POL 288 – Food, Shelter, Space, Voice Democratic Community in Bologna

Four credits, EXP, FDR - SS2
Four weeks in Italy
Professor Robin LeBlanc

This course examines the nature of civic life in contemporary Italy, primarily through field study in Bologna. Bologna has a long tradition of civic activism. In the first four decades after World War II, with a remarkable combination of democratically elected Communist Party governments and industrial development, Bologna became one of the richest cities in all of Italy, a shining proof of the success of democracy in a once-fascist nation. Today Bologna faces challenges including Italy's long-term economic stagnation, the aging of the native Italian population, the arrival of new immigrant populations, the effects of the global climate crisis, and an ever-more intense reliance on the global tourism economy. Focusing on four themes-food, shelter, space, and voice-our class will seek an understanding of how complex global and local conditions shape the practice of democracy in Bologna. Doing their own fieldwork, students will map individually chosen aspects of community life in the city. A brief trip to Venice will provide a fascinating case for comparing the pressures of tourism, the climate, and the housing crisis on city life.

This course counts toward 200-level "global" credit for the politics major, FDR SS2, and 4 EXP credits.

STA 2026:
Arrive Bologna, Monday, April 27
Stay mostly in Bologna, with a short overnight trip to Venice.
Day trips to the countryside surrounding Bologna in order to see local agricultural production including the production of internationally recognized culinary products such as traditional balsamic vinegar, parmigiano reggiano cheese, or wine.
Depart Bologna, Friday, May 22.

For further details, please contact Professor LeBlanc at (leblancr@wlu.edu).

Applications open October 7th, 2025.