OVERVIEW

The course of Contemporary History (unit A) is in line with the objectives of the degree course in Modern Languages ​​and Cultures (LCM), as it intends to provide the essential tools for understanding, in a transnational perspective, the dynamics, processes and events of the contemporary world, in a phase between the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of XXI century

The teaching is aimed at students with surnames A-D

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is provide students with basic knowledge of 19th and 20th century history both from a political-institutional and social-economic point of view, in order to achieve four main targets: contextualize events, identify causes and effects; being able to undertake historical research through the correct use of sources; being familiar with various historiographical interpretations; efficiently communicate the contents learned.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Aims:

The course aims to provide students with an introduction to the political, economic and social issues and problems of history of the West, in particular Europe and the United States. The course aims to offer basic knowledge of the contemporary history of the 20th century with specific references to the cultures of the foreign languages ​​chosen by the students.

Learning outcomes:

At the end of the course, students will be able to make thematic and cultural connections between the historical dynamics covered, with the languages, cultures and other disciplines covered by the chosen curricula. Finally, they will also be able to clearly and explain the topics covered by the exam using appropriate language of the discipline.

PREREQUISITES

A good knowledge of written and spoken Italian is necessary to pass the exam

For foreign students a basic knowledge of the Italian language is sufficient, cf. the paragraph “C.II.10. Avvertenze per gli studenti stranieri”, of the “Guida ai Corsi di Studio in Lingue del Dipartimento di Lingue e Culture Moderne”, a.y. 2024-2025.

TEACHING METHODS

Course of 36 hours, equivalent to 6 CFU.

Attendance is not compulsory but warmly recommended.

The course, for the academic year 2023/2024, will take place through classroom lectures.

Distance learning will be used, through the TEAMS platforms, only in the case of a Red weather alarm when all the University offices are closed.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Program:

1. Presentation of the course; Europe between the Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries: Belle époque, mass-corporations and transnational empires.

2. The First World War (I part).

3. The First World War (part II) and the Russian Revolution.

4. From the Biennio Rosso period to the Fascist regime.

5. Consolidation of the Fascist regime; Stalinism and Nazism.

6. The Liberal Democracies between the two wars: France and Great Britain.

7. The Liberal Democracies between the two wars: the United States; the new European crisis and the Second World War.

8. The Second World War and Italy: The Fall of Fascism, the Resistance and the birth of the Republic.

9. The new world order and the outbreak of the Cold War.

10. The unfolding of the Cold War and decolonization.

11. The Golden Age and the start of the European integration process (part I).

12. The Golden Age and the start of the European integration process (part II).

13. Italy from post-war reconstruction to the economic miracle.

14. Triumph and crisis of the liberal state in the United States: John F. Kennedy.

15. Triumph and crisis of the liberal state in the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson.

16. Western countries between culture and social crisis: 1968

17. The 1970s: from the age of  malaise to neoconservatism.

18. The years of lead in Italy.

19. Italian politics and society in the 1980s.

20. The crisis of  USSR and the end of  Cold War.

21. The crisis of the First Republic in Italy.

22. Globalisation and fulfilment of European economic integration.

23. The end of the century and the attacks of September Eleven.

The course also aims to offer students methods and tools for a critical knowledge of contemporary history bringing them closer  to actual most  relevant historiographic issues.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

For ATTENDING students:
students must study, in addition to the notes taken in class, the following book:

- Alberto M. Banti, L’età contemporanea. Dalla Grande Guerra a oggi, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2009;

Students must also choose and study one of the following books:

F. Anania, a.c.,  Consumi e mass media, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2013 (escluso il capitolo II);

V. Castronovo, L'Italia del miracolo economico, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2010;

S. Colarizi, Un paese in movimento. L’Italia negli anni Sessanta e Settanta, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2020;
F. Fasce, I Presidenti USA. Due secoli di storia, Roma, Carocci, 2008;

E. Gentile,  Il fascismo in tre capitoli, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2004;

A. Gissi, P. Stelliferi, L'aborto. Una storia, Roma, Carocci, 2024;

S. Salvatici, a. c., Storia delle donne nell’Italia contemporanea, Roma, Carocci, 2022; only the following parts: Introduction and chapters 2; 4; 5; 7; 8 e 10.

For NON-attending students:
- P. Viola, Storia moderna e contemporanea, IV. Il Novecento, Torino, Einaudi, 2000

plus one of the following books at student's choice:

F. Anania, a.c.,  Consumi e mass media, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2013 (escluso il capitolo II);

V. Castronovo, L'Italia del miracolo economico, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2010;

S. Colarizi, Un paese in movimento. L’Italia negli anni Sessanta e Settanta, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2020;
F. Fasce, I Presidenti USA. Due secoli di storia, Roma, Carocci, 2008;

E. Gentile,  Il fascismo in tre capitoli, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2004;

A. Gissi, P. Stelliferi, L'aborto. Una storia, Roma, Carocci, 2024;

S. Salvatici, a. c., Storia delle donne nell’Italia contemporanea, Roma, Carocci, 2022; only the following parts: Introduction and chapters 2; 4; 5; 7; 8 e 10.

The texts are usually available from the Biblioteca di Scienze Umanistiche #Lingue, Piazza Santa Sabina, 2 – Scala A, piano terra, Tel. 010 209-9561.

Foreign students can also study the general aspects  in a foreign language (English, French, etc.), only if agrreed with the teacher. However, a reading in Italian choosen among the above list is mandatory.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ROBERTO MACCARINI (President)

GUIDO LEVI

FERDINANDO FASCE (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Starting classes: Wednesday, 2nd October, 2024

TIMETABLE:

- Wednesday 1:00-2:00 PM, classroom 15 Albergo dei Poveri

- Thursday 3:00-5:00 PM, classroom 15 Albergo dei Poveri

Class schedule

CONTEMPORARY HISTORY A

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam either at the end of the course  and at all the scheduled dates. 

Furthermore, for attending students, there is an ongoing written test which will be carried out during the course hours; the test is not mandatory.

Registration procedures for exams through University website are unchanged.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The assessment test consists of a discussion of variable duration depending on the student's presentation skills which demonstrates the achievement of the aims.

The evaluation parameters are:

- ability to present and organize speech

- correct use of historiographical vocabulary

- critical reasoning skills.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Prof. Sara Dickinson (sara.dickinson@unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.