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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "SOSC/ITS 225"
COURSE NAME: "Sociology of Southern Italy"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2014
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: James Schwarten
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 1:30 PM 2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course examines 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 development of organized criminal syndicates and antimafia movements; clientelist politics and civil society; the changing role of women; immigration.
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, throughout the semester. The professor will provide guidance in these areas.

On-site classes, guest speakers and visual media may supplement lectures and presentations.

In the past, the professor has offered an optional day-trip to Naples as a way of experiencing firsthand this southern capital city. Students should inform the professor of their interest in this option the first day of class.

Student Responsibilities:

Students will attend every class and arrive on time for all class sessions. They will keep up with assigned readings and with any out of class 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.
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 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.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Research paperMinimum 2000-word paper based on a topic relevant to the course and carried out using at least three academic sources. The paper may be in the form of a bibliographical review or an expository essay.20
Presentation (in class)Approximately a 10-minute power point (or similar platform) presentation 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 20
AttendanceMissing more than 2 classes without valid justification will reduce the final grade by 5% for each absence.5
Participation at mid termAssessed qualitatively and quantitatively on the basis of active participation in class discussions, insightful comments and note-taking.7.5
Short writing assignments (2)Critical reflection papers (1-2 pp.) on course content (e.g., theoretical perspectives, stereotypes, trends, events, a film). Assessed for critical insights on a specific issue, and the ability to express ideas coherently and objectively.10
Participation at end of termAssessed qualitatively and quantitatively on the basis of active participation in class discussions, insightful comments and note-taking.7.5
Final Exam 20

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
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. 94-100 (A) 90-93.99 (A-)
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. 88-89.99 (B+) 84-87.99 (B) 80-83.99 (B-)
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. 78-79.99 (C+) 74-77.99 (C) 70-73.99 (C-)
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. 68-69.99 (D+) 64-67.99 (D) 60-63.99 (D-)
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. 0-59.99 (F)

-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

The course schedule may be subject to modification due to the possibility of guest speakers or on-site lectures.

All readings will be provided by the professor.


Session

Session Focus

Reading Assignment

Other Assignment

Exam Dates

WK 1A

Sep 2

Course introduction, syllabus, goals and expectations, research paper, terminology

Class discussion: images, notions, and misconceptions about the Mezzogiorno

 

 

 

WK 1B

Sep 4

Defining and measuring “the South”

Duggan (A Concise History of Italy), chapter 1

 

 

WK 2A

Sep 9

Lecture: Introduction to the history of southern Italy

Davis (Italy in the Nineteenth Century: 1796-1900), chapter 5

 

 

WK 2B

Sep 11

Introduction to the history of southern Italy (cont.)

 

research topic due 

 

WK 3A

Sep 16     

Lecture: Unification viewed from the South

Forgacs and Lumley (Italian Cultural Studies. An Introduction), chapter 4

 

 

WK 3B

Sep 18

Lecture/discussion: Italy’s “Orientalism”

 

 

 

WK 4A

Sep 23

Lecture/discussion: Gramsci,  Banfield and Putnam; the Southern Question during Fascism

Putnam (Making Democracy Work), chapter 6; Tarrow, review of Putnam

Research paper annotated bibliography due

 

WK 4B

Sep 25

Lecture: Mass emigrations from the South; causes and consequences

 

 

 

WK 4C

Sep 26

In-class discussion and debate: views, interpretations, stereotypes of the South

 

 

 

WK 5A

Sep 30

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

Alacevich ("Postwar development in the Italian Mezzogiorno")

 

 

WK 5B

Oct 2

Film: T.B.A.

 

 

 

WK 6A

Oct 7

Film and discussion

 Reading(s), T.B.A.

 

 

WK 6B

Oct 9

Review for Midterm Exam

 

Begin preparing for exam

 

WK 7A

Oct 14

 

 

 

MIDTERM EXAM

WK 7B

Oct 16

Organized crime: Origins of Cosa Nostra (Sicily)

Dickie (Cosa Nostra, pp. XI-XXII; 1-91) / Lupo (History of the Mafia, pp. 1-30)

 

 

WK 8A

Oct 21

Organized crime: Cosa Nostra in post-WWII Sicily

Dickie (Cosa Nostra, pp. 271-301)

Research paper rough draft due

 

WK 8B

Oct 23

Organized crime: Origins of the Camorra

Behan (The Camorra), pp. 1-30

 

WK 9A

Oct 30

Camorra: Causes and the consequences of "Ecomafia"

Pasotti ("Sorting through the trash: the Waste Management Crisis in Southern Italy"), Saviano (Gomorrah, "Land of Fires"), Collins, review of Saviano

 

 

WK 9B

Nov 4

Organized crime: 'Ndrangheta

Paoli (Mafia Brotherhoods, pp. 29-40; 46-52; 67-70), Giap Parini ("The strongest mafia: 'Ndrangheta made in Calabria")

 

 

WK 10A

Nov 4

Lecture/discussion. "Going it alone": Antimafia and private initiative; possible solutions to organized crime

Schneider and Schneider (Reversible Destiny, pp. 160-192)

 

 

WK 10B

Nov 6

Discussion and debate: the effect of organized crime on southern development

Daniele ("The Burden of Crime on Development and FDI in Southern Italy")

 

 

WK 11A

Nov 11

Lecture/discussion: Immigrants in southern Italy

Booth and Cole ("An unsettling integration: immigrant lives and work in Palermo")

 

 

WK 11B

Nov 13

Lecture/discussion: Women and the Family in southern Italy

Carrera ("Women and Work in Italy: the Risk of Discouragement")

Research paper final draft due

 

WK 12A

Nov 18

ISTAT, SVIMEZ, and Confindustria: Current statistical data on the Mezzogiorno

 

 

 

WK 12B

Nov 20

Student research presentations and discussion

 

 

 

WK 13

Nov 25

Student research presentations and discussion

 

Begin preparing for Final Exam

 

WK 14A

Dec 2

Student research presentations and discussion

 

 

 

WK 14B

Dec 4

Course conclusions / Final Exam review