Course description
This course presents the possible sustainable evolution of the Venice Lagoon ecosystem as an organized set of commons.
During the meetings, the most advanced conceptions of the commons will be explored and we will address the question of whether an environmental resource can be considered a common good and whether this facilitates or limits its development also in terms of social use of the resource.
The goal is to cultivate among participants a sophisticated understanding of the challenges and opportunities presented by the consideration of the environment as a natural resource aimed at sustainable development and whether its qualification as a common good has positive reflections on its governance and management also in terms of sustainable consumption.
Structured in three short and comprehensive segments, the curriculum first embarks on an examination of the structure of the Venice lagoon environment through an analysis of its ownership and forms of management based on popular participation (weeks 1-3). Next, we will address new forms of critical governance beginning with Garrett Hardin's "Tragedy of the Commons" and then moving on to Elinor Ostrom's revolutionary theory of the commons, which offers a nuanced perspective on collective resource management against the backdrop of global interconnectivity. The Venice Lagoon will be an example of a new possibility of managing a resource that characterizes the emergence of a community of reference capable of meeting the challenges of sustainable development (weeks 4-6).
Next, the course moves to explore the transformative possibilities in environmental management offered by the tools of artificial intelligence, decentralized digital ledgers, and virtual reality platforms. Particular emphasis is placed on the intersection of these technologies with respect for human rights in a context where the environment is understood as a common cultural asset (weeks 7-9). A special session of the course is dedicated to the Venice Lagoon as a Cultural Heritage. The fundamental right to cultural heritage (UNESCO Paris Convention of 1972 and European Faro Convention of 2005) is inherent to the right to participate in cultural life, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In the case study of this special session, applied around the ancient city of Venice, students can explore the blurry notions of original, fake, and copy, the stimuli to forgery and its implications, and the authentication techniques from a historical, ethical and legal perspective and within a broader discourse about securing cultural heritage.
The possibility of releasing the protection and enhancement of cultural heritage will not start from the traditional distinction between public and private goods, but from the concept of common goods (in the sense of the conceptual elaborations proposed by scholars such as Elinor Ostrom), that is, referable to the culture shared by a community for "sustainable development and quality of life (... ) recognizing that every person has the right (...) to take an interest in cultural heritage (...) as part of the right to participate freely in cultural life, enshrined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and guaranteed by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966)" (Preamble to the Faro Convention) (weeks 10-12).
In essence, this course is an ambitious endeavor. It aims to equip legal scholars, practitioners, and enthusiasts with the intellectual tools necessary to critically evaluate and influence sustainable development in harmony with the digital transformation of society, ensuring the safeguarding of human rights and the equitable management of the global commons.

Learning Outcomes
The imperative to launch this pioneering course at VIU now stems from the unprecedented pace of technological advancements and their profound implications on human rights, societal norms, and legal frameworks. VIU, with its reputation for fostering innovative and interdisciplinary academic environments, stands uniquely positioned to host this course. This initiative aligns with VIU's commitment to addressing contemporary global challenges and enhances its academic offerings by integrating cutting-edge legal theories and practices. For VIU and participating universities, the course represents an invaluable opportunity to lead in the cultivation of legal expertise that is attuned to the digital age. It promises to enrich academic discourse, foster cross-disciplinary collaboration, and prepare a new generation of scholars and practitioners capable of navigating and shaping the evolving intersection of technology and law. This program adds significant value by promoting critical thinking, ethical deliberation, and practical problem-solving skills, ensuring participants and institutions are at the forefront of legal innovation and advocacy for human rights and equitable resource management in the digital era.
Participants will acquire a nuanced understanding of the interface between new technologies and legal doctrines, emphasizing social system analyses and collective resource management theories. The curriculum facilitates proficiency equipping learners to address challenges and opportunities in the digital age.
The goal is to prepare students to advocate for human rights and equitable resource management, influencing social, ethical, and legal adaptation to technological advancements.

Teaching and evaluation methods
This course introduces key aspects through a mix of lectures, seminars, and hands-on activities, complemented by guest speaker sessions as supplementary learning experiences. Interactive teaching methods such as seminar papers, discussions, and presentations will foster critical, practical, and innovative thinking on legal and ethical issues about digitalization in modern societies. Additionally, small-group exercises will encourage student dialogue and cooperation.
Assessment will involve a mid-term exam (individual paper or group project work) undertaken during the course. The mid-term exam will account for 50% of the final grade.
The final exam may consist of a keynote speech, even with IT tools, on a topic freely chosen by the students.
Evaluation criteria focus on students' understanding and application of course material, their analytical skills in infosourcing and data research, and their ability to address ethical dilemmas related to the course’s topics. This approach aims to develop students' capacity for critical and creative analysis.

Bibliography
- G. Hardin, The Tragedy of the Commons, Science (new series) V. 162, n. 3859 (1968),
pp. 1243-1248.
- E. Ostrom, Governing the Commons, Cambridge University Press, 2015.

Other supplementary readings will be suggested or given during the course.

Last updated: June 25, 2024