from formal democracy to real democracy

Seminars, Meetings, Lectures

Often the word democracy is emptied of meaning, a ritual request for consent to any election date, often Policy and Administration appear distant and stepmothers. Yet know the forms of our democracy is a fundamental starting point for arriving at a more meaningful democracy, everyday, for the rights, duties and responsibilities. This semester teaching aims to investigate the issue of participation and democracy in practice. Through six meetings a month, which will allow students to learn the constitutional foundations of participatory democracy, the rules and opportunities in the statutes and regulations of his community, to deal with practical experiences have already been implemented and tested, then ; to develop proposals for the implementation of political activity to what has been learned and discussed. With watchful eye on efficacy and quality of democracy, his-fulfillment in everyday life.

The teaching semester 2010 will take place then in a series of seminars, meetings and thematic lessons on various aspects of democratic participation.

The seminar is open to a limited number of subscribers. An opportunity for study and discussion of the topics covered in class, but was conceived as an autonomous educational unit, and can be attended also by those who can not follow the lessons.

In a narrow context, that would allow everyone to take the floor, participants will be able to reason together, discuss, to question established beliefs. All will be provided in advance bibliographies and short texts useful for the preparation of meetings (newspaper articles, scientific papers, documentary material).

lead the discussion of the club secretary or his delegate. Introduce, from time to time, competent scholars on the specific treaty.

Program

Wednesday, January 13, 17:00

Democratic participation in the Constitution

From the fundamental principles of Article IV co .118.

The Constitution is the foundation of our democracy. From the Constitution would be to create a solid foundation to our discourse on democratic participation. The seminar will explore the ABC of politics and democracy.

Thursday, February 18

17.00 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ....

institutions to participate in the municipal statutes

The municipal statutes often contain important institutions of popular participation, by referendum, consultation of citizens, the ombudsman, to participatory budgeting. The seminar provides an analysis of municipal statutes of interest to students.

Thursday, March 18

17.00 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..

Participatory budgeting

The budget is the heart of the administration, the place where they managed the money of the citizens. Participatory budgeting allows citizens to participate in the economic decisions of his community and improve the relationship with the institutions.

Thursday, April 22

17.00 ... ... ... ... ... ....

Good practice: practical experience of democratic participation

There are now many practical experiences of participation at all levels. The seminar will examine some of particular interest and relevance.

Thursday, May 20

17.00 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..

Democratic participation and quality of democracy

How do you combine democratic participation with the effectiveness of the administration? The quality of public administration and the role of democratic participation.

Friday, June 18

17.00 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ....

Democratic participation: from protest to proposal

In view of the studied and discussed in the course will be developed proposals for implementing the principles of democratic participation. Since the amendment of statutes and regulations, the activation of existing institutions for participation, education and promotion of participatory democracy.

Francesco Zurlo

Friday, December 4, 2009

Can U Catch Something In A Gym Whirlpool

SOBRIETY '. NEW WORD ORDER TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS

Austerity was the watchword of Berlinguer and the PCI was given by the great leader of the left to fight in the first place culturally, the great oil crisis of the '70s. Evoked severe austerity lifestyles but ill-suited to the Italian spirit of the time, just out of the economic boom. Indeed, it was closely linked to the personality, noble and austere note, Enrico Berlinguer and was tied in line with the denunciation of the moral issue, and together these two concepts, one marked "diversity" for many years the militants claimed that the salient feature of the PCI their politics.

Today we are faced with another devastating economic crisis, a crisis that requires a redefinition of consumption and lifestyles. One might say that even today there would be no need of austerity, Berlinguer, but no more, and none of today's leaders seem to approach the seriousness and the height of his personality, just remember the "American" Veltroni, the gigioneria Bertinotti, not to mention, right , the "boors" of Berlusconi. Even the Italians of today have changed and I would not say worse. And then the word "austerity" is a word sad and gray, ill-suited to the spirit of our people, who like to live and live joyfully. It seems more suited to the times other words, equally important to tackle the crisis and re-consumption and lifestyles, but that does not mean to frustrate the natural propensity to experience the joy of an Italian word and sobriety '.

Sobriety means consuming less but better, it means adopting a sober lifestyle is not based on appearances but on being, has an ethical value, not only economic. Sobriety is a word-label and modern, serious but not sad: a sober way of life is combined with the joy of living and enjoy the finer things in life, which often have no money, food, healthy, beautiful and respected nature, true values to hold onto.

Sobriety, in my view, should be the watchword of the center, to set against this show of bad taste Berlusconi otherwise, this policy is loud screaming, which feast on the brink dell'abbisso ecological and economic. Intelligence sobriety means dealing with the demon illusion of infinite growth, defeat the forces compulsive consumption at all costs, leaving the GDP as a single measure of well-being indicators and adopt more healthy and useful. The sober austerity seems to me that it is also consistent with a trip to the best story of the Italian left, a positive development but respectful of tradition to be proud of. Value, that of sobriety, around which can create a strong alliance in opposition to the government now in power. We are proposing today as the value for the regional Calabria and the means, first, reducing the benefits of regional advisers who today is scandalously high, more than double the example of the Tuscan regional council. Greater simplicity and consistency could also remove some wise guy from politics and bring the law-abiding citizens would not be a result to be despised.

Francesco Zurlo