91233 - Diversity and Inequalities in Global Phenomena

Learning outcomes

The course aims to present and explore the main theoretical and methodological approaches in the analysis of diversity and inequality related to global phenomena. At the end of the course, the student will be able to identify and critically analyze the main research traditions in the study of global processes, with particular reference to the analysis of diversity and inequality, distinguish different types of actors, arenas and tools, and connect theories and case studies in the analysis of global processes.

Course contents

The course unfolds through the explanation and understanding of three concepts: globalization, equality and inequality.


The work will be done within the framework of sociological theory through its specific languages.


Within the first part of the lectures, the concepts of: globalization, equality/inequality will be explored in depth by referring to the contributions and theories that - starting from classical authors up to contemporary sociological debate - allow for the analysis and understanding of inequality.


The phenomenon of globalization will then be introduced in an attempt to answer the following questions: what does globalization mean? How can it be organized politically and socially?


Finally, the topic of social acceleration as a form of radicalization of the globalization process that touches aspects of individual and social life will be introduced. The lectures will revolve around the following questions: What is it all about? How can its complexity be grasped? What are the challenges it poses?


In the second part of the course, a seminar mode of work will be adopted by dividing the attending male and female students into two groups to delve into the effects and processes related to the development of inequality in the contemporary era.


Through individual insights and group work (carried out under the supervision of the lecturer), inequalities will be investigated within the following areas of study:


- welfare and social risks;


- labor market dynamics;


- generations and life course;


- gender.

Readings/Bibliography

The reference bibliography for attending male and female students:

First part of the course (frontal):

· Giancola, O. e Salmieri, L. (a cura di), Sociologia delle disuguaglianze. Teorie, metodi, ambiti, Roma, Carocci editore, 2020 [capitoli 1; 2]

· Beck, U., Che cosa è la globalizzazione. Rischi e prospettive della società planetaria, Carocci editore: Roma, 1999. [da p. 9 a 86]

· Giddens, A., Il mondo che cambia. Come la globalizzazione ridisegna la nostra vita, il Mulino: Bologna, 2000.

. Rosa, H., Accelerazione e alienazione. Per una teoria critica del tempo nella tarda modernità, Einaudi Editori: Torino, 2015.

Seconda parte del corso (parte seminariale):

· Giancola, O. e Salmieri, L. (a cura di), Sociologia delle disuguaglianze. Teorie, metodi, ambiti, Carocci editore: Roma, 2020 [capitoli 6; 7; 8; 9]

At the beginning of the course-after the two groups for the workshop lectures have been created and each participant has been assigned a topic for further study-additional materials and papers essential for seminar preparation will be made available on Virtual.

The reference bibliography for NON-attending students and students:

Giancola, O. e Salmieri, L. (a cura di), Sociologia delle disuguaglianze. Teorie, metodi, ambiti, Carocci editore: Roma, 2020 [tutto il testo]

· Beck, U., Che cos’è la globalizzazione. Rischi e prospettive della società planetari, Carocci editore: Roma, 2018.

. Rosa, H., Accelerazione e alienazione. Per una teoria critica del tempo nella tarda modernità, Torino, Einaudi Editori, 2015.

Un testo a scelta tra quelli di seguito riportati:

- Bauman, Z., Dentro la globalizzazione. Le conseguenze sulle persone, Laterza: Roma-Bari, 2001

- Bech, U., Disuguaglianza senza confini, Laterza: Roma-Bari, 2011.

- Bordieu, P., Il dominio maschile, il Mulino: Bologna, 2014.

- Byung-Chul, H., Iperculturalità. Cultura e globalizzazione, Nottetempo: Milano, 2023.

- Crouh, C., Identità perdute. Globalizzazione e nazionalismo, Laterza: Roma-Bari, 2019.

- Lelo, K.; Monni, S. e Tomassi, F., Le mappe della disuguaglianza. Una geografia sociale metropolitana, Donzelli: Roma, 2019.

- Santambrogio, A., Ecologia Sociale. La società dopo la pandemia, Mondadori Università: Milano, 2020.

