Italian politics, International change and domestic transformation

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Contemporary international processes of change have underlined Italy’s sensitiveness to international dynamics and interests, highlighting his nature of political border between Eastern (Russia and China) and Western (the United States) international Great Powers; between Northern (Europe) and Southern regions (the Middle East and North Africa); between developed and developing countries; between ‘the decline of the West and the rise of the Rest’. How have contemporary international processes influenced Italian politics? Is international disorder disordering the Italian social and political order? The Italian case highlights, on the one hand, contemporary international issues arising from the process of transition of international power and its related governance structures and, on the other hand, institutions and internal patterns of adaptation and transformation of internal political and social structures.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will have a solid grasp of the basics of Italian political and social structures; they will be familiar with the most important issues in the contemporary Italian debate, and aware of processes of change in its political constituencies, parties and stakeholders, foreign policies, and identities. In addition, they will have a knowledge on how contemporary international and intra-State political and social structures relate to and influence each other

 

COURSE CONTENTS

The course is divided into three parts. The first part focuses on the construction of and historical change in Italian political and social structures in relation to the international system and its transformation; the second part focuses on identity, interests, platforms and goals of contemporary Italian political parties; while the third part focuses on the contemporary processes of change, both in Italy’s foreign policies and the international system.