13723 - History of Contemporary Europe (1)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will have mastered the broad outline of European continental history, its political, social and cultural transformations throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as relations within Europe and vis-à-vis extra-European countries. They will be able to describe such interactions in terms of dominion as well as reciprocal exchange of knowledge, goods and individuals. They will have grasped the complex criteria for periodization, possess an initial knowledge of issues debated by international historians, and have realised for themselves the welter of sources pertaining to contemporary European studies. They will be able to describe and illustrate specific instances of cultures meeting within and outside Europe (links, hybridization, conflict) understanding the multicultural contexts; they will know how to listen, understand and debate respectfully with different cultures and viewpoints, spotting the tie-ups among different disciplines.

Course contents

Forms and Cultures of War

The course explores the main themes and historiographical trends in European history from a global perspective, focusing chronologically on the period between the 1870s and the 1990s. The reconstruction of broader historical frameworks will be complemented by a specialized module on Wars, which aims to provide an overview of the evolution (forms, ideologies, technologies) of the major conflicts of the 20th century, alongside the parallel development of international criminal law. It will also examine the redefinition of war chronologies and representations following the turning points of 1989 and 2022.

Readings/Bibliography

Both attending and non-attending students must demonstrate a solid foundational knowledge of European history in the second half of the 20th century, acquired through the following textbook:
Leonardo Rapone (ed.), L'Europa del Novecento, Carocci, 2020 (Parts II and III).

For Attending Students:

In addition to the textbook, attending students must choose 1 group of texts from List A (consisting of: 1 historical text + 1 narrative text, the latter serving as a literary source, testimony, or critical reflection on the relationship between history, memory, and subjectivity).

Alternatively, attending students may opt to submit a 4,000-word written paper (max 30,000 characters, including notes) focusing on a specific case study related to the monographic module on Wars. The selected sources and bibliography for the paper must be approved by the instructor, presented during lectures, and discussed during the exam. Further guidelines will be provided in the first week of classes.

For Non-Attending Students:

In addition to the textbook, non-attending students are required to study 2 groups of texts from List A.

 

Lista A

• Antonio Gibelli, L'officina della guerra. La grande guerra e le trasformazioni del mondo mentale, Bollati Boringhieri 2007 (ed.or.1990) + Marc Bloch, La guerra e le false notizie. Ricordi (1914-1915) e riflessioni (1921), Donzelli 2004
• Enzo Traverso, A ferro e a fuoco: la guerra civile europea 1914-1945, Bologna, il Mulino, 2007 + Jean-Paul Sartre,Parigi occupata, