The course aims to enable students to acquire advanced training, with specific reference to the European context, the evolution of relevant social institutions,in their interaction with   legal and political institutions. . Particular attention will be paid to the theory of social integration and social institutions through law.  On the basis of the knowledge acquired, the students will develop analytical skills in relation to the content and character of social and institutional change. The acquisition of such knowledge will allow students of the last year of the degree course to test their cultural interests and better define their study preferences also in view of their thesis.

The first part of the course will be devoted to a survey of the theory of institutions, defined as intermediate social formations that lie between the individual and society as a whole. The theoretical study of social institutions, with particular reference to their relationship with social integration, will be developed with attention to the positivist-functionalist current, since the origins of sociological thought with Auguste Comte, then retracing the ideas of Emile Durkheim, Eugen Ehrlich, Talcott Parsons and Niklas Luhmann. It will be shown that in all these authors the study of institutions has helped to highlight the integrative function of law, both as a response to the problem of social order, and, more recently, in relation to the inclusion of minorities in contemporary pluralistic society.

The second part of the course will focus on a reconstruction of the characteristic features of social institutions in European society, focused on issues crucial to its history and current configuration: populations and migrations; borders and nationalism; the urban experience specificity and its historical role; churches, religious pluralism and fundamentalism; languages; universities, from the medieval foundation of universities and other institutions of learning; political systems, parliaments and governments; inequality and welfare; economic and market integration. 

The third part of the course will be devoted to a reconstruction of the welfare state history in a comparative and long-term perspective: from the analysis of the forms of assistance to the poor in Elizabethan England to the spread of employment insurance in Germany of Bismarck and the rest of 'Europe; from the birth of the social security concept in Roosevelt's America to the path followed in those years by totalitarian states, to the changing fortunes of the welfare state in the Western world. Will also be shown, finally, the new paths that the welfare state has begun to take to meet the challenges of the great social, economic and demographic change now in place, not least the continuing economic crisis

 

It is expected that students will acquire:
1. knowledge and understanding: mastery of basic knowledge about the course's main topics, developing critical evaluation skills, avoiding ideological simplifications; mastery of basic knowledge about the historical development of social institutions in the broader context of the formation and development of modern Western and European society, with particular reference to its constituent elements
 The students will attain these basic knowledge: by participating in lessons and the analytical study of the texts proposed by the teacher and discussed in the classroom.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and theories presented in the course; svilupppare insights, both from the standpoint of both theoretical and empirical.
To be achieved through classroom discussions, confrontation with the teacher, the study of texts.
3. Capacity of judgment: critical reflection on themes, topics, authors, the texts presented.
This capability will mature in the interaction in the classroom, with the teacher and with fellow students, in the reading of essays, articles, scientific papers.
4. Communication skills: the ability to communicate their knowledge in a clear and correct
Outcomes by means of discussions in the classroom interact actively during lectures, workshops, seminars, answering questions, asking questions and also through written contributions.
5. Learning Skills: capacity for abstract thinking, methods of analysis of the problems, of independent judgment.
Skills to be acquired primarily discussing and arguing with other students and with the teacher the themes of the course. Knowledge of the presented study materials will gain a greater capacity for further learning. The teacher in the course of teaching will encourage the acquisition of such skills, which will be evaluated during the examination

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

through the Moodle platform  will be made available to students numerous materials, consisting both in texts and in significant pictures and photographs to allow them to put in context the social and legal changes that will be covered in the course. 

Teaching

Frontal lessons. Explanation of the best use of the work materials uploaded by the teacher in the Moodle platform

Attendance

Contextual study of texts and materials provided in all specified parts; frequency of at least ¾ of the hours of actually taught lessons.

Course books

Belvisi F., Verso l'inclusione. La teoria delle istituzioni e l'integrazione sociale mediante il diritto, CLUEB, Bologna 2012

Cavalli A. - Martinelli A., La società europea, Il Mulino, Bologna 2015

Conti F. - Silei G. Breve storia dello Stato sociale, Nuova edizione, Carocci, Roma 2013

Cavalli A -  Douglas M., voce Istituzioni, in Enciclopedia delle scienze sociali, Treccani, Roma1996 

Some chapters of the texts listed above will not be included in the final assessment. Detailed informations will be given in the syllabus distributed at the beginning of the course.

A list of alternative texts in English can be provided by the teacher

Une liste de textes alternatifs en français peut être fournie par le professeur

Assessment

The assessment is done individually on the occasion of regular exams and is done by a committee chaired by the form teacher, by oral examination. Students having regularly attended course lessons may present a written essay on one of the topics covered in the course, which will be discussed during the examination and may contribute positively to its assessment

The purpose of this review is to assess the basic knowledge related to the current epistemological structure of the studies on the social and legal institutions, a mastery of the issues that relate to the evolution of the law and social institutions in their relations with social , economic and cultural change, the ability to critically examine the changes and evolution of these phenomena in the context of Italian and European society. Students and students attending will be able to present a written essay on one of the topics covered in the course, which will be shown during the examination and may contribute positively to the overall assessment if it proves knowledge of the topics and analytical skills .

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.

Teaching

Individual study of the course program in all its parts

Attendance

Not required.

Course books

Belvisi F., Verso l'inclusione. La teoria delle istituzioni e l'integrazione sociale mediante il diritto, CLUEB, Bologna 2012

Cavalli A. - Martinelli A., La società europea, Il Mulino, Bologna 2015

Conti F. - Silei G. Breve storia dello Stato sociale, Nuova edizione, Carocci, Roma 2013

Assessment

The assessment is done individually on the occasion of regular exams and is done by a committee chaired by the form teacher, by oral examination.

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.

The student can request to sit the final exam in English with an alternative bibliography in this language.

L'examen et la bibliographie seront en langue française à la demande de l'étudiant.