Starting with a historical account of the political, economic and social changes that have taken place in Europe over the last two centuries, the course offers an examination of the profound transformation taking place in Western societies. The two major historical transformations of modernity will be described: the first began at the end of the 19th century and led to a social formation defined as 'organised modernity', while the second, which is emerging and whose contours are not yet completely and clearly defined (described as liquid society, advanced modernity, risk, knowledge...) will be shown its historically unprecedented characteristics.
The course will provide a good knowledge of both the main theories of modernity and the most relevant issues in the contemporary debate. The student will be able to understand the general dynamics of the current social configuration and to critically analyse some of its specific features (the ambivalent aspects of crisis and challenge present in the new models of technological innovation, in the environmental issue, in the management of mass democracy, in the new modes of production and consumption, of acquisition of information and knowledge, in the restructuring of the Welfare State; etc.)