VALUES AND CULTURE IN GLOBAL TRANSITIONS
Instructional goals
At the end of the course, students will be able to reason about historical, political and economic issues, through a multidisciplinary approach and combining academic knowledge with the contemporary reality. In particular, students will gain skills in the following areas: knowledge of the political, historical and economic developments of the examined area; awareness of the possible interactions between democratic values, such as independence and freedom, in order to strengthen their critical knowledge and, at the same time, fully aware of diversity; ability to debate current issues with experts; ability to link academic skills with real case-study.
Intended learning outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding: the student will be able to reason about historical, political and economic issues, through a multidisciplinary approach. A specific attention is devoted to History.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: the student, by applying the knowledge gained during the course, will be able to seize and evaluate the use of notions and historical references in the contemporary debate, realizing when this happens in an inaccurate or strumental way and when, in the other hand, this is based on a correct historical-social analysis.
Autonomy of judgment: the student will gain methodological tools useful to develop analysis on his/her own, by processing and interpreting data related to economic, social and political phenomena.
Communication skills: the student will develop the ability to communicate the knowledge he/she gained and to expose the results of his/her study and research activities.
Learning ability: the student will develop a high-level autonomous capacity for study, which will let him/her to analyze issues in their complexity and in their specific dynamics.
Course Contents
The Course aims to analyze some geopolitical areas and their historical, political, economic and social development, in order to clarify the possible variations of some values/themes, such as independence, freedom and democracy.
History, Geography, Law, Economics, Art and Philosophy, every area will be presented in its complexity, in order to stimulate interest and debate between students as much as possible. Guest speakers will be invited in all of the classes, and they will provide personal stories and experiences highly representative of the topic of the lesson, along with specific case-studies. Each lesson allows for a final debate with students.
Reference Books
T. Nichols (2018), “La Conoscenza e i suoi nemici. L’era dell’incompetenza e i rischi per la Democrazia”, Luiss University Press.
Teaching Methods
Recommended readings:
“LA DEMOCRAZIA, storia di un’ideologia”, di
Luciano Canfora (qualsiasi edizione)
AA. VV. (2019), “Lettere sul mondo. Dal circolo di Studi Diplomatici”, Mazzanti;
AA. VV. (2018), “Le sfide del XXI secolo. Riflessioni di ambasciatori nel Circolo di Studi Diplomatici”, Greco e Greco;
AA. VV. (2018), “Atlante delle guerre e dei conflitti, VIII edizione”, Terra Nuova Edizioni;
Limes 5/2020, “La Russia non è una Cina”;
Limes 7/2018, “Attacco all’Impero persiano”;
P. Frankopan (2019), “Le Nuove Vie della Seta - Una nuova storia del mondo”, Mondadori;
E. Rossi, A. Spinelli (2017), “Il Manifesto di Ventotene”, Mondadori;
N. Hikmet (2016), “Poesie d’Amore”, Mondadori;
R. Kapuscinski (2013), “Ebano”, Feltrinelli;
F. Cardini (2007), “Europa e Islam: Storia di un malinteso”, Laterza;
A. Armani (1977), “Città di Dio e città del sole. Lo «Stato» gesuita dei Guaranì”, Studium.
Assessment Method
The evaluation of students will be based on:
-active involvement in lessons;
-a written essay, on a subject chosen by the student (65% of the final vote);
-an oral exam (35% of the final vote).
- Non-attending students (<70% of lessons) will have to bring, as a mandatory and additional text for the exam, the reference text T. Nichols (2018), “La Conoscenza e i suoi nemici. L’era dell’incompetenza e i rischi per la Democrazia”, Luiss University Press.
The use of AI tools is not permitted for the purposes of the exam.
Thesis assignment criteria
Minimum grade of 30 on the exam; at least 80 % of classes attendance; involvement in course’s themes; meeting with professor.
Week 1
Introduction
Presentation of methodologies, didactic tools and values of the lessons: Freedom, Independence and Democracy.
Week 2
-Historical and geographical overview of Paraguay.
-Fundamental geographical and economic data of Paraguay.
-Nature, evolution and organization of the form of government in Paraguay.
-Founding myths, culture and religions in Paraguay.
-Reading recommendations.
-Why Paraguay?
-Presentation of the next lecture guest speaker.
Paraguay: city of God city of Sun
-The Guarani Jesuit “State” (1609-1768).
-Nature of “reducciones”.
-Private property and common property.
-The end of the “Holy experiment”.
