The course provides the fundamental concepts to analyze political realties.

Knowledge and understanding: at the end of the course students have to acquire the ability to frame the complexity of the topics addressed and recognize it also in similar social and political situations Applying knowledge and understanding: students will be able to identify, apply and adapt the concepts, theories and methods of empirical investigation illustrated during the course to real and similar social and political situations. Making judgments: students will have to develop the ability to connect the concepts and theories exposed during the course, confronting complex problems on their own judgement, with their own capacity for judgment and critical reflection. Comunication Skills: students have to acquire a clear and effective communication skills thanks to a good mastery on the lexicon and on the main philosophical and political theories of western thought. Learning Skills: Students have to obtain good learning skills, which allow them to autonomously deepen the knowledge acquired during the course, addressing on subsequent paths of theoretical reflection and research.

The course consits of two parts: one general and one special. The first part recontructs the forms of government from the ancients until the XIX century. We will examine some of the most representative works from the ‘classics”, the different concepts of liberties and the process of their development through the centuries. We will discuss the liberal liberty, democratic liberty, socialist liberty and the the “other” liberty: communist and chatolic liberties.

For the general part: 1) G. Pecora, La libertà dei moderni, Luiss University Press, Roma 2004; 2) N. Bobbio, Diritto e Stato nel pensiero di Emanuele Kant, Giappichelli, Torino 1969 (soltanto la prima parte). 3) Texts in the on-line site of the chair. For the special part: 1) G. Pecora, La libertà dei moderni, Luiss University Press, Roma 2004; 2) N. Bobbio, Locke e il diritto naturale, Giappichelli, Torino, 2017 (Introduzione, cap. 1 e cap. 3). 3) G. Pecora, Il lumicino della ragione. La lezione laica di Norberto Bobbio, Donzelli editore, Roma 2021. Suggested texts (not obligatory): 1) G. Bedeschi, Storia del pensiero liberale, ultima edizione, Rubettino, Soveria Mannelli, 2015. 2) G. Pecora,Carlo Rosselli socialista e liberale, Donzelli, Roma, 2017.

Lectures, case studies, mini-quizzes, mini-polls and guided discussions.

Written intermediate and final exams.

The student must have passed the test with the highest score. He/she must also show intellectual curiosity for the arguments of the course. At least six months of work will be needed in order to develop an acceptable thesis.