Law, culture and development in a global world

The aim of this course is to explore the nexus between law, culture, and development in a globally interconnected world, from a broad and comprehensive perspective, and to develop competences on this matter. The course focuses on culture related legal issues that have a visible impact on sustainable development. In the course we will examine culture as an artistic expression as well as through the anthropological lens of customs, traditions, human knowledge and habits. Taking into account legal, economic, political and social dynamics, the course will explore new pathways of thinking that will enable students to study how cultural issues can affect people's living conditions. Students will therefore be better equipped with legal perspectives to help them identify and challenge commonly accepted points of view on development and to adopt the dynamic approaches required by an increasingly complex and globalized world. A large part of the course will also be devoted to foster a new culture of sustainability. The world's fragility requires a new culture of sustainability both in rich and developing countries and it is globally connected to factors that can be broadly classified as concerning two macro areas of sustainability: the area related to ecological/green sustainability and the area related to social sustainability. The course aims to give students a vision for a circular and inclusive future, thus forming professionals that can find innovative and constructive solutions in an increasingly challenging work environment and planet. Frontal lessons and class discussion will both foster the understanding and critical elaboration of the contents of the course.

Students will apply the knowledge and understanding that they develop with regard to the topics of the course to specific cases. Skills of analysis and synthesis will be supported. Communication skills will be developed, in particular the ability to defend a thesis, develop supporting arguments in front of an audience, and formulate autonomous judgments. The course will endeavor to give students learning skills that will enable them to continue to study in a manner that is largely self-directed and autonomous. Students are expected to have developed at the end of this course the aforementioned skills.