History of political theories
A.A. 2025/2026
Obiettivi formativi
As part of the interdisciplinary program of the Three-Year Degree, the teaching of History of Political Theories is designed to examine the reflections and the ideas of the major Western thinkers on politics. In particular, we'll focus on the classical roots of political thought (Plato, Aristotle, stoicism) and the birth of the modernstate in the writings of its main theorists (Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke). A particular analysis will also be dedicated to the main political traditions: liberalism, democracy and socialism.
Risultati apprendimento attesi
Knowledge and understanding: at the end of the teaching the student will have learned the main concepts of the history of political theories and the most influential authors in Western culture.
Applying knowledge and understanding: the acquired knowledge will enable the student to understand the concepts and the key terms of the contemporary political debate and to place the current problems within a broad theoretical framework.
Applying knowledge and understanding: the acquired knowledge will enable the student to understand the concepts and the key terms of the contemporary political debate and to place the current problems within a broad theoretical framework.
Periodo: Primo 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
Primo trimestre
Programma
Is political power ever legitimate? If so, who should yield it, and under which constraints (if any)? What does it mean to be free? How is democracy to be justified? The course in History of Political Theories will examine how several western political thinkers answered these and other major questions. It will start by exploring the ancient roots of political philosophy - particularly Thucydides and Plato. Then the focus will move on to the emergence and unfolding of modern political thinking, from Machiavelli to John Stuart Mill. Some lectures will introduce and problematize the major traditions emerging after the French Revolution, namely the liberal, democratic and socialist one, and their key philosophical tenets.
Prerequisiti
Working knowledge of the English language
Metodi didattici
The course is structured through a series of lectures, the aim of which is twofold. First, to present the most relevant authors and themes in the history of western political thought. Second - and relatedly - to provide a conceptual toolkit to understand and evaluate normative claims about politics and international relations.
Materiale di riferimento
The teaching material will be uploaded on the ARIEL website and will consist of a series of readings comprising key passages from the classics of political thought, authors' profiles, introductory pieces on certain topics, and pieces of secondary literature (roughly 400 pp. in total). Along with lectures' slides and notes, this is the material on which students will be assessed. No books are to be purchased for this course.
Modalità di verifica dell’apprendimento e criteri di valutazione
The knowledge acquired will be tested by means of a final written examination based on open questions. No intermediate tests are envisaged.
Docente/i
Ricevimento:
Giovedì 16.30 - 18.30 (si prega di prendere appuntamento via email)
Microsoft Teams