OVERVIEW

The course aims to provide students with a basic framework for the understanding of the contemporary history of European and non-European countries, through a perspective that highlights the plurality of methodological approaches in historical analysis. The chronological scope of the course ranges from the French Revolution (1789) to the end of the Cold War (1989-91) and includes an analysis of the main historical events and the treatment of the most relevant historiographical issues for the contemporary age.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of this course is to provide a basic framework for the understanding of the main political, social, economic and cultural phenomena of the contemporary age (from the French Revolution to the end of the Cold War), setting them into a national as well as into a global perspective.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of this course is to provide a basic framework for the understanding of the main political, social, economic and cultural phenomena of the contemporary age (from the French Revolution to the end of the Cold War), setting them into a national as well as into a global perspective.

At the end of the course, the student will be able to:

- demonstrate a solid understanding of the main turning points of contemporary history (knowledge and understanding)
- develop the ability to build links between phenomena and propose analysis that takes into account historical development also in in comparative terms (knowledge and ability of applied comprehension)
- recognize the nature of the sources for contemporary history and be able to assess the importance of the specific problems faced (knowledge and skills of applied comprehension)
- develop a critical approach to historiographic interpretations (autonomy of judgment).
- use an appropriate disciplinary language articulating the problems analyzed according to their different aspects (institutional, economic, cultural ...) and highlighting their connections (written and oral communication skills).

TEACHING METHODS

The course will be held in remote teaching, through Microsoft Teams and Aulaweb, for a total of 60 hours. The use of primary sources, web resources and of audiovisual material is envisaged; powerpoint presentations will be used. Seminars and lectures by scholars and external experts will be possible for the exemplification of interpretative paths and research experiences on specific problems. Continuity of attendance is recommended.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

THE PROGRAM IS THE SAME FOR THOSE ATTENDING THE LECTURES AND THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT ATTENDING.

For all modules (6 and 9 credits) the program is organized following the topics considered in the reference manual. The different modules are differentiated by the diverse level of historiographical understanding, connected with the study of specific monographs, in addition to the study of the manual that is common to all modules.

For the 6 cfu module, the student is required to be able to orientate himself/herself with respect to the main temporal articulations of the contemporary age; the student has also to prove an adequate understanding of causal links that determine the development of historical processes.

For the 9 cfu module, the student is required to be able to orientate himself/herself with respect to the main temporal articulations of the contemporary age; to prove an adequate understanding of causal links that determine the development of historical processes; to have learned the rudiments of the historical method and to be able to orientate with respect to the main historiographical debates.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

THE PROGRAM IS THE SAME FOR THOSE ATTENDING THE LECTURES AND FOR THOSE NOT ATTENDING.

Reference Manual:  A. M. Banti, L’età contemporanea, vol I (Dalle rivoluzioni settecentesche all’imperialismo) e vol. II (Dalla Grande Guerra a oggi), Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2012.

LIST OF BOOKS TO CHOOSE FROM

For the 9 cfu program, the student must prepare, in addition to the manual on which he/she will be examined in the written test, 1 monograph chosen from the list below.

Students may optionally choose to read the monograph in the original language in which they were published.

Christophe Charle, Gli intellettuali nell’Ottocento: saggio di storia comparata europea, Il Mulino, Bologna 2002 [1998].

Wolfgang Reinhard, Storia del colonialismo, Torino, Einaudi, 2002 [1996]

Alberto Mario Banti, La nazione del Risorgimento. Parentela, santità e onore alle origini dell’Italia unita, Einaudi, Torino 2011 [2000].

Eugen Weber, Da contadini a francesi. La modernizzazione della Francia rurale, 1870-1914, Il Mulino, Bologna, 1989 [1976].

Eric J. Hobsbawm, Il trionfo della borghesia. 1848-1875, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2018 [1975].

Arno J. Mayer, Il potere dell’Ancien Régime fino alla prima guerra mondiale, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1999 [1981].

George D. H. Cole, Storia del pensiero socialista, Laterza, Bari 1973 (vol. 1 e vol. 2) [1953-1959]

Sven Beckert, L’impero del cotone. Una storia globale, Einaudi, Torino 2016 [2014].

Benny Morris, Vittime. Storia del conflitto arabo-sionista.1881-2001, Rizzoli, Milano 2003 [2001]

Jay Winter, Il lutto e la memoria. La Grande guerra nella storia culturale europea, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2014 [1995]

Eric D. Weitz, La Germania di Weimar. Utopia e tragedia, Torino, Einaudi, 2008 [2007].

Karl Polanyi, La grande trasformazione. Le origini economiche e politiche della nostra epoca, Einaudi, Torino, 2010 [1944].

Ian Kershaw, Che cos'è il nazismo ? Problemi interpretativi e prospettive di ricerca, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2003 [1985]

Cristopher R. Browning, Le origini della Soluzione finale. L’evoluzione della politica antiebraica del nazismo. Settembre 1939 – Marzo 1942, il Saggiatore, Milano 2012 [2004].

Robert O. Paxton, Il fascismo in azione, Milano, Mondadori 2005 [2004].

Hannah Arendt, Le origini del totalitarismo, Torino, Einaudi, 2017 [1951].

István Deák, Europa a processo. Collaborazionismo, resistenza e giustizia tra guerra e dopoguerra, il Mulino, Bologna 2019 [2015].

Claudio Pavone, Una guerra civile. Saggio storico sulla moralità nella Resistenza, Bollati Boringhieri, Torino, 2013 [1991].

Federico Romero, Storia della guerra fredda. L’ultimo conflitto per l’Europa, Torino, Einaudi, 2009.

Victoria de Grazia, L'impero irresistibile: la società dei consumi americana alla conquista del mondo, Torino, Einaudi, 2006 [2005]

Tony Judt, Postwar. La nostra storia 1945-2005, Roma-Bari, Laterza 2017 [2005]

David S. Landes, Prometeo liberato. Trasformazioni tecnologiche e sviluppo industriale nell’Europa occidentale dal 1750 ai giorni nostri, Einaudi, Torino, 2016 [1969]

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

FRANCESCO CASSATA (President)

GURI SCHWARZ

ENRICA ASQUER (Substitute)

ANDREA AVALLI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

I Semester, starting from October 5, 2020

Monday, 14-16

Tuesday, 16-18

Wednesday, 16-18

Class schedule

CONTEMPORARY HISTORY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

For students attending the lectures the written test is divided into two parts that will take place during the course. The first test will take place mid-course and will cover the topics covered in the first volume of the manual. The second test will take place in the last lecture of the course and will concern the topics covered in the second volume of the manual.

For those students who have passed both written tests, the oral exam will concern the discussion of the monograph chosen.

For those students who have passed just one written test, the oral exam will concern the discussion of the other volume of the manual, in addition to the monograph chosen.

For students not attending the lectures the exam is oral. The oral exam is dedicated to the verification of the student's critical elaboration and argumentation skills, and it will be focused on the discussion of the two volumes of the manual and of the monograph chosen.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The examination committee verifies the achievement of the course’s objectives, taking into account the following factors: a) level of mastery of the fundamental notions; b) ability to apply knowledge (source analysis); c) ability of critical reasoning on the topics studies; d) ability to organize knowledge discursively, using a specific language appropriate for the discipline.

Exam schedule