DEMOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES

The course aims to provide the basic theoretical and methodological knowledge of demography as well as the main geo-demographic trends as an interpretative tool for today's social challenges. Demography shapes much of our world, and this has never been as true as it is today. The issues affecting the population and its relationship with the territories are increasingly present, albeit indirectly, in the academic, political, and public debate: overpopulation, environmental pollution, food safety, availability and use of energy resources, urbanisation, migrations flows, attraction of qualified human capital, geopolitical strategies, ethnic and religious conflicts, geo-economic competition, international trade, direct foreign investments. The well-known saying attributed to Auguste Comte that "demography is destiny", of course, must not be taken in a deterministic and absolute means. However, the demographic variable has contributed - together with others - to tracing the political, economic, and social evolution of peoples, human communities, States, and geographical areas. If this has been true in the past - when population studies had a predominantly, if not solely, statistical-accounting significance - in recent decades, analysing the trend of the population has become a substantial moment for interpreting the configuration of the world. Our planet has witnessed a real geo-demographic revolution characterised by different evolutionary phases that have heavily influenced, and will continue to influence, the definition of territorial structures and human relations. The course will provide a broad outlook of these interconnections among demographic trends and political and socioeconomic phenomena. Sustainability and the Euro-Mediterranean area, especially Italy, will be treated with a particular emphasis.

Knowledge of basic statistical concepts is desirable.

- Knowledge and understanding The student – through course attendance and practical activities – will become familiar with the principles of demography and the interlink of demography with international relations, urbanization, geopolitical settings, economic development, and environment. They will acquire an in-depth knowledge on the demographic change of Italy and the Euro-Mediterranean area. The acquired knowledge will be assessed through a quantitative report, a review and a paper as well as through a oral discussion on the learned contents at the end of the course. - Applying knowledge and understanding Student will become familiar with the most important demographic methods and techniques and with the most important challenges related to population change. They will be able to identify and critically address demographic problems and possible solutions. The assessment of the ability to ‘apply knowledge and understanding’ will take place during the course through reports, reviews and papers aimed at deepening the investigation of specific demographic topics, and at the end of the course, through a written test and an oral colloquium. - Making judgments Students will acquire analytical skills that will allow them to access and discuss contemporary research around demography and social challenges. They will gain a critical spirit in the investigation of demographic phenomena and its interrelations with social and economic challenges. By using the appropriate methods learned during the course, students will be able to select the most suitable demographic data, literature and materials among the available sources. They will be able to evaluate quality and reliability of demographic data and materials independently and to critically judge their application to population related challenges. - Communication skills By the end of the course, students will be able to transmit with clarity, rigor, and methodological consistency the different demographic challenges in the different socioeconomic and geo-political scenarios. Through the various activities that will take place during the course – lessons with discussion, debates, group work – students will be able practice communication skills in various contexts. They will learn to adapt the terms used to the specific context, thus gaining advanced rhetorical skills needed for their professional career. - Learning skills By putting into practice the methodologies learned during lectures and seminars, students will be able to elaborate on different demographic issues and conduct research by consulting specialist texts and journals. They will develop a solid knowledge of the fundamental aspects of demography and the related social challenges. They will be able to carry on also independently further research in population studies and to undertake different postgraduate training activities including demographic subjects.

The course introduces the basic concepts and issues of population studies and addresses the drivers and implications of the evolution of the world population. The most relevant demographic techniques are covered, and demographic concepts and practical strategies for interpreting population statistics are discussed. The process of demographic transition is analysed in the single dynamic processes related to mortality, fertility, and migration, as well as concerning the structural changes of population, basically the age and the family and household transitions. The link between modernisation and secularisation processes, as well as economic development, is treated to single out and discuss the main implications of the demo-economic interactions in the different geographical areas of the world. Causes and consequences of fertility mortality, migration and urbanisation will be examined. The role of population dynamics in geopolitical, religious, and ethnic issues will be explored. Particular attention will be given to sustainable development and geo-demographic change, especially in the Euro-Mediterranean region. Policy related to migration flows, fertility, and health will be treated. The sustainability of population policies in Italy and other selected countries will be discussed.

A selection of chapters from the following books will be made available to students on the course MyLuiss page as required readings: - Lundquist, J.H., Anderton D.L., Yaukey B. (2015), Demography. The study of Human Population. Fourth Edition. Waveland Press - Goerres A. and Vanhuysse P. (2021). Global Political Demography. The Politics of Population Change. Palgrave Macmillan. - Livi Bacci, M. (2017) A concise History of World Population. Wiley Blackwell. Statistical datasheets, statistical reports, peer-reviewed journal articles, and lectures slides will be shared with the students through the MyLuiss platform. These additional materials will complement the textbooks and prepare the students for the achievement of the intended learning outcomes.

- Lessons with the support of audio-visuals; - Lectures by external experts; - Case studies with the direct involvement of students; - Inquiry based learning; - Problem based learning; - Peer education; - Flipped classroom.

ATTENDANCE POLICY AND PARTICIPATION Attendance is mandatory and highly recommended for a full understanding of the complex geodemographic dynamics discussed in class. In line with the Luiss SMART educational model, students will be granted “Attending Student” status only if they register their presence via the Luiss App in at least 70% of the scheduled lessons. ​Loss of Status: Students who fail to reach the 70% attendance threshold will automatically lose their “Attending” status and will be reclassified as “Non-Attending Students”. This status is irreversible and implies a transition to the single-session examination format. The 30% Allowance: The 30% margin of absence is specifically designed to cover all unforeseen circumstances, including health issues (medical certificates), authorized internships, or technical malfunctions of the app. No additional justifications or medical excuses will be processed beyond this threshold; once the 30% limit of total absences is reached, further absences will simply result in the loss of “Attending” status. App Malfunctions: In the event of a technical failure of the app, students must report to the Professor exclusively and immediately at the end of the session to sign a physical attendance sheet. Reports sent via email or at any time after leaving the classroom will not be considered valid ASSESSMENT METHODS Attending Students (Continuous Assessment) The final grade is a weighted average of two evaluation stages: - A presentation of a demographic challenge, group work (30%). This stage evaluates the ability to synthesize and apply concepts discussed during the first part of the course. - Final Exam (70%): An individual oral interview covering the entire program, with a specific focus on analytical applications and case studies discussed in class. Non-Attending Students (Single Session) Students in this category (including those who lost their attending status) are assessed via a two-component format conducted on the same day: - Final Written Test (30%): A mandatory in-class test covering the entire syllabus. Students must answer two mandatory open-ended questions. - Oral Interview (70%): A comprehensive discussion on the entire bibliography to assess the student’s autonomous analytical capacity.

- Active attendance at the course; - Quality and interest of the proposed research topic for the thesis.