The course aims at introducing and discussing some of the major issues concerning political philosophy, especially those related to the contemporary global challenges that interest this field of research. What are the main political challenges of our present? What are the conceptual tools at our disposal to understand and possibly solve new and unprecedented emergency crises, conflicts, global risks? The course will tackle these themes by using both philosophical texts and literary, cinematic tools in order to broaden the political and cultural comprehension of phenomena
Revolution, public happiness and the “Arab springs”: towards a rethinking of political agency.
What is – and what has been – Revolution? Is it still possible today to speak of a revolutionary political change? The course aims at analysing the historical and conceptual origin of the term ‘Revolution’, moving from the political experiences of modern revolutions (in particular the American and French ones) and verify its possible validity in interpreting recent contemporary experiences. In particular, the course will examine the political phenomena that have recently been called “Arab springs”, by focusing on two case-studies:Tunisia and Egypt. By relying on analyses of direct witnesses, protagonists and analysts, we will investigate if and how a “Revolution” has taken place, form which causes, according to which modalities, with which effects.
According to Hannah Arendt what is at stake in revolutionary political action is “the cause of liberty against tyranny”, which carries with it a surprising experience of “public happiness”. Following this interpretative thread, the course intends to problematize the relation among radical political transformation, political participation and happiness, especially in relationto the “Arab springs” in order to understand wether it is possible to interpret these recent participatory movements of 2010-2011 as a viable alternative to autocracy and terrosim.
| Author | Title | Publisher | Year | ISBN | Note |
| Soueif, Ahdaf | Il Cairo. La mia città, la nostra rivoluzione | Donzelli | 2013 | ||
| Campanini, Massimo | Le rivolte arabe e l'Isalm | Il mulino | 2013 | ||
| Arendt, Hannah | Sulla rivoluzione | Einaudi | 2009 | 9788806200305 |
Oral or written examination
PROGRAMMA E TESTI CONSIGLIATI
(docx, it, 122 KB, 21/07/16)
