Society, politics and institutions: stability and change
A.A. 2023/2024
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: Terzo trimestre
Modalità di valutazione: Esame
Giudizio di valutazione: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Corso singolo
Questo insegnamento può essere seguito come corso singolo.
Programma e organizzazione didattica
Edizione unica
Responsabile
Periodo
Terzo trimestre
Prerequisiti
Lingua inglese livello B2.
Modalità di verifica dell’apprendimento e criteri di valutazione
The final exam will consist of a written exam.
Unit 1
Programma
1. What is politics?
2. What is conflict?
3. What are institutions?
4. What is political order?
5. Institutions and conflict
6. Governments and Governance
7. State as institution
8. State development
9. State capacity
10. Nation making
11. State rupture I: occupations (external threat)
12. Case studies
13. State rupture 2 : civil war ( interna threat)
14. Case studies
15. State rupture 3: Revolutions
16. Case studies
17. Transnational Governance
18. EU and other experiments
19. Global Political Order?
20. Failure of Global Governance?
2. What is conflict?
3. What are institutions?
4. What is political order?
5. Institutions and conflict
6. Governments and Governance
7. State as institution
8. State development
9. State capacity
10. Nation making
11. State rupture I: occupations (external threat)
12. Case studies
13. State rupture 2 : civil war ( interna threat)
14. Case studies
15. State rupture 3: Revolutions
16. Case studies
17. Transnational Governance
18. EU and other experiments
19. Global Political Order?
20. Failure of Global Governance?
Metodi didattici
Attending students. Evaluation will be based on the final test scores.
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) ;
2. registering the averaged grade during the first formal exam session ("appello d'esame") available for unit 2.
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) ;
2. registering the averaged grade during the first formal exam session ("appello d'esame") available for unit 2.
Materiale di riferimento
The complete and final list of study material can be found on Ariel (https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=847).
Sartori, Giovanni. "What is «politics»." Italian Political Science Review/Rivista Italiana di Scienza Politica 2, no. 1 (1972): 219-223.
North, Douglass Cecil, John Joseph Wallis, and Barry R. Weingast. Violence and social orders: A conceptual framework for interpreting recorded human history. Cambridge University Press, 2009.
Rothstein, B., 1996. Political institutions: an overview. A new handbook of political science, pp.133-166.
Robert H. Bates "Probing the sources of political order"In Kalyvas, Stathis N., Ian Shapiro, and Tarek E. Masoud. Order, conflict, and violence. Cambridge University Press, 2008
Olson, Mancur. "Dictatorship, Democracy, and Development." American Political Science Review 87, no. 03 (1993): 567-576.
Fukuyama, Francis. "Governance: What do we know, and how do we know it?." Annual Review of Political Science 19 (2016): 89-105.
Poggi, Gianfranco. The state: Its nature, development, and prospects. Stanford University Press, 1990.
Levi, Margaret. "The predatory theory of rule." Politics & Society 10, no. 4 (1981): 431-465.
Mann, Michael. "The autonomous power of the state: its origins, mechanisms and results." European journal of sociology 25, no. 02 (1984): 185-213.
Linz, J.J., 1993. State building and nation building. European Review, 1(4), pp.355-369.
State rupture I: occupations (external threat)
Edelstein, D.M., 2004. Occupational hazards: Why military occupations succeed or fail. International Security, pp.49-91.
Lake, David A. 2016, The Statebuilder's Dilemma: On the Limits of Foreign Intervention. Cornell University Press,
State rupture 2 : civil war ( interna threat)
Bates, Robert H. "State failure." Annu. Rev. Polit. Sci. 11 (2008): 1-12.
Cederman, Lars-Erik, and Manuel Vogt. "Dynamics and logics of civil war." Journal of Conflict Resolution 61, no. 9 (2017): 1992-2016.
Goldstone, J.A., Grinin, L. and Korotayev, A., 2022. The phenomenon and theories of revolutions. In Handbook of revolutions in the 21st century: The new waves of revolutions, and the causes and effects of disruptive political change (pp. 37-68). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Beissinger, M.R., 2022. The revolutionary city: Urbanization and the global transformation of rebellion. Princeton University Press.
