aCademiC Catalog 2013-2014 - Lorenzo de Medici

FLORENCE
School of Arts & Sciences
Prerequisites: PHR 210 World Religions, or POL 288 International
Politics, or equivalents
International Law
POL 315 F
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 45
International relationships are characterized by a reciprocal
respect for rules, the strict observation of which is considered
mandatory by nation states. These rules are usually known
as International Law. International society is made up of
independent entities who are free to make their own choices.
However, they are also, of necessity, interdependent and thus
there is a need to establish regularized relationships through the
creation of mutually agreed rules and regulations. In this course
students will learn the rules that nation states use to regulate
their international relationships, and thus they will come to
understand how states conduct their foreign policy and what
rules they must respect in their international relationships. The
main topics under discussion will be: subjects of International
Law; international organizations (with especial emphasis upon
the United Nations), international treaties; international liability
and international crimes (for example, terrorism).
Prerequisites: POL 150 Introduction to Political Science, or
equivalent
The Italian Political System
POL 325 F
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 45
The course will examine the genesis and the functioning of
the Italian political system. First the course will analyze the
crisis of the liberal state which opened the way to the fascist
dictatorship that lasted for 20 years and ended only with the
disastrous participation in the Second World War on the side
of Hitler and Nazi Germany. Then the important contribution of
the Resistenza to the liberation of the country and to the birth
of a new democratic consciousness will be taken into account,
together with the common participation of the different
political traditions (Liberal, Catholic, Communist) in the writing
of the Constitution. We will then focus on the political parties,
the institutional structure (central and local) and the role of the
interest groups (the Catholic Church, the Unions, Mafia). The
course will conclude by examining the recent transition from
the “First” to the “Second Republic”: the deep crisis of the old
political parties and their collapse through a judicial revolution,
and the emergence of new players on the political field together
with the controversial attempts to reform the system.
Prerequisites: POL 236 Modern European Politics, or equivalent
Government and Business
POL 333 F; Dual listed: BUS 333 F
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 45
This course introduces students to one of the most important
relationships in modern societies, that between business and
government. It examines what each side hopes to achieve,
exploring questions that are both empirical (observable
situation) and normative (legislative limits). Corporations
and governments are among the most powerful actors in our
societies; most resources are allocated through markets, firms,
or states. Managing this relationship is one of the greatest
challenges facing today’s policy makers because inadequate
controls on business may lead to social ills such as pollution,
unsafe working conditions, fraud, and financial instability,
yet excessive or inappropriate controls on business may lead
to reductions in competitiveness, investment, employment,
and economic growth. In the first part of the course we will
characterize the interrelationship of democratic government,
politics and business in both the US and Europe. We will also
examine corporate activities in the political arena including
the impact of corporations on the policy-making process. The
second part of the course centres on accountability at the
national and international levels. We will investigate a series
of key issues concerning the evolving relationship between
business and government in the global economy, such as the
nature of multinational corporations, the particular problems
of developing countries, and the potential contribution of
international civil society to business regulation and global
governance. Students will consider the theme of globalization,
and the challenges posed by corporations to democracy and
to state sovereignty. In this course we will consider some of
the most crucial issues facing government and business today
— including whether economic globalization threatens national
sovereignty; the place of public opinion, unions, and other
advocacy groups in government/business relations; and the
best way to improve the accountability of multinationals.
Prerequisites: Majors in Political Science or Business
Peacekeeping
POL 360 F; Dual listed: PST 360 F
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 45
The course focuses on a critical issue in international politics
and global security today: local conflicts around the world.
The course is divided into three parts, addressing intra-state
conflict, external response, and the politics and strategies
of implementation. The first part applies the theoretical
framework of conflict analysis to recent examples. Special
consideration is given to underlying geo-political, economic
and religious divides. The second part starts with the basic
principles and implications of humanitarian intervention, as well
as collective security, self-determination, national sovereignty
and self-defense. The course next addresses various possible
responses to intra-state conflicts, ranging from third-party
mediation to coercive measures, post-conflict management
and transitional policies. Students deal with the following
issues: a) the “peace-enforcement dilemma” (affecting
peacekeeping operations, humanitarian relief, security, human
rights and law and order enforcement); b) state-building
processes in highly divided post-conflict societies (involving
identity and citizenship, perceptions by different communities,
party behavior, institutional and political accommodation). The
final part focuses on implementation with particular reference
to the following crucial issues: a) cooperation and competition
between international players at all levels; b) the negative
impact of inter- and intra-organizational disagreement on
the whole process; c) monitoring and evaluation. Throughout
the course students analyze specific recent and current case
studies (e.g. Somalia, Bosnia, East Timor, Kosovo, Sudan),
involving the UN, NATO, and numerous NGOs.
Prerequisites: PST 190 Anthropology of Violence and Conflict,
or PST 302 Peace Education, or equivalents
Psychology
Introduction to Psychology
PSY 150 F
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 45
This course introduces students to the major areas of psychology
through current empirical research and theoretical debate.
Scientific and non-scientific approaches to the explanation
of psychological phenomena are examined critically. Topics
include: anthropological assumptions and implications,
deontology, sensation and perception, cognitive processes,
consciousness, language, learning, personality, development
and psychopathology. Students will be introduced to the main
theories for each of these topics from different perspectives
(e.g. biological, behavioral, cognitive, and psychodynamic).
Students will also look at the different types of scientific
research (e.g. experiments, correlational research, review, metaanalysis),
and will analyze the typical structure of a research
paper (introduction, method, results, discussion, limitations and
implications).
Social Psychology
PSY 200 F
Cr: 3; Contact hrs: 45
This course is about the study of human social behavior,
examining theories, findings and methods of social psychology,
viewed from an interpersonal perspective. What is the essential
nature of our personality, and what impact do social groups
(whether that group is the family, school, or society) have on
our development and everyday behavior? Topics include: social
cognition, the role of others in shaping self-concepts, as well
as the formation of person perception, attitudes, attribution
theory, obedience, conformity, interpersonal attraction, and
social relations. We will look at the causes and methods
of reducing prejudice and aggression, as well as exploring
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LdM Academic Catalog 2013-2014