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Home > Spain > Barcelona > Programs > Program Overview > Course Requirements > Course Description
Political Science/Economics: An Urban Approach to Spain and Europe
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Barcelona, Spain
| Subject Area(s) |
Level(s) |
Instruction in |
Credits |
Contact Hours |
Prerequisites |
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Political Science, Economics, Sociology
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300
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English
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3
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45
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N/A
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DESCRIPTION
The study of the recent evolution of Spanish
society and its integration in Europe is analyzed in this course
through its urban dimension. The economic and social development of
Spain, as well as many challenges that the country face today (as
immigration, lack of economic competitiveness or low innovation level)
have origin (and solution) at urban level. In order to understand them
we need to refer to specific urban-related theories and concepts from
sociology, economy and politics. The course will cover these general
theories and concepts using European (and Spanish) cities as examples
and case-studies, making special emphasis to their multicultural
dimension.
OBJECTIVES
1. To highlight the urban
dimension of society today, making reference to the different phenomena
that face European (and Spanish) cities.
2. Introduce the
students in economic, political and social factors that configure urban
Europe in order to understand its development, and that of Spain, in a
global world.
3. To analyze the process of Spanish integration
in the European Union under the perspective of its impact on the urban
areas, highlighting the impacts (both positive and negative) in the
economic, social and political dimensions.
4. Provide the tools
to understand the multicultural dimension of the European society, both
from the point of view of the national minorities, the immigration and
the cultural diversity.
5. To explain and analyze the link
between multiculturalism and the urban phenomena, as a "microcosmos"
where we can find reproduced the dynamics of multiculturality, focusing
in the Spanish case.
Organization of the course:
45
hours divided in 30 lessons of 1,5 hours each. In order to be able to
cover the different issues planned the course is divided in two parts.
The first one (session 1 to 15) will introduce the student to the urban
phenomena in Europe, the role of European Union in urban development
and how the integration in the European Union has affected Spanish
(urban) development. The second part will focus on the multicultural
dimension of Europe, again with an urban perspective and Spanish
examples.
Methodology:
The sessions will combine
theoretical lessons and practical examples, inviting experts in the
different issues analyzed. Field studies might be organized as well.
CONTENT
First part of the course: Urban Europe
Session 1
The urban reality in Europe and Spain: Europe as a global urban region
Reading:
- Berg, L van den, et al. (1992) Urban Europe, a study of growth and decline
- Clark, David. Urban World/Global City. London: Routledge, 1996 (Chapter IV: Urban development as a global phenomenon).
Session 2
Urban economy and sociology: notions to set the debate in Europe
Reading: Jacobs, J. The economy of the cities
Session 3
The transition of cities to a post-fordist economy: The change in the location and distribution of activities on territory.
Reading:
Harvey, David. The Condition of Postmodernity. An Enquiry into the
Origins of Cultural Change. Cambridge, Mass: B. Blackwell, 1990
(various chapters)
Session 4
Global cities and nodal regions. The concept of "global city": what opportunities and problems?
Reading: Sassen, Saskia The global city. N.J: Princeton Univ. Press, 2001 (Chapter X and Epilogue).
Session 5
Case study analysis: Are European cities global?
Session 6
Metropolis and small cities in Europe: the changing functions of cities integrated in metropolitan regions
Reading:
Camagni, R. (1994): "From city Hierarchy to city Networks: Reflections
about and emerging paradigm", in Cuadrado-Roura, J, Nijkamp, P and
Salva, P. (eds), Moving frontiers, Economic restructuring, Regional
development and Emerging Networks, Avebury.
Session 7
Urban management: a solution for European cities?
Reading: Colquhoun, Ian. Urban Regeneration. An international perspective. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. 1995 (Chapters 1 and 4)
Session 8
Film viewing and debate: Exemplifying the concept of "post-fordist" city
Film: "Roger and Me"
Session 9
The role of cities in the European Union: policies and programs
(Invited speaker)
Session 10
Lobbying for an Urban Europe: an overview of urban-related lobbies at EU level.
