SOCIOLOGY OF ENVIRONMENT AND TERRITORY

Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: Licia LIPARI

Expected Learning Outcomes

To provide the conceptual tools for the study of the sociological analysis of Mediterranean urban systems.

 

Course Structure

The course provides students with the interpretative and methodological tools useful for the sociological analysis of the more recent transformations of Mediterranean urban and rural systems. One intends to develop one reflection on the processes of social change that involve the Mediterranean territories with reference to migratory, residential and tourist mobility, to social movements, to transformation and destination of cultural and landscape resources. Furthermore the course focuses on the architectural design of some Mediterranean cities and on the dynamics of sustainable development. The different coastal areas of the Mediterranean present one differentiated development of design types both with reference to private space and to that public.

Required Prerequisites

Knowledge of classic and contemporary sociological debate; Knowledge of the economic, political, socio-cultural, organizational and territorial changes currently occurring in contemporary society whit attention to the Mediterranean area.

Detailed Course Content

Topics and textbook:

1. Social changes, C. COLLOCA (2011), “Urbanesimo”.

2. Interdisciplinary perspectives on Urban changes, G. AMENDOLA (2022), “Desideri di città. Utopie speranze illusioni”.

3. Analysis of urban suburbs,  C. COLLOCA (2022), “Periferie e progettazione del territorio: dall'omogeneità socio-spaziale alla condizione di perifericità”.

4. New social morphology, sustainability and tourism mobility in The Strait of Messina, L. LIPARI (2019), “Scenari dello Stretto”.

Textbook Information

1) Nuvolati G. (a cura di), Lezioni di Sociologia urbana, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2011 (da introduzione a capitolo VI).

2) Amendola G., “Le città: immagini ed immaginari. Narrazioni analisi miti", Franco angeli, Milano, 2024 (da pag. 13 a 37).

3) Angelini A. (a cura di), Mediterraneo. Città, cultura, ambiente, governance, migranti, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2007 (solo I parte)

4) Martinotti M., The new social morphology of cities, 1994 (on line http://www.laboratoriorapu.it/lpu_sito/download/Materiali_Papers/07d_08.04.16_New%20social%20morphology-Martinotti.pdf

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1Socio-territorial dimensions of social changeG. NUVOLATI (2011), “Lezioni di Sociologia Urbana”.
2Urban changes (interdisciplinary approache)G. AMENDOLA (2024), “Le città: immagini ed immaginari. Narrazioni analisi miti".
3Tourist mobility and socio-territorial transformationsG. MARTINOTTI (1994), "The new social morphology in the city".
4Mediterranean Area in the Sociology urban and environmental sociologyA. ANGELINI (a cura di) (2007), “Mediterraneo. città, culture, ambiente, governance, migranti”.

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

Written examination (90 min.). 

Applied knowledge and understanding: the ability to develop and/or apply original ideas in the context of socio-territorial research is assessed positively.

Autonomy of judgement: the ability to integrate knowledge and manage complexity, and to formulate judgements even with incomplete data, is assessed positively.

Communication skills: the ability to communicate knowledge using the specific language of the discipline and its underlying rationale is assessed.

Learning skills: the ability to learn the socio-territorial approach and apply it in research contexts is assessed.

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

Example A) Dimensions of urban changes in Mediterranean area. 

B) Mobilities and the transformations of contemporay cities.