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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "SOSC/ITS 225"
COURSE NAME: "Sociology of Southern Italy"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2016
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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:
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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, throughout the semester. The professor will provide guidance in these areas.
The professor customarily offers an optional day-trip to Naples. 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.
The assessment criteria listed below refer to all assessment methods in the course.
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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.
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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 2000-word paper based on a topic relevant to the course and carried out using at least two academic sources. The paper may be in the form of a bibliographical review or an expository essay. | 15 |
| 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 |
| Attendance | Missing more than 2 classes without valid justification will reduce the final grade by 3% for each absence. | 5 |
| 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. | 7.5 |
| Short writing assignments (2) | Critical reflection papers (2-4 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 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. | 7.5 |
| Final Exam | | 20 |
| Writing Center | Students are expected to attend the writing center for guidance on the research paper. | 5 |
-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:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
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 other 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 be absent from a major 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 any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until December 9.
Course-specific absence policy: Each unjustified absence (for whatever reason) beyond the second will incur a 3% penalty in the final grade calculation.
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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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The course schedule may be subject to modification.
All readings will be provided by the professor and are subject to change on the basis of recent scholarship.
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Session
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Session Focus
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Reading Assignment
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Other Assignment
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Exam Dates
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WK 1A
Aug 30
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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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WK 1B
Sep 1
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Defining and measuring Italy and “the South”
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Castellanos (Provincialism and Nationalism)
Duggan (A Concise History of Italy), chapter 1
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WK 2A
Sep 6
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Lecture: Introduction to the history of southern Italy
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Riall ("Garibaldi and the South")
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WK 2B
Sep 8
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Introduction to the history of southern Italy (cont.)
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Davis ("The South and the Risorgimento: histories and counter-histories")
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Research topic due
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WK 3A
Sep 13
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Lecture: Unification viewed from the South
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Forgacs and Lumley (Italian Cultural Studies. An Introduction), chapter 4
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WK 3B
Sep 15
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Lecture/discussion: Italy’s "primitives" and “Orientalism”
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Harris ("Photography of the 'primitive' in Italy")
Dickie (Imagined Italies)
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Bibliography due
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WK 4A
Sep 20
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Lecture/discussion: Gramsci, Banfield and Putnam; the Southern Question during Fascism
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Putnam (Making Democracy Work), Tarrow (review of Putnam), Ginsborg ("Civil society in contemporary Italy: theory, history and practice")
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WK 4B
Sep 22
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Lecture: Mass emigrations from the South; causes and consequences
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WK 5A
Sep 23
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In-class discussion and debate: views, interpretations, stereotypes of the South
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Annotated bibliography and outline due
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WK 5B
Sep 27
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Lecture/discussion: Politics of the South since World War II; Southern Development Fund; economic trends
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Alacevich ("Postwar development in the Italian Mezzogiorno") Lüttge (the Mezzogiorno during European Integration)
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WK 6A
Sep 29
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Film: T.B.A.
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Cassano ("Southern Thought")
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WK 6B
Oct 4
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Film and discussion
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Reading(s), T.B.A.
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Begin preparing for exam
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WK 7A
Oct 6
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Review for Midterm Exam
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WK 7B
Oct 11
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MIDTERM EXAM
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WK 7C
Oct 13
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Organized crime: Origins of Cosa Nostra (Sicily)
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Dickie (Cosa Nostra, pp. 21-26; 35-67) / Lupo (History of the Mafia, pp. 1-30)
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WK 8A
Oct 18
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Organized crime: Cosa Nostra in post-WWII Sicily
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Research paper rough draft due
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WK 8B
Oct 20
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Organized crime: Origins of the Camorra
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Dickie (Camorra)
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WK 9A
Oct 25
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Camorra: Causes and the consequences of "Ecomafia"
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Saviano (Gomorrah, "Land of Fires"), Collins (review of Saviano)
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WK 9B
Oct 27
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Organized crime: 'Ndrangheta
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Paoli (Mafia Brotherhoods, pp. 29-40; 46-52; 67-70), Giap Parini ("The strongest mafia: 'Ndrangheta made in Calabria"), Mete and Sciarrone (Overcoming the 'Ndrangheta)
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WK 10A
Oct 28
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Lecture/discussion. "Going it alone": Antimafia and private initiative; possible solutions to organized crime
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Schneider and Schneider (Reversible Destiny, pp. 160-192)
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WK 10B
Nov 3
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Discussion and debate: the effect of organized crime on southern development
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Daniele ("The Burden of Crime on Development and FDI in Southern Italy")
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WK 11A
Nov 8
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Lecture/discussion: Immigrants in southern Italy
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Buonaiuto and Laforest ("Spelling Out Exclusion in Southern Italy")
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Research paper final draft due
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WK 11B
Nov 10
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Lecture/discussion: Women and the Family
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Carrera ("Women and Work in Italy: the Risk of Discouragement"), Fantone (Gender and Generational Politics in Contemporary Italy), Ruspini (Masculinity between Familism and Social Change)
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WK 12A
Nov 15
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ISTAT, SVIMEZ, and Confindustria: Current statistical data on the Mezzogiorno
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Trigilia ("North and south in the current crisis")
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WK 12B
Nov 17
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Student research presentations and discussion
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WK 13A
Nov 22
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Student research presentations and discussion
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Begin preparing for Final Exam
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WK 13B
Nov 29
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Student research presentations and discussion
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WK 14
Dec 1
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Course conclusions / Final Exam review
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