Summary
Highlights
Fernando Pedrosa introduces himself as the professor for 'Introduction to the Knowledge of Society and the State' (ICSE), a common subject across all university careers. He clarifies that despite common misconceptions, ICSE is not a history course but a social science subject that integrates historical, sociological, and political science approaches to analyze the relationship between society and the state.
The core focus of ICSE is the intricate relationship between society and the state. This relationship is described as complex, sometimes violent, constantly changing, and not homogeneous or one-sided. It is a mutually constructed and often conflictive relationship with multiple facets and protagonists that the course aims to explore.
The course will primarily organize its study around the concept of the political regime, especially in the context of Argentina. This approach allows for structuring discussions of economic, social, and cultural aspects of the relationship. A political regime is defined as the set of rules governing access to power and its exercise within a country, distinguishing between democratic and non-democratic systems.
The study of Argentina's political regime is crucial due to its historical instability, which often led to violence and persistent conflict between society and the state, particularly from the late 1960s to the early 21st century. The course will examine the evolution, conflicts, and different types of regimes that shaped Argentina.
ICSE is divided into six units across two main parts. The first three units focus on theoretical concepts like state, nation, political regime, and populism, aiming to restore their conceptual value. The latter three units apply these concepts to contemporary issues and realities, including international relations, democracy, economics, globalization, human rights, and global authoritarianism, specifically within the Argentine context of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
To succeed in this semi-presential course, students are advised to foster self-organization, follow the activity program on the campus, and plan their study time diligently. Key recommendations include reading the course program thoroughly, extensively using the virtual campus for activities, forums, and instructor communication, and dedicating focused time to reading complex materials, ideally in a printed format to allow for annotations.