Introduction; "politics of globalisation...and human rights"; the HR doctrine: theory, norms and implementation; "globalization": origin of the word and possible interpretations; the liberal standpoint and its critics; the "great globalizatoin debate"; tha nation-state and national legal order in the global era; global order, war and HR; HR: a hegemonic project?; the "new rights"; HR and global migrations; HR and gender.
A selected bibliography will be given and presented to students in the
first part of the course.
Learning Objectives
The course aims to equip the students with knowledge of the basic
philosophical, political and sociological theories on integration processes
worldwide and on human rights doctrine. At the end of the course a student will know how to interpret
and critically evaluate the socio-political theories on “globalization” and human rights;
he/she will be able to understand the phenomena of economic, legal,
political and cultural integration. He/she will understand the relationship
between economic and political phenomena, explanatory theories and
systems of thought. He/she will be able to prepare and discuss in class a
critical report, in accordance with the specific techniques of research
presentation.
Prerequisites
none.
Teaching Methods
In the first part of the course classes will be held in form of traditional lectures, but students will be asked to discuss the topics and readings that the teacher will present in class. Handouts and other materials will be distributed in class by the teacher. A selected bibliography will be given and presented to students in order to allow them to choose the text they will read for the second part of the course. In the second part of the course classes will be held in form of seminars. Students will be asked to present and discuss their papers on the selected books with the teacher and with the other students. Active participation of students in the discussion of the different topics will be strongly encouraged both in the first and in the second part of the course.
Further information
The course will be held in collaboration with the Syracuse University in Florence. It will start in January. Classes will be held at Syracuse University in Florence (piazza Savonarola, 15, Firenze). The course will follow the American Spring Semester's calendar. Please, check SUF's and UNIFI'S websites or ask the teacher for information. Attendance is mandatory.
Type of Assessment
The student assessment comes from
30%: Active participation in class.
35%: Book presentation in class.
35%: Written paper on the topic and book chosen by the student (4000
words). The paper will be presented in class and will be discussed with
the teacher and the other students. It will then be given in its final form
to the teacher at the end of the course.
Course program
The course examines economic, legal, political and cultural processes related to “globalization” and “human rights doctrine”. After some introductory lectures (part 1), each student will be asked to choose, within a list of books, the subject and the book on which he/she will prepare his/her research paper. The lectures and seminars, as well as the suggested books concern the following topics: a) the definitions and interpretations of the socio-political phenomena of “globalization”; b) erosion, conservation and change in the functions of national states and in the role of law, including international law and human rights law; c) changes in warfare: from the system of Westphalia to the "global war"; d) “global economy”; e) global migration; f) “globalization” and social control: “prison globalization” and "global surveillance"; g) “globalization” and gender.
Other professors will eventually be invited to give lectures on some of these topics, so that students may discuss their readings with them. In the second part of the course, each student will then present and discuss in class his/her research paper.