International Studies

This course explores the governance initiatives that are emerging in response to the phenomenon of anthropogenic climate change which, as a truly global problem, implicates and affects all parts of the world and makes these initiatives necessarily more speculative, less established, and more rapidly evolving than most other governance initiatives. The topics and readings for the course foreground the theme of governance and explore the various institutions and techniques that have evolved, or might evolve, to address the phenomenon of climate change.

Should the different countries obey international law? Is international law really "law"? It is just? Who should enforce it? What kinds of values should it reflect and what kinds of institutions should support it? Is it merely an expression of Western values or is it universal? Through these questions this advanced course discusses the nature, sources, justification, and effects of international law. We use international law cases to tackle complicated philosophical and empirical questions about the character of international law. The readings blend analysis of core areas of public international law and classical texts in the philosophy of law.

This course investigates how benevolent conduct is enacted in the world, despite the typical focus on power, war, economic domination, and indifference towards distant foreigners in the study of international relations. This concept is approached from political theory, international relations, as well as artistic endeavors, to explore the tension between interest and sympathy concerning both human nature and the foundations of politics, the traces of which can be found consistently in philosophical debates between the 17th century and today. This course provides a deeper understanding of international relations by exploring an underinvested historical, empirical, and philosophical dimension. It considers benevolence as sensitivity, conduct, and project in the global space to cultivate a clear and optimistic view of the scope of benevolence in the contemporary world.

This course introduces students to the cultures and literatures of the Portuguese-speaking world, specifically Portugal, Brazil, and Mozambique. While it explores the fascinating history of each of these countries through cultural products that range from film, literature and music, colonialism has played a crucial part in this history and its journey to modernity.  The course offers a glimpse into societies whose people have continually dealt with the aftermath of imperialism, racism, and economic exploitation, and that have also shown enormous creativity and resilience.

The course examines the main characteristics of the world economy, in the light of the globalization of economy, politics, and culture taking place over the last decades. Shifts in the center of gravity of the global economic system are outlined, as well as how various regions and countries relate to that system in different ways. Main actors and institutions that influence globalization are identified and analyzed, including multinational corporations, international institutions, and states. Examples from different economic sectors are studied, including how chains of production and consumption have changed and what the impacts have been for places and regions.

This course is part of the LM degree program and is intended for advanced level students. Enrolment is by consent of the instructor. The course presents the main theories and empirical research on migration drawn from sociology, but with an interest in the contributions coming from history, demography, economy, political science, and anthropology, when needed. The course is centered on the European case, with an Italian focus, but within a broader comparative framework including the main active migratory systems in the contemporary world, and a period dating back no less than to the beginning of the twentieth century.