What Does "Citizenship" Mean Today?

Citizenship: a concept as controversial as it is timely, multifaceted, and polysemic will be explored on Thursday, 21 November, as part of "The Times of Citizenship", a traveling event that delves into its many dimensions. Organized in honour of World Philosophy Day 2024, the initiative brings together the Department of Philosophy and the Municipality of Bologna.

The programme includes morning sessions tailored to high school students and afternoon events open to the public, aiming to spark meaningful dialogue and guide younger generations toward becoming active, engaged citizens. Discussions will focus on equipping participants with the knowledge, skills, and actions needed to foster innovative forms of governance in modern democracies and to engage in global governance.

The conversations will address the challenges facing traditional national citizenship in a world marked by profound social, political, and economic change. They will also explore new ways to reimagine citizenship: as global belonging rooted in ecological and social connections, as digital citizenship with a focus on critically navigating the digital age, and as citizen science that empowers active participation in research.

The day begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Sala dello Stabat Mater at the Archiginnasio Library with opening remarks from Veronica Ceruti (Director of Libraries and Cultural Welfare, Municipality of Bologna), Maria Letizia Guerra (Delegate for Public Engagement, University of Bologna), and Luca Guidetti (Director of the Department of Philosophy, University of Bologna).

Pietro Costa (University of Florence) and Massimiliano Tarozzi (University of Bologna) will then discuss "The Histories of Citizenship," in a conversation moderated by Serena Vantin (University of Bologna). Following this, the session "Technologies for Citizenship" will feature Maurizio Gabbrielli and Luisa Lugli, coordinated by Claudio Coletta (University of Bologna), addressing the historical evolution of citizenship and the impact of the digital revolution on societal belonging.

In the afternoon, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., a poster session led by students, PhD candidates, and research fellows will open the doors of the Department of Philosophy on Via Zamboni 38 to the public. This will showcase emerging projects and research themes, such as "Philosophy and Inclusivity" in the Graduate Students' Hall, "The Mind and Others" in the Celio Room, and "Philosophy Between Science and Technology" in the Mondolfo Room.

The day concludes at 6:00 p.m. in the covered square of the Salaborsa Library with "The Roots and Paradoxes of Citizenship," a session moderated by Emanuele Mariani (University of Bologna). This final event will feature a thought-provoking dialogue on the contradictions and opportunities of citizenship in the contemporary world. Speakers include Adriana Cavarero (University of Verona), Mauro Bonazzi (University of Bologna), Gianfrancesco Zanetti (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), and Marina Lalatta Costerbosa (University of Bologna).