Ateneo - UPO

The integrated course examines the development of modern and contemporary political thought alongside the major sociological perspectives on deviance and crime. In the Political Theory module, students will explore key themes in political theory, with particular attention to absolutism, constitutionalism, liberalism, socialism, totalitarianism, and democracy. The Sociology of Deviance module introduces the principal sociological theories of deviance and crime and provides a critical examination of several major issues in contemporary debate, including biological explanations and the medicalization of deviance, feminist criminologies, green criminology, and the prison as both a social and penal institution.

R. Gherardi, La politica e gli Stati. Problemi e figure del pensiero occidentale, Roma, Carocci, 2022, parte II (solo i capitoli relativi a Machiavelli, Bodin, Hobbes, Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Smith, Il federalista, Kant, Marx, Constant, Tocqueville, Mill, Mosca, Weber, Gramsci, Kelsen, Schmitt, Arendt, Ralws)Scarscelli, Vidoni, Altopiedi (2025), La devianza. Teorie e politiche di controllo, Nuova edizione, Carocci, Roma. Vianello (2019), Il carcere, Carocci, Roma.

The integrated course aims to provide students with the theoretical knowledge and analytical tools needed to understand the relationships between law, politics, society, and the economy in the history of Western political thought, and to critically examine the phenomena of deviance, crime, and social control. Upon completion of the course, students will have acquired knowledge of the major paradigms of political theory and the sociology of deviance. They will be able to interpret social and political phenomena within their historical and institutional contexts, critically analyze policies of social and criminal prevention and control, recognize and challenge stereotypes related to deviance, and identify the theoretical frameworks and social representations that shape practices of regulation, inclusion, and exclusion in contemporary societies.

For the Political Theory module, a good knowledge of the history of law and constitutionalism is recommended. No prior knowledge or specific prerequisites are required for the Sociology of Deviance module.

Both modules combine lectures, practical sessions, and seminar activities. Lectures are designed to introduce the main theoretical frameworks, while practical sessions and in-depth activities, supported by audiovisual materials and selected readings, enable students to apply the conceptual tools acquired to the analysis of issues and case studies related to political theory, deviance, crime, and social control. Attendance is recommended.

The professors will discuss with students the possibility of holding a mid-term or final written assessment. Teaching materials used during the course will be made available to students through the University's DIR online platform.Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or Special Educational Needs (SEN) may request dedicated support services and accommodations by contacting the University's Student Services and Career Development Office and consulting the dedicated webpage: https://uniupo.it/it/servizi/servizi-studentidisabili-e-dsa.After contacting the University's support services, students with disabilities, SLD, or SEN may also contact the course instructor to discuss appropriate examination arrangements and other teaching-related accommodations.

Assessment consists of two examinations, one for each module of the integrated course.The assessment for the Political Theory module is an oral examination designed to evaluate students' knowledge of the course content, their understanding of the required readings, their ability to present and discuss the topics clearly, and their capacity for critical analysis. Assessment criteria are as follows: 18–22, satisfactory understanding of the required readings; 23–26, good understanding of the required readings and adequate presentation skills; 27–30 with honours, excellent understanding of the required readings, strong presentation skills, and outstanding critical analysis.The assessment for the Sociology of Deviance module consists of a two-hour written examination. The examination includes a series of open-ended questions covering both the core institutional component of the course and the monographic topics included in the syllabus. Assessment is based on the accuracy of the knowledge acquired, the ability to apply theoretical concepts to the analysis of social phenomena, the appropriate use of disciplinary terminology, and the ability to develop well-reasoned critical arguments.The final grade for the integrated course will be determined on the basis of the results obtained in the two examinations, according to the assessment procedures established by the professors responsible for each module.

The integrated course examines the development of modern and contemporary political thought together with the major sociological theories of deviance and crime. Through the study of the main authors in political theory, students will explore key topics including absolutism, constitutionalism, liberalism, socialism, elite theory, totalitarianism, and democracy. At the same time, the course introduces the principal sociological perspectives on deviance and crime, with particular attention to theories of social control, strain, subcultures, differential association, and labelling. The course also examines several key issues in contemporary criminological debate, including the medicalization of deviance, feminist criminologies, green criminology, and the prison as an institution of social and penal control.

Upon completion of the integrated course, students will be able to relate the development of legal culture to the evolution of political, economic, and social thought in the modern and contemporary periods, recognizing the major theoretical paradigms that have shaped political and social institutions. They will also demonstrate knowledge of the principal sociological theories of deviance and crime, identify their implications for social and criminal justice policies, and critically apply these theoretical perspectives to the analysis of social phenomena. Finally, students will demonstrate knowledge of the topics covered in the monographic component of the course and the ability to discuss them using the concepts and analytical tools acquired throughout the programme.