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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "SOSC/ITS 225"
COURSE NAME: "Sociology of Southern Italy"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2020
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
James Schwarten
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 10:00-11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will examine the Italian Mezzogiorno starting with this paradox – the reality of a society often engaged in rapid social change but one where change itself often appears impossible. We will look at the modern history of the region briefly, moving on to major themes and questions concerning how the Italian South has developed since the Unification of Italy and especially in recent decades. Issues to be studied include underdevelopment, modernization, social capital and civic spirit or the lack of it, the argument that the South is characterized by “amoral community”, the whys and hows of the great emigration of the last century, the land reforms after World War II, the attempt to overcome the region’s underdevelopment with the Fund for the Mezzogiorno, the issue of clientelist and corrupt politics, organized crime including the Sicilian Mafia, the Neapolitan Camorra, and the Calabrian ‘Ndrangheta, the anti-Mafia movement, the current crisis of waste removal in Naples and its causes, the changing role of women in Southern society and others.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Each of the main themes of the course will be introduced with lectures, followed by seminar-style group discussion and debate, drawing on students’ reading assignments and research projects. The course will first briefly look at the modern history of the Mezzogiorno, moving on to major themes and questions concerning how the Italian South has developed since the Unification of Italy and especially in recent decades. Issues to be studied include underdevelopment, modernization, social capital and civic spirit or the lack of it, the argument that the South is characterized by “amoral community”, the whys and hows of the great emigration of the last century, the land reforms after World War II, the attempt to overcome the region’s underdevelopment with the Southern Development Fund, the issue of clientelistic and corrupt politics, organized crime including the Sicilian Mafia, the Neapolitan Camorra, and the Calabrian ‘Ndrangheta, antimafia movements, the recent crisis of waste removal in Naples and its causes, the changing role of women in southern society and others. Emphasis will also be on the often-overlooked attempts of ordinary Southern Italians to find solutions of their own to the problems facing them, from mass emigration abroad in the early twentieth century, to land occupations, from internal migration to the factories and cities of northern Italy in the 1950s and 1960s, to historic and current antimafia movements.
Students will be expected to complete their assigned readings punctually and to follow developments in southern Italy by reading newspapers and accessing statistical databases.
Student Responsibilities:
Students will attend every class and arrive on time for all class sessions. They will keep up with assigned readings and additional assignments. They will turn in assignments promptly. Five points will be deducted from each assignment that is not turned in on time for each day it is late.
The assessment criteria listed below refer to all assessment methods in the course.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Acquire detailed knowledge of the social history of southern Italy from Unification to the present day.
2. Identify the main events, trends and actors in the political, economic and social development of the Mezzogiorno since Unification.
3. Summarize and critically analyze the different theories which have emerged to explain the South’s economic, political and social development.
4. Develop an understanding of civil society mobilization and social activism in southern Italy.
5. Develop research skills by carrying out a paper project, based on high quality bibliographical research as well as some fieldwork techniques, if appropriate. The methods, instruments, and conclusions of the paper will form the basis of an in-class oral presentation.
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Research Paper | Minimum 1500-word research essay on a topic relevant to the course and with at least three academic sources. | 25 |
| Presentation | In-class presentation of the research project. | 10 |
| Midterm Exam | | 25 |
| Participation at mid term | Assessed qualitatively and quantitatively and includes such practices as active participation in class debates/discussions, offering insightful comments and asking pertinent questions, note-taking, and remaining attentive during class meetings. | 5 |
| Participation at end of term | Assessed qualitatively and quantitatively and includes such practices as active participation in class debates/discussions, offering insightful comments and asking pertinent questions, note-taking, and remaining attentive during class meetings. | 5 |
| Final Exam | The Final Exam is cumulative. | 30 |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
A 94–100 points = A / 90–93.99 = A-
Work of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
B 87–89.99 = B+ / 83–86.99 = B / 80–82.99 = B-
This is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised. There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluate theory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture and reference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
C 77–79.99 = C+ / 70–76.99 = C
This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
D 60–69.99 = D
This level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material. Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included. In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
F 59.99–0 = F
This work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance concerns arriving punctually, remaining in class for the duration of each lesson, participating actively and constructively, and refraining from using devices such as personal computers, cell phones, and tablets. The final grade will be reduced by 3% for each absence after the third.
You cannot make up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean's Office. The Dean's Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will miss an exam must notify the Dean's Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up the work that will be missed.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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Week
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Focus
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WK 1
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Course introduction, syllabus, goals and expectations, research paper, terminology. Class discussion: images, notions, and misconceptions about the Mezzogiorno
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Defining and measuring Italy and “the South”
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WK 2
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Introduction to the history of southern Italy and mass emigration
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WK 3
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Unification viewed from the South
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neo-Orientalism
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WK 4
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Gramsci, Banfield and Putnam; the Southern Question during Fascism
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WK 5
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Politics of the South since World War II, Southern Development Fund
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WK 6
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Film
Introduction to organized crime
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WK 7
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Sicilian mafia (Midterm Exam: March 3)
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SPRING BREAK
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WK 8
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Sicilian mafia
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WK 9
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"Ecomafia"
'Ndrangheta
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WK 10
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Antimafia activism; the effects of organized crime on southern economic development; immigrants in southern Italy
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WK 11
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Student presentations |
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WK 12
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Women and family; research paper due
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WK 13
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Discussion/debate on the future of the South; course conclusions (Final Exam TBA)
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A detailed Syllabus and Schedule will be distributed on the first day of class.
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