- Sassen, S., Espulsioni. Brutalità e complessità nell’economia globale, Il Mulino: Bologna, 2018.

- Sen, A. K., La disuguaglianza. Un riesame critico. il Mulino: Bologna, 2010.

- Steger, M.B.; La globalizzazione, Il Mulino: Bologna, 2016

At the beginning of the course-after the two groups for the workshop lectures have been created and each participant has been assigned a topic for further study-additional materials and papers essential for seminar preparation will be made available on Virtual platform.

Teaching methods

The course adopts a mode of teaching organization in which teaching is divided into two different sections.


The first section consists of lectures (32) and aims to introduce students to the acquisition of basic conceptual and theoretical tools. Another section, organized in seminar mode (14 hours), is aimed at the application of knowledge and its deepening through in-depth studies curated by students and students and classroom discussion with colleagues and the lecturer.


First part of the course (32 hours): frontal Through traditional frontal lectures (and with the use when necessary of slides) the course contents considered fundamental to understanding the concepts of globalization, diversity and inequality are presented and discussed. The first part of the course is thus aimed at the acquisition of knowledge (of facts/events, procedures, concepts, theories).


Second part of the course (14 hours): seminar. In the seminar part of the course it is the interaction between students and with the lecturer that is used: hence the division into 2 groups.


Students are urged to conduct a structured activity in the classroom to compare and verify the knowledge acquired by reading the indicated texts: they are therefore required to come to class having already read the assigned material, called upon to reflect and elaborate on what they have learned.


Each seminar group attends only one weekly lecture.


In this way, the attendees have adequate time to read, deepen and study the material, indicated by the lecturer, in preparation for the lecture.

Assessment methods

Methods of verification for attending students:


To be considered attending, 80% of the lectures must be attended, a presentation and in-depth paper must be done as well as all the in-depth activities that the lecturer will propose during the course.


The final grade will be the result of a series of partial tests, the contents and characteristics of which are given below.


- Midterm test (end of March) in written form. The test will consist of three open-ended questions regarding the content of the lecture part of the course. (The grade achieved will contribute 45%).


- Submission of an in-depth thematic paper agreed with the lecturer at the beginning of the course and delivery of short papers referring to the papers that are the objects of in-depth study (abstracts, reviews, critical questions, etc.) (These activities will contribute 20% of the final grade).


- Short multiple-choice and open-ended tests done at the beginning of each seminar lecture with respect to the seminar content (these activities will contribute to 20% of the final grade).


- Classroom participation and discussion during all lectures (these activities will contribute to 15% of the final grade).


Verification arrangements for NON-attending students:


Non-attending students will have to take a written test related to the texts indicated in the bibliography for non-attending students.


The test will consist of 3 open questions referring to the institutional part of the course + 2 open questions referring to the chosen monograph. The duration of the test will be 120 minutes. [The grade earned will contribute to 55% of the final grade].


The purpose of the oral test is to verify the student's ability to apply the notions and knowledge learned and to make the necessary logical-deductive connections.


Grading system valid for all male and female students regardless of the type of test taken:


- Insufficient: not even approximate or incorrect knowledge of the topic, insufficient expository skills and use of appropriate vocabulary.


- 18-21: elementary knowledge of the topic, and/or not always correct, partial expository skills, sufficient use of appropriate vocabulary.


- 22-25: satisfactory knowledge of topic, fairly sound expository skills, fair use of appropriate vocabulary.


- 26-29: good or very good knowledge of topic, good or very good expository skills, good use of appropriate vocabulary.


- 30: accurate knowledge of the topic, excellent expository skills, very good use of appropriate vocabulary.


- 30 cum laude: precise knowledge of the subject, excellent expository skills, excellent use of appropriate vocabulary and relevant personal reworking of knowledge.

Teaching tools

Throughout the course, where deemed necessary, the lecturer will make use of slides and/or other digital contributions (videos; short films; social network posts; presentations, etc.) useful to exemplify and actualize the concepts presented in the classroom.


The virtual platform will be used for organizational aspects of the course (lecture schedule, division into working groups, etc.) and for sharing materials.

Office hours

See the website of Elena Macchioni