CONTEMPORARY POLITICS IN ITALY

The course offers students a concise yet comprehensive overview of the main historical developments that shaped Italy from 1946 to the present day. The course privileges a political and social history approach, focusing on the relationship between institutions and collective actors, but without neglecting the cultural and economic dynamics that have marked the evolution of the Italian Republic. Special attention will be paid to long-term processes, crises, and turning points in the relationship between society and the state. Students will also be encouraged to adopt a perspective that connects the local with the global, by analyzing Italy’s role within broader European and international contexts, from the Cold War to the crises of globalization. Classes will alternate between lectures and guided discussions, supported by audiovisual materials and historical documents.

The aim of the course is to stimulate students’ critical thinking and their ability to connect historical events with contemporary political and social transformations.

No specific prerequisites are required

1) Introduction to Republican Italy

2) Resistance and liberation

3) The Birth of the Republic and the Party System

4) The Economic Boom

5) Migrations

6) Social Change and Consumer Culture

7) The Era of Collective Action

8) The Strategy of Tension and political violence

9) Feminism and Gender Relations

10) The 1980s: Retreat, New Movements

11) The Environmental Question

12) The Mafia

13) Mani Pulite, Berlusconi and the Second Republic

14) The Process of European Integration

15) Economic Crisis and European Challenges

P. Ginsborg, A History of Contemporary Italy: Society and Politics, 1943–1988, London, Macmillan, 1988.

P. Ginsborg, Italy and its discontents. Family, civil society, State (1980-2001), Basingstoke, palgrave macmillan, 2003.

J. Foot, The Archipelago. Italy Since 1945, London-Oxford-New York-New Delhi-Sydney, Bloomsbury, 2018.

Assessment will take place through a written exam based on the topics covered in class, to be held in class on a date to be agreed upon with the instructor. Except in exceptional circumstances, only one exam session will be scheduled.

written

Final grades are expressed on a scale from 18 to 30, with 18/30 being the minimum passing grade. A grade between 18 and 22 indicates a basic or partial understanding of the material, sometimes with gaps or inaccuracies. Grades from 23 to 26 reflect a satisfactory or good performance, showing a more solid grasp of content and clearer exposition. Marks in the 27 to 30 range denote very good to excellent work, with strong analytical skills, precision, and depth. The highest mark, 30 e lode (cum laude), is awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding mastery of the subject and exceptional originality or insight. Grades below 18 are considered failing.

In addition to an introductory session, which will include an initial exchange with the students and an overview of some fundamental aspects of the history of Republican Italy, the course will consist of 14 thematic lectures. Each lecture will be divided into a first part of frontal teaching of about 45 minutes, followed by the viewing or reading of a document related to the topic of the session. This will be followed by an open discussion between students and the instructor.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Climate change and energy" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development