-Sacrifice, resistence, resilience.
Week 3
-Historical and geographical overview on Middle East.
-Fundamental geographical and economic data of Middle East.
-Nature, evolution and organization of the form of government in Middle East.
-Founding myths, culture and religions in Middle East.
-Reading recommendations.
-Presentation of the next lecture guest speaker.
Next week:
Iran in-depth analysis: from ancient Persia to contemporaneity
-Zoroastrianism’s legacy.
-The” eternal return” of the iranian expansionism.
-The role of Iran in Islam.
-Historical development from World War II to Islamic revolution.
-Push towards the Mediterranean Sea: alliances and convergences.
-Independence and freedom in Iran.
Week 4
-Historical and geographical overview of Turkey.
-Fundamental geographical and economic data of Turkey.
-Nature, evolution and organization of the form of government in Turkey.
-Founding myths, culture and religions in Turkey.
-Reading recommendations.
-Why Turkey?
-Presentation of the next lecture guest speaker.
Turkey
-From Ottomans through Ataturk to contemporary Turkey.
-Towards central Asia and China.
-The legacy in the Balkans.
-Turkey in northern Africa and beyond.
Week 5
-Historical and geographical overview of Russia and Ukraine.
-Fundamental geographical and economic data.
-Nature, evolution and organization of the form of government.
-Founding myths, culture and religions.
-Reading recommendations.
-Why Russia?
- Why Ukraine?
-Presentation of the next lecture guest speaker.
Russia
-From Tsars through soviet experience and Vladimir Putin.
-All Russians look towards Moscow.
-The Russian Nation between Church and State.
-Russia and Europe to come.
- The war in Ukraine.
Week 6
-Historical and geographical overview of the
Balkans.
-Fundamental geographical and economic
data of the Balkans.
-Nature, evolution and organization of the
form of government in the Balkans.
-Founding myths, culture and religions in the
Balkans.
-Reading recommendations.
-Why the Balkans?
-Presentation of the next lecture guest
speaker.
Week 7
-Historical and geographical overview of human populations.
-Fundamental geographical and economic data of human populations.
-Analysis and effects of demographics.
-Reading recommendations.
-Why Demographics is important?
-Presentation of the next lecture guest speaker.
Demography
-Population pyramids.
-Population bombs.
-Youth Bulge.
-Effects of demographic rates on geopolitics.
-Impact of migratory flows.
Week 8
-Historical and geographical overview of China.
-Fundamental geographical and economic data of China.
-Nature, evolution and organisation of the form of government in China.
-Founding myths, culture and religions in China.
-Reading recommendations.
-Why China?
-Presentation of the next lecture guest speaker.
China and global finance
-A millenary culture: values of a community.
-The balance between modernity and tradition.
-The Silk Road between past and future.
-Chinese market and global finance: what interactions with the West?
Week 9
-Historical and geographical overview of Africa (2 weeks) .
-Fundamental geographical and economic data of Africa.
-Nature, evolution and organisation of the form of government in Africa.
-Founding myths, culture and religions in Africa.
-Reading recommendations.
-Why Africa?
-Presentation of the next lecture guest speaker.
Africa: States, Nations, Peoples
-Struggle for liberation and coup d’etat.
-Borders, nationalism, army.
-Migratory flows to Europe.
-Jihad and jihadist groups in the region.
-Focus: North Africa and Sahel Belt.
- Focus: sub-saharan Africa
Week 10
-Historical and geographical overview of Europe.
-Fundamental geographical and economic data of Europe.
-Nature, evolution and organisation of the european governance.
-Founding myths, culture and religions in Europe.
-Reading recommendations.
-Why Europe?
-Presentation of the next lecture guest speaker.
Europe
-The dream: no more enemies. From the World Wars to the European Union.
-Reform Europe: new institutions for a new space? For a multi-speed Europe with only one goal: a confederation made of independent States with a single currency and a common defense.
Week 11
-Historical and geographical overview of
United States.
-Fundamental geographical and economic
data of the United States.
-Nature, evolution and organisation of the
american governance.
-Founding myths, culture and religions in
United States.
-Reading recommendations.
-Why USA?
-Presentation of the next lecture guest
speaker.
Week 12
-Historical and geographical overview of Kurdi people.
-Fundamental geographical and economic data.
-Nature, evolution and organization of the form of government
-Founding myths, culture and religions.
-Reading recommendations.
-Why Kurdistan?
-Presentation of the next lecture guest speaker.
End of the course