The aim of the course is to provide students with the theoretical bases of the sociology of social exclusion and inclusion. It also aims to make students to develop the tools for applying these concepts to societal dynamics, analysing exclusion and inclusion processes in various fields and their consequences in terms of social change. 

Classes will be held on Tuesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. in Classroom 13 of Palazzo Battiferri and on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Classroom A1 of Palazzo Battiferri from 23 September 2024 for a total of 18 lessons.

The course aims to explore the processes of social exclusion and inclusion in sociology through four main modules:

Part One - The sociological debate on social exclusion:

- Definition of the basic concepts of social exclusion and inclusion;

- Precursors of the concept of social exclusion in classical sociology;

- The development of the concept from France to Europe;

- The contemporary debate on the concept of social exclusion.

Part Two - Multidimensionality and intersectionality:

- Class, poverty and work as vehicles of exclusion;

- Racial and ethno-cultural discrimination;

- Gender issues and social exclusion;

- The spatial dimension of social exclusion;

- From multidimensionality to intersectionality.

Part Three - Prison, aspects of social inclusion and exclusion:

- The social construction of deviance;

- Prison and other detention facilities in Italy;

- Prison reformism and abolitionism.

Part Four - The case of migration:

- Policies of inclusion and exclusion of migrants and people with a migration background;

- The reception system for asylum seekers and refugees: between inclusion and exclusion;

- Permanent Residence Centres for Repatriation (CPR) in Italy: a case of total exclusion?

None.

• Knowledge and understanding: Students are expected to have adequate knowledge of the theoretical foundations and contemporary debate of the sociology of social inclusion and exclusion.
• Applying knowledge and understanding: Students should be able to apply the theoretical and critical framework presented during the course to contemporary social dynamics, identifying their potential in terms of exclusion and/or inclusion.
• Making judgements: Students should demonstrate the ability to critically analyse the knowledge acquired, independently discussing any limits or room for expansion of the concepts presented.
• Communication skills: Students are expected to have the ability to present theory and its application to practical cases effectively, using the technical language of the discipline correctly without sacrificing clarity.
• Learning skills: Students are expected to be able to study and learn both independently and from discussion with the lecturer and colleagues.

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

For students attending at least 2/3 of lessons, it is possible to held an intermediate exam (see below the Assessment section).

Teaching

Lectures, discussion of articles and optional materials, group discussion of specific cases.

Innovative teaching methods

Flipped classroom for some of the covered topics, particularly in the second, third and fourth modules. If enough students will be interested, a debate will also be organised on theme of prison reformism and abolitionism.

Attendance

To be considered an attending student, it is necessary to participate in at least two thirds of the lessons (12).

Course books

General book:

• Tuorto, D. (2017). Esclusione sociale. Uno sguardo sociologico. Pearson

A specific book chosen between:

• Ciniero, A. (2024). Le politiche dell'esclusione. Centri di accoglienza, ghetti agricoli e campi rom in Italia. Meltemi.
• Kern, L. (2024). La città femminista. La lotta per lo spazio in un mondo disegnato da uomini. Treccani. (excluding one chapter between 1, 2 e 3). [book available in English version: Feminist City: Claiming Space in a Man-Made World. Verso Books Edition]
• Anastasia, S., Calderone, V., Manconi, L. (2022, 2nd edition). Abolire il carcere. Una ragionevole proposta per la sicurezza dei cittadini. Chiarelettere.
• Esposito, F., Caja, E., Mattiello, G. (2022, a cura di). Corpi reclusi in attesa di espulsione. La detenzione amministrativa in Europa al tempo della sindemia. Edizioni SEB 27. (Cap.1-5, 12: pp.15-165, 309-320)
• Diangelo, R. (2020). Fragilità bianca. Perché è così difficile per i bianchi parlare di razzismo. Chiarelettere. [book available in English version: White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism. Verso Books Edition]
• Standing, G. (2015). Diventare Cittadini. Un manifesto del precariato. Feltrinelli. (excluding Chapter 5). [book available in English version: A Precariat Charter: From Denizens to Citizens. Bloomsbury Book]

Course slides will be made available to students on the Moodle > Blended Learning platform. Additional materials will also be provided on the same platform.

NOTE: Alternative English materials can be provided upon request by the student in replacement of the general book. 

Assessment

Individual oral examination, focusing on knowledge and critical reading skills of the study texts or topics covered in class. Grading expressed in thirtieths with the possibility of honours.

