The course aims to provide an introduction to the sociological analysis of contemporary political processes, with special focus on cultural approaches and cultural sociology.
To this aim, after an introduction to sociology and political sociology (where the main concepts, paradigms and theoretical approaches of the discipline will be illustrated), the course will focus on the following topics:
- Cultural perspectives on politics and society. The relevance of cultural processes in the political sphere (e.g. cultural orientations, values and representations, politicization of social identities, construction of social meanings) will be discussed in class. Special attention will be paid to the role of “difference” in contemporary politics and society, and to the interplay of gender, social class, ethnicity/race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, etc., in the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion.
- Social movements and social change. Main sociological approaches to the study of social movements will be presented and discussed in class and through the referral readings (Resource mobilization theory, New social movements, Global social movements). Special attention will be given to the application of different perspectives to the analysis of concrete case-studies, as well as to the relation between social movements and social change.
- Transformation of citizenship in contemporary societies. In this part of the course, the current sociological debate on citizenship will be analysed and the concept of citizenship will be problematized. Special attention will be given to: the debate on citizenship beyond the nation-state; the emergence of new domains of rights beyond the civic-political-social triad (e.g. environmental, sexual, reproductive, cultural rights), the debates around gender, multiculturalism and citizenship.