Norton (Ch.3: "A Theory of Moral Sentiments")
* Alexander, J. M. (2019) "Evolutionary Game Theory", Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2019/entries/game-evolutionary/ [online], especially sections 1,2,3,5.
* Okasha, S., (2013) "Biological Altruism", Stanford Encyclopedia of Philoso-phy https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2013/entries/altruism-biological/
* Bicchieri, C. (2006) The Grammar of Society, Cambridge University Press, Ch. 1 ("The rules we live by"). [S&G, ariel]
* Gilbert, M. (1990) "Walking Together: A Paradigmatic Social Phenomenon", Midwest Studies in Philosophy 15: pp. 1-14.
* Searle, J. (2005) "What Is an Institution?", Journal of Institutional Economics 1: 1-22
* Guala, F. and Hindriks, F. (2015) "A Unified Social Ontology", Philosophical Quarterly 165 (2015): 177-201.
Moduli o unità didattiche
Unit 1
SPS/04 - SCIENZA POLITICA - CFU: 6
Lezioni: 40 ore
Docente:
Ferrera Maurizio
Unit 2
SECS-P/01 - ECONOMIA POLITICA - CFU: 6
Lezioni: 40 ore
Docente:
Guala Francesco
Docente/i
Ricevimento:
su appuntamento
Dipartimento di Studi del Lavoro e del Welfare - Stanza 10 secondo piano
Ricevimento:
Martedì 9.30-12.30, solo su appuntamento
Dipartimento di Filosofia, via Festa del Perdono 7, Cortile Ghiacciaia, ultimo piano