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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "SOCSC/ITS225-1"
COURSE NAME: "Sociology of Southern Italy"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2014
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: James Schwarten
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course aims to examine the social history and contemporary realities of Southern Italy, focusing on the many paradoxes which continue to characterize the area, such as the influence of history and tradition alongside the often rapid social changes which have occurred since World War II. Some of the themes to be studied are: the Unification of Italy from a Southern perspective; the mass migrations of the twentieth century; the development of organized crime and the anti-Mafia movements; clientelist politics and civil society; the changing role of women.
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, the anti-Mafia movement, the recent crisis of waste removal in Naples and its causes, the changing role of women in Southern society and others. Emphasis will 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 the anti-Mafia movements in Palermo in the 1990s and in Calabria today.

Students are expected to do their assigned readings punctually and to follow developments in Southern Italy by reading newspapers throughout the semester.

On-site classes, guest speakers and videos may be organized to supplement lectures and presentations.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students will acquire detailed knowledge of the social history of Southern Italy from Unification to the present day. They will be able to identify the main events, trends and actors in the political, economic and social development of the Mezzogiorno during that time period.

Based on the required readings and lectures, students will be able to summarize and critically analyze the different theories which have emerged to explain the South’s economic, political and social development.

Students will develop their research and oral presentation skills by carrying out a research project, based on high quality bibliographical research as well as some fieldwork techniques if appropriate, and discussing their findings with the class.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Italy’s Southern Question: Orientalism in One CountryJane SchneiderBerg9781859739976  
The View from Vesuvius: Italian Culture and the Southern Question Nelson MoeUC Press0520248260  
Reversible Destiny: Mafia, Antimafia and the Struggle for Palermo Peter and Jane SchneiderUC Press0520236092  
Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Modern ItalyRobert PutnamPrinceton Univ Press0691037388  
Gender, Family and Work in NaplesVictoria GoddardBerg1859730345  
The New History of the Italian South: The Mezzogiorno RevisitedRobert Lumley and Johnathan MorrisUniversity of Exeter Press0859895068  
A History of Contemporary ItalyPaul GinsborgPalgrave Macmillan1403961530  
Italian Cultural Studies: An IntroductionDavid Forgacs and Robert LumleyOxford University Press0198715099  
Italy in the Nineteenth Century: 1796-1900John A. DavisOxford University Press0198731272  
A Concise History of ItalyChristopher DugganCambridge University Press0521408482  
GomorrahRoberto Saviano (trans. V. Jewiss)Macmillan0230703674HV6453 .I83C42 

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Research Paper1,500-2,000 word paper on a topic relevant to the course based on research using at least three academic sources.20
Oral presentation10 minute explanation (in class) of the topic of the research paper, explaining its relevance to the course, the methods used to collect information, main findings and conclusions and brief discussion of the sources used.10
Midterm Exam 25
Final Exam 25
AttendanceMissing more than 2 classes without valid justification will reduce the final grade by 5% for each absence.5
ParticipationAssessed qualitatively and quantitatively on the basis of participation in class discussions, insightful comments and note-taking. 10
Emigration QuestionnaireBrief in-class oral presentation of the results of an interview with someone who has emigrated from Southern Italy, carried out following the guidelines handed out in class.5

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AGrading Scale: 100—94 (A), 93—90 (A-), 89—88 (B+), 87—84 (B), 83—80 (B-), 79—78 (C+), 77—74 (C), 73—70 (C-), 69—68 (D+), 67—64 (D), 63—60 (D-), 59—0 (F) 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 cours
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis 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.
FThis 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:
Each unjustified absence beyond the second will incur a 5% penalty in the final-grade calculation. Travel plans, visiting friends or relatives, or other personal concerns are not considered valid grounds for justifying an absence.
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.
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.

SCHEDULE

Session

Session Focus

Reading Assignment

Other Assignment

Exam Dates

WK 1A

Jan 14

Course introduction, syllabus, goals and expectations

Group discussion: stereotypes about the Mezzogiorno

 

 

 

WK 1B

Jan 16

Defining and measuring “the South”

Duggan, Chapter 1 (on reserve)

 

 

WK 2A

Jan 21

Lecture: Introduction to the history of Southern Italy

Davis, Chapter 5 (on reserve)

 

 

WK 2B

Jan 23

Introduction to the history of Southern Italy cont’d

 

research topic due 

 

WK 3A

Jan 28     

Lecture: Unification viewed from the South

Forgacs and Lumley, Chapter 4

(on reserve)

 

 

WK 3B

Jan 30

Lecture and group discussion: Italy’s “Orientalism”

 

 

 

WK 4A

Feb 4

Lecture and discussion: Gramsci,  Banfield and Putnam

Putnam, Chapter 6 (on reserve); Tarrow article (on MyJCU)

annotated bibliography and working outline due

 

WK 4B

Feb 6

Lecture: Mass emigrations; causes and consequences

 

emigration interview

 

WK 5A

Feb 11

Group discussion based on interviews: experiences and personal histories of emigrants

 

emigration interview; discussion

 

WK 5B

Feb 13

Lecture: Politics of the South since World War II; Southern Development Fund

 

 

 

WK 6A

Feb 18

Lecture: Introduction to Organized Crime

 

 

 

WK 6B

Feb 20

Lecture: Cosa Nostra

 readings TBA

 

 

WK 7A

Feb 25

Review for Midterm Exam

 

prepare for exam

 

WK 7B

Feb 27

 

 

 

MIDTERM EXAM

WK 8A

Mar 4

Film: TBA

 

 

 

WK 8B

Mar 6

Film: TBA and group discussion

 

research paper rough draft due

 

WK 9A

Mar 11

Lecture: Camorra

Saviano (on reserve) + additional readings TBA

 

WK 9B

Mar 13

Lecture: Organized Crime – ‘Ndrangheta

 readings TBA

 

 

WK 10A

Mar 25

Group discussion: Possible solutions to organized crime?

 

 

 

WK 10B

Mar 27

Lecture and group discussion: Anti-Mafia

 readings TBA

 

 

WK 11A

Apr 1

Immigrants in Southern Italy

 

 

 

WK 11B

Apr 3

Lecture: Women and the Family in Southern Italy

 readings TBA

research paper final draft due

 

WK 12A

Apr 8

Women and the family in Southern Italy

 

 

 

WK 12B

Apr 10

Lecture and group discussion: Alternative analyses and perspectives of the South

 

 

 

WK 13A

Apr 15

Student research presentations

 

 

 

WK 13B

Apr 17

Student research presentations

 

begin preparing for Final Exam

 

WK 14A

Apr 22

Student research presentations

 

 

 

WK 14B

Apr 24

Course conclusions / Final Exam review