81859 - History of Historiography (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students possess the tools to get a basic orientation in the international historiographic landscape of the last two centuries. They can recognize the most relevant historical schools, read the related literature, and evaluate the most important trends in historiography on the basis of their epistemological paradigms.

Course contents

The evolution of studies on Fascism has been closely linked to the use of different kind of primary sources: institutional documents, judicial sources, quantitative series, newsreels, images, private diaries. The course intends to put students in contact with this documentation: on the one hand, the teacher will illustrate genesis, peculiarities and problems of the main types of sources; on the other hand, students, organized into small groups, will participate in a workshop activity, which will allow them to experience firsthand contact with the document and its critical analysis.

This is an integrated course (STORICI E STORIOGRAFIA). Therefore, the final mark will result from the average of the marks in both courses (STORICI E PRATICA STORIOGRAFICA and STORIA DELLA STORIOGRAFIA).

Readings/Bibliography

1) Giulia Albanese (a cura di), Il fascismo italiano Storia e interpretazioni, Carocci, Roma 2021

2) Matteo Pasetti, Storia dei fascismi in Europa, Archetipo, Bologna 2009

3)Constantin Iordachi, Comparative Fascist Studies. New Perspectives, Routledge, London-New York 2009; or, Renzo De Felice, Le interpretazioni del fascismo, Laterza, Roma-Bari (qualsiasi edizione)

4) Aristotle Kallis, The ‘Fascist Effect’: On the Dynamics of Political Hybridization in Inter-War Europe, in Antonio Costa Pinto, Aristotle Kallis (eds), Rethinking Fascism and Dictatorship in Europe, Palgrave Macmillan, London 2014, pp. 13-41 (available on Virtuale)

Teaching methods

After a few introductive lessons, the course will be articulated through lectures and seminars discussions. Students are expected to participate actively by attending all lessons, reading the assignated texts and take an active part in class discussions.

Those unable to do so can always opt for an oral exam at a later stage, as foreseen by the programme.

Assessment methods

Students who attend at least 12 lessons are considered to be attending.

Attending students should prepare a text (about 8,000 keystrokes), of analysis of one or more sources discussed in class.

In addition, they will have to study Giulia Albanese (ed.), Il fascismo italiano Storia e interpretazioni, Carocci, Rome 2021 and Aristotle Kallis, The 'Fascist Effect': On the Dynamics of Political Hybridization in Inter-War Europe, in Antonio Costa Pinto, Aristotle Kallis (eds), Rethinking Fascism and Dictatorship in Europe, Palgrave Macmillan, London 2014, pp. 13-41 (available on the Virtual platform).

Final assessment will be based on four elements: a) written review at the end of the first module; b) report on the analysis of the sources; c) study of Giulia Albanese (ed.), Il fascismo italiano Storia e interpretazioni, and Aristotle Kallis, The 'Fascist Effect': On the Dynamics of Political Hybridization in Inter-War Europe; d) participation in the seminar discussion, speeches and presentations.

For students not attending at least 12 classes, the exam will be oral.

FOR BOTH ATTENDING AND NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS

Thorough in-depth knowledge of the topics covered in the course, together with analytical and critical skills and command of the specific language, will qualify for top marks (30-30L).

A good grasp of the topics covered in the course, together with good critical analysis and command of the specific language, will qualify for high marks (27-29).

A more mechanical and less articulate grasp, and/or correct use of language though not always appropriate, will qualify for a medium-range mark (23-26).

Weak analytical capacity and frequently inappropriate language – together with some knowledge of exam material – will receive a pass mark or little more (18-22).

Mistakes of spelling and syntax (by native Italian students) will be heavily penalized, as befits a university examination, especially in a humanistic subject.

This is an integrated course (STORICI E STORIOGRAFIA). Therefore, the final mark will result from the average of the marks in both courses (STORICI E PRATICA STORIOGRAFICA and STORIA DELLA STORIOGRAFIA).

Office hours

See the website of Alessio Gagliardi