Four criteria concur in the assessment of the examination: 1) knowledge of the concepts and theoretical foundations, 2) ability to critically rework these materials, 3) ability to apply the theoretical framework to concrete social dynamics, 4) command of technical language and clarity of expression. Each criterion can be assessed as insufficient, sufficient, good or excellent. Sufficiency in criterion 1 and at least one of criteria 2 and 3 is required as a minimum pass requirement. The highest rating is achieved with an excellent level in all four criteria. Although not part of the main criteria, the ability to elaborate independently, to make connections and to propose cases of application not explicitly addressed in the lectures or in the study texts is particularly appreciated and required for the achievement of honours.

Optional intermediate test for frequent participants

For those attending, there is an optional written midterm examination about halfway through the course, consisting of two broad open questions focusing on the topics covered so far and their application to concrete cases of social reality. For those taking the test, this will contribute one third of the final assessment and will allow the part of the syllabus used for the midterm to be removed from the materials for the oral examination. The assessment criteria are the same as those listed above for the oral examination.

Optional essay for attending students

Attending students are offered the possibility of supplementing their exam grade with a written paper to be written independently and concerning the application of the concepts addressed during the course to a specific case. This paper is not compulsory and the specific topic must be agreed with the lecturer. If you choose to do so, it must be handed in at least one week before the date of the oral interview where you intend to take the exam. The paper will count for one third of the final grade.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Individual study of examination texts. 

In order to give non-attending students the opportunity to compensate for what is done during the lectures through self-study, it is recommended that they make use of all the materials posted on the Blended Learning platform (videos, tutorials, supplementary material, sample exam questions) that are particularly useful for fully understanding the contents of the programme.

Attendance

None.

Course books

General book:

• Tuorto, D. (2017). Esclusione sociale. Uno sguardo sociologico. Pearson

A specific book chosen between:

• Ciniero, A. (2024). Le politiche dell'esclusione. Centri di accoglienza, ghetti agricoli e campi rom in Italia. Meltemi.
• Kern, L. (2024). La città femminista. La lotta per lo spazio in un mondo disegnato da uomini. Treccani. (excluding one chapter between 1, 2 e 3). [book available in English version: Feminist City: Claiming Space in a Man-Made World. Verso Books Edition]
• Anastasia, S., Calderone, V., Manconi, L. (2022, 2nd edition). Abolire il carcere. Una ragionevole proposta per la sicurezza dei cittadini. Chiarelettere.
• Esposito, F., Caja, E., Mattiello, G. (2022, a cura di). Corpi reclusi in attesa di espulsione. La detenzione amministrativa in Europa al tempo della sindemia. Edizioni SEB 27. (Cap.1-5, 12: pp.15-165, 309-320)
• Diangelo, R. (2020). Fragilità bianca. Perché è così difficile per i bianchi parlare di razzismo. Chiarelettere. [book available in English version: White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism. Verso Books Edition]
• Standing, G. (2015). Diventare Cittadini. Un manifesto del precariato. Feltrinelli. (excluding Chapter 5). [book available in English version: A Precariat Charter: From Denizens to Citizens. Bloomsbury Book]

Course slides will be made available to students on the Moodle > Blended Learning platform. Additional materials will also be provided on the same platform.

NOTE: Alternative English materials can be provided upon request by the student in replacement of the general book. 

Assessment

Individual oral examination, focusing on knowledge and critical reading skills of study texts and lecture content. Grading in thirtieths with the possibility of honours.

Four criteria concur in the assessment of the examination: 1) knowledge of the concepts and theoretical foundations, 2) ability to critically rework these frameworks, 3) ability to apply the theoretical framework to concrete social dynamics, 4) use of technical language and clarity of expression. Each criterion can be assessed as insufficient, sufficient, good or excellent. Sufficiency in criterion 1 and at least one of criteria 2 and 3 is required as a minimum pass requirement. The highest rating is achieved with an excellent level in all four criteria. Although not part of the main criteria, the ability to elaborate independently, make connections and propose cases of application not explicitly addressed during the lectures or in the study texts is particularly appreciated and required for the achievement of honours.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

In the event of specific needs (e.g. impossibility to purchase course books) please contact the lecturer to agree to an alternative solutions.

Students can request to do the final exam in English and/or ask the lecturer an alternative program with English materials. Some of the monograph at choice can directly be found in English (e.g. Kern, Standing, Diangelo). As for the main book, this can be replaced by a set of articles provided by the lecturers.