This blended mobility CIVIS course introduces to the study of ideologies, ideas and opinions in contemporary democracies. In humanities and social sciences there is an ongoing debate about the role of ideologies, ideas and opinions in shaping community belonging, social transformation and institutional settings. Regarding contemporary democracies, liberalism, socialism, conservatism, nationalism, fascism, populism have been represented relevant political ideologies in the XIX and in the XX Century. However, in the last decades, while important socio-economic, cultural and political changes occurred, ideologies have also transformed their nature in terms of intellectual production and communication, as well as in terms of political impact and polarization. While scholars argued the crisis of the ideologies, other suggested their revival.

The face-to-face part will take place from 4 to 8 November 2024:

1. In the morning three teachers will deliver a lecture of 45 minutes each giving an updated review of the research on ideologies issues from a specific disciplinary perspective.
2. In the afternoon students will deliver a fifteen-minute individual presentation of their work (with a PPT), followed by a collective discussion on how to improve their research strategies and methodologies, facilitated by two/three teachers.

The virtual component will provide an introductory knowledge of the Summer School topic, through an innovative learning experience.

• In the first part (2 hours, 15th October 2024) of the virtual component, coordinators will give students a general presentation of the Winter School, including practical information about teaching schedule, online readings, deliverables, mobility, accommodation, etc.
• In the second part (6 hours, 16th and 22th October 2024) students will be engaged in a Virtual World Café. A Virtual WorldCafé is an online participatory method aiming at establishing an informal and tolerant space of dialogue wheremultiple ideas and perspectives on a topic can be exchanged. Students will be engaged in several rounds of small-group conversation, on different ideological issues, guided by experts using online facilitation tools.
• At the end of the final round (2 hours, 23th October 2024), the facilitators will summarize the results and discuss them with the students. Teachers will beinvited to take part to the final discussion and to contribute to it.