Ateneo - UPO

The End of the Liberal Order: From East to West
The course will examine the theoretical and political alternatives to the liberal model that have emerged over the past decade, with particular attention to contemporary Confucian and post-liberal theories.

Several Essays, available on DIR

The course aims, at a basic level, to provide: 1. (knowledge and understanding): a basic knowledge of the main topics on posliberalism; 2. (ability to apply knowledge and understanding): the ability to critically discuss the texts taken into consideration; 3. (autonomy of judgement): the ability to exercise good independent judgement; 4. (communication skills): the ability to present acquired knowledge clearly and correctly; 5. (learning skills): a good ability to analyse texts and their application to concrete cases. At a more advanced level, the course aims to enable the acquisition of: 1. (knowledge and understanding): a thorough knowledge of the main topics on postliberalism; 2. (ability to apply knowledge and understanding): an advanced ability to reconstruct the arguments of the authors and texts analysed in a precise and thorough manner; 3. (autonomy of judgement): an excellent ability to critically analyse the different theories analysed; 4. (communication skills): an excellent ability to present acquired knowledge clearly and correctly, showing full command of terminology and vocabulary; 5. (learning skills): an excellent ability to analyse texts and to link the topics covered, demonstrating awareness of the issues involved in the interpretation of theoretical debates relating posliberalism.

Knowledge and capabilities acquired in the undergraduate studies: 1. Basic Knowledge of politics. 2. Capability of clear and correct exposition of the readings and of one’s own position, both in the discussion and in the papers.

Graduate teaching will take place in seminars. The students will arrive to each session, having completed the reading assignment. At the beginning of the course, all reading assignments will be published on DIR. Each session will be open by a student's brief introduction, followed by the general discussion. At the end of each session the teachers will suggest a list of questions for the student to reflect and to stimulate the next session’s debate. A Mid-term paper will be required as a practice for the final paper.

Those who will not be able to attend classes for motivated reasons, will have an oral examination where the whole list of readings will be discussed with the teacher. Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

Written paper 4000 words (1/3), active participation (1/3); oral exam (1/3). The evaluation (max 30 points) follows these criteria: 1) knowledge and understanding of the main topics covered: 18 points out of 30 (sufficiency); 2) ability to set out clearly and correctly the knowledge acquired: 6 points out of 30; 3) ability to make connections between the topics covered and to explore them critically and independently: 6 out of 30 points.

1. Liberalism and its critics, a comparative approach; 2. From the populist moment to the neo-reactionary rupture; 3- Liberal Elitism; 4. Confucian Meritocracy; 5- Democratic Confucianism; 6- Radical Republicanism.

In order to attain knowledge and corresponding competences at the basic level, students should demonstrate that they 1. (knowledge and understanding): have acquired a good knowledge of the debate on postliberalism ; 2. (ability to apply knowledge and understanding): to be able to recognise the main lines of argument and the conceptual structure of the texts and theories analysed; 3. (autonomy of judgement): being able to correctly compare the different themes taken into consideration; 4. (communication skills): being able to present the acquired knowledge clearly and correctly; 5. (learning ability): having acquired a good ability to analyse texts and to connect the topics covered. For the attainment of an advanced level one must demonstrate: 1. (knowledge and understanding): have acquired a thorough knowledge of the debate on postliberalism 2. (ability to apply knowledge and understanding): to be able to reconstruct the theoretical-political debates accurately and in depth and to recognise the different methodologies and interpretative perspectives adopted 3. (autonomy of judgement): being able to critically compare the different theories analysed, also in order to elaborate an autonomous vision with respect to contemporary case studies; 4. (communication skills): to be able to present the acquired knowledge clearly and correctly, showing full command of the terminology and vocabulary of the discipline 5. (learning ability): to have acquired a good ability to analyse texts and to link the topics dealt with, demonstrating awareness of the problems connected with the interpretation of texts and the ability to carry out individual in-depth studies.