78136 - International History (Lm)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide students with the methodological tools to analyse international events from a historical perspective and thus enable them to understand the evolution of international social, cultural and political dynamics in their relationship with national public opinions. At the end of the course, students will: - master the methodologies of analysis of international history; - have a thorough knowledge of the historical evolution of the international context to date; - know how to analyse the specificities and differences of the various international contexts; - know how to apply the knowledge acquired to the analysis of information and communication processes; - be able to broaden the scope of their disciplinary skills by means of the methodology of analysis of the specialised literature acquired during the course.

Course contents

The course of the academic year 2025/206 will analyse the theme of violence within the international context. In particular, the 20th century has been defined by some scholars as the century of violence or the century of genocides. Starting from this question, the course intends to analyse the use of violence in politics and the contemporary age. The focus of the course will be on ethnic cleansing and genocide and the use of political violence. The course will examine four topics:

1- historical and theoretical introduction on the theme of violence
2- Violence of war between states and against civilians
3- Evolution of political violence in the 20th century
4- The categories of ethnic cleansing and genocide

Lesson schedule (small variations are possible)

Lesson 1 Presentation of the course. Stereotypes, violence and communication
Lesson 2 Private and collective violence
Lesson 3 Colonial violence
Lesson 4 The violence of modern war
Lesson 5 The Armenian genocide
Lesson 6 Political violence and fascisms
Lesson 7 Stalinism
Lesson 9 The Second World War and fratricidal wars
Lesson 9 Antisemitism and the Shoa
Lesson 10 Ethnic cleansing and genocide
Lesson 11 Terrorism and the international dimension
Lesson 12 The return of war and social media
Lesson 13 Human Rights
Lesson 14 Feminicide
Lesson 15 Constructing a paper
Themes assignment and final discussion

Exchange students are welcome, but attendance is recommended for those with a fair to good knowledge of Italian

Readings/Bibliography

For students that will attend the class

The list of articles to be read and discussed will be published in October

Students that will not attend the class

Non-attending students will have to study for the exam 1 Text from group A+ 1 work chosen from group. 

A. General History

Norman Naimark, La politica dell'odio, Roma-Bari, Laterza 2001

B. group of choice

-G. de Luna, Il corpo del nemico. Violenze e morte nelel guerre contemporanee, Torino, Einaudi, 2006
-Bernard Bruneteau , Il secolo dei genocidi, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2008
-Marcello Flores, Storia dei diritti umani, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2011
-Marcello Flores, Il genocidio, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2021
-Marcello Flores, Il genocidio degli Armeni, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2017
-Filippo Focardi, Nel cantiere della memoria. Fascismo, Resistenza, Shoah, Foibe, Roma, Viella 2020
-Robert Gerwarth, La Rabbia dei vinti. La guerra dopo la guerra 1917-1923, Roma-Bari, Laterza
-Matteo Millan, Squadrismo e squadristi nella dittatura fascista, Roma, Viella 2014
-Guido Panvini, Ordine nero, Guerrriglia rossa. La violenza politica negli anni Sessanta e Settanta (1966-1975), Torino, Einaudi, 2009
-G. Ranzato (a cura di), le guerre fratricide, Torino, Bollati-Boringhieri, 1994
-Sven Reichardt, Camicie nere, camicie brune, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2010
-Wolfgang Sofsky, L' ordine del terrore. Il campo di concentramento, Roma-Bari, Laterza 2004

Teaching methods

The course will have part lectures and part seminar discussions. The case studies will first be explained by the lecturer and then discussed on the basis of the assigned readings.

Assessment methods

 

Students that will attend the class

Students that will attend the class must

1. write a thesis of at least 30,000 characters (=4500 words) on a topic assigned by the lecturer

2. Take an Oral exam: Discussion on the paper and on the texts discussed during the course during dedicated  exam sessions.

Students that will not attend the class

Studenst that will not attend the class  must pass

1. an open-ended test on the compulsory text (A) consisting of 5 questions ranging from 1 to 3 marks.There are no penalties for wrong answers.

2. In case of passing the test with a score of at least 18/30, students will take the oral test on the the chosen book in the list B.

General assessment criteria

The achievement of an organic vision of the themes addressed, the possession of a mastery of expression and specific language, the mastery of concepts, the structural and historical-causal understanding of events, as well as familiarity with the tools of analysis of International History and communication applied to international politics will be assessed with marks of excellence. A largely mechanical or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, an inadequate ability to synthesise and analyse, or language that is correct but not always appropriate, as well as a scholastic command of International History and communication applied to international politics will lead to fair marks. Gaps in training or inappropriate language, as well as a lack of knowledge and understanding of international history and communication applied to international politics, will lead to grades that are close to adequate. Gaps in training, inappropriate language and lack of orientation within the space-time dimension will result in negative marks.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted at least 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

beamer

Links to further information

https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/stefano.cavazza/

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Cavazza