42 research outputs found
Introduzione alla geografia politica. Spazi, luoghi, politiche
No full textLa geografia politica è un campo di studi variegato, critico e dinamico che prende forma al crocevia del discorso politico sulle forme e pratiche del potere, e di quello geografico, inteso come lo studio dello spazio e dei processi che lo trasformano incessantemente. Dall’analisi della territorialità statale alle geografie dell’impero, dallo studio dei fenomeni elettorali alle politiche per la difesa dell’ambiente, dalle microgeografie dell’identità locale ai complessi meccanismi della governance globale, Introduzione alla geografia politica offre strumenti per comprendere e interpretare i rapporti di potere, i conflitti e i divari che caratterizzano il mondo contemporaneo
Are we allowed to use fictional vignettes in cultural geographies?
No full textFictional vignettes are narrative texts that academic researchers may invent in order to illustrate arguments or to present their research outcomes; they are stories or situations that do not strictly report factual realities observed by the author, but that, in any case, implement the heuristics for the arguments that the author wants to raise. Although there are several works in social sciences taking advantage of fictional narratives, geographers have started mobilising invented stories in their writings mostly recently, provided that a variety of creative methodologies had been introduced. The aim of this article is to present fictional vignettes as an integrative research method and writing technique, while discussing potential opportunities and limits relating to their use in geographical research, particularly within the recent rise of various ‘creative methodologies’ in cultural geographies
Religious diversity and inter-faith competition: the politics of camouflage in Italian cities
No full textReligions play a significant role in Italian cities and, more generally, in the social, cultural and political lives of Italians. Since 1948, the Italian state has formally been secular, and it guarantees religious freedoms beyond Christianity. However, the reality is much more complex, as the hegemonic position of Catholicism is still evident, and religious minorities often deal with various forms of marginalization, stigmatization and lack of resources. This phenomenon is visible in Italian cities, particularly by looking at the evolving role of Catholic spaces such as parishes, and the parallel struggles for legitimation, visibility and resources of religious minorities. In this scenario, Italy seems to be increasingly characterized by various and uneven forms of inter-faith competition, which also imply rivalry in the spheres of charity, voluntarism and the provision of social services. This paper analyses the relations between religious groups and the Italian state, proposing the idea of a ‘politics of camouflage’ shaping inter-faith competition for resources and legitimation