Abbott, K.W. and Snidal, D., 2010. International regulation without international government: Improving IO performance through orchestration. The Review of International Organizations, 5, pp.315-344.
Pollack, Mark A. "Theorizing the European Union: international organization, domestic polity, or experiment in new governance?." Annu. Rev. Polit. Sci. 8 (2005): 357-398.
March, James G., and Johan P. Olsen. "The institutional dynamics of international political orders." International organization 52, no. 4 (1998): 943-969.
Ikenberry, G.J., 2018. The end of liberal international order?. International Affairs, 94(1), pp.7-23.
Sartori, Giovanni. "What is «politics»." Italian Political Science Review/Rivista Italiana di Scienza Politica 2, no. 1 (1972): 219-223.
North, Douglass Cecil, John Joseph Wallis, and Barry R. Weingast. Violence and social orders: A conceptual framework for interpreting recorded human history. Cambridge University Press, 2009.
Rothstein, B., 1996. Political institutions: an overview. A new handbook of political science, pp.133-166.
Robert H. Bates "Probing the sources of political order"In Kalyvas, Stathis N., Ian Shapiro, and Tarek E. Masoud. Order, conflict, and violence. Cambridge University Press, 2008
Olson, Mancur. "Dictatorship, Democracy, and Development." American Political Science Review 87, no. 03 (1993): 567-576.
Fukuyama, Francis. "Governance: What do we know, and how do we know it?." Annual Review of Political Science 19 (2016): 89-105.
Poggi, Gianfranco. The state: Its nature, development, and prospects. Stanford University Press, 1990.
Levi, Margaret. "The predatory theory of rule." Politics & Society 10, no. 4 (1981): 431-465.
Mann, Michael. "The autonomous power of the state: its origins, mechanisms and results." European journal of sociology 25, no. 02 (1984): 185-213.
Linz, J.J., 1993. State building and nation building. European Review, 1(4), pp.355-369.
State rupture I: occupations (external threat)
Edelstein, D.M., 2004. Occupational hazards: Why military occupations succeed or fail. International Security, pp.49-91.
Lake, David A. 2016, The Statebuilder's Dilemma: On the Limits of Foreign Intervention. Cornell University Press,
State rupture 2 : civil war ( interna threat)
Bates, Robert H. "State failure." Annu. Rev. Polit. Sci. 11 (2008): 1-12.
Cederman, Lars-Erik, and Manuel Vogt. "Dynamics and logics of civil war." Journal of Conflict Resolution 61, no. 9 (2017): 1992-2016.
Goldstone, J.A., Grinin, L. and Korotayev, A., 2022. The phenomenon and theories of revolutions. In Handbook of revolutions in the 21st century: The new waves of revolutions, and the causes and effects of disruptive political change (pp. 37-68). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Beissinger, M.R., 2022. The revolutionary city: Urbanization and the global transformation of rebellion. Princeton University Press.
Abbott, K.W. and Snidal, D., 2010. International regulation without international government: Improving IO performance through orchestration. The Review of International Organizations, 5, pp.315-344.
Pollack, Mark A. "Theorizing the European Union: international organization, domestic polity, or experiment in new governance?." Annu. Rev. Polit. Sci. 8 (2005): 357-398.
March, James G., and Johan P. Olsen. "The institutional dynamics of international political orders." International organization 52, no. 4 (1998): 943-969.
Ikenberry, G.J., 2018. The end of liberal international order?. International Affairs, 94(1), pp.7-23.
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 in classe.
Materiale di riferimento
Una lista completa del materiale sarà fornita sul site Ariel del corso (https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=847) 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:
Ruggeri Andrea
Unit 2
SECS-P/01 - ECONOMIA POLITICA - CFU: 6
Lezioni: 40 ore
Docente:
Guala Francesco
Docente/i
Ricevimento:
Martedì 9.30-12-30, su appuntamento
Dipartimento di Filosofia, via Festa del Perdono 7, Cortile Ghiacciaia, ultimo piano
Ricevimento:
Su appuntamento via email
Via Conservatorio 7, piano terzo, Stanza 307