The Italian Constitution: Foundations of a Republic (art. 1-12)
ITAL 77
Subject & Catalog Number
Course Information
Description
This seminar examines the fundamental principles of the Italian Constitution (Articles 1-12), dedicating one article per week to an in-depth study. Students will memorize these articles by semester’s end, mastering their text and significance. Each week, lectures and readings draw from the Constituent Assembly’s records—oral interventions and written documents from the body that shaped the newly formed Italian Republic in 1946-1948. Socio-cultural explorations will contextualize key themes: work as the Republic’s foundation (Article 1), gender equality (Article 3), Church-State relations (Article 7), freedom of religion (Article 8), cultural heritage and environmental protection (Article 9), rights of foreigners, refugees, and immigrants (Article 10), the rejection of war (Article 11), and the symbolism of the Italian flag (Article 12). Students will uncover the principles defining modern Italy, engaging relevant areas of interest such as environmental justice, gender equality, migration policy, and European integration.
Course Notes
This course will be conducted in Italian.
Available for Harvard Cross Registration