(Invited speaker)
Session 11
Spain in the European context: overview of Spanish economy and society
Reading: Aubet, Maria José (1995) Democracias desiguales (capitulo 5: España). Ediciones del Serbal, Barcelona
Session 12
Spain in Europe: from autarchy to full recognition
Reading:
Powell, Ch. (2001) Fifteen years on: Spanish membership in the European
Union revisited. Paper presented at the conference "From isolation to
integration: 15 years of Spanish and Portuguese Membership in Europe",
Minda de Gunzburg Centre for European Studies, Harvard University, 2-3
November 2001.
Session 13
EU policies and its impact on
Spanish society: Economic (convergence policy, PAC), Political
(regulations and treaties), Social (unemployment, cultural changes)
Reading: Closa, C. (2004) Spain and the European Union, Houndmills Palgrave Macmillan.
Session 14
EU programs in Spain (I): the role of cohesion funds in Spanish economic development
Reading: materials, papers brought by professor
Session 15
EU programs in Spain (II): the policies for urban development
Reading: materials, papers brought by professor
SECOND PART OF THE COURSE: The city as incubator of a multicultural society
Session 16
Introduction to multiculturalism: typologies and models of multiculturalism. Premises to interpret the multicultural processes.
Reading: Kymlicka, Will (1996) Ciudadania Multicultural, Paidós, Madrid
Session 17
The analysis of multiculturalism: Europe versus the US approach
Reading:
Niessen, J. and Schibel, Y. (eds) EU and US approaches to the
management of immigration: comparative perspectives, Brussels:
Migration Policy Group; 459-489.
Session 18
Multiculturalism in Spain: national minorities and immigration: the Catalan case
Reading:
Zapata Barrero, R. (2005) "Immigration and self government of national
minorities; a conceptual comparative framework". ECPR The General
Conference – Budapest 2005.
Session 19
The city as incubator of multicultural society: setting the scene
Reading:
Capel Tatjer, L. (2004) "Multiculturalism in the city: managing
diversity", in: Wood, Phil (eds), Intercultural city Reader. Book 1.,
Comedia, Essex.
Session 20
The role of multicultural diversity in urban development: the key to creativity
Reading:
Florida, Richard. The rise of creative class. And how it’s transforming
work, leisure community and everyday life. New York:Basic Books. 2002
(preface and Chapter 12)
Session 21
Workshop: Is your city creative?
Session 22
Managing the multicultural society: experiences from Europe
Reading: Bloomfield, J. and Bianchini, F.(2004): Planning for the Intercultural city, Comedia network.
Session 23
Managing the multicultural society: the case of Barcelona
Case study
Session 24
Field visit: Raval, Barcelona´s multicultural neighborhood
Session 25
Film viewing and analysis:
En construcción (1999)
Session 26
Conclusions of the course
Session 27
Student presentations
Session 28
Exam
Bibliography:
- Capel
Tatjer, L. (2004) "Multiculturalism in the city: managing diversity",
in: Wood, Phil (eds), Intercultural city Reader. Book 1., Comedia,
Essex.
- Wood Phil (ed) (2004) The Intercultural city Reader. Book 1. Comedia, Essex
- Kymlicka, Will (1996) Ciudadania Multicultural, Paidós, Madrid
- Aubet, Maria José (1995) Democracias desiguales (capitulo 5: España). Ediciones del Serbal, Barcelona.
- Niessen,
J. and Schibel, Y. (eds) EU and US approaches to the management of
immigration: comprative perspectives, Brussels: Migration Policy Group;
459-489.
- Zapata Barrero, R. (2005) "Immigration and self
government of national minorities; a conceptual comparative framework".
ECPR The General Conference – Budapest 2005.
- Aurabell, G. y
Zapata Barrero, R (eds) (2005) Inmigración y procesos de cambio: Europa
y el mediterraneo en el contexto global, Barcelona, Icaria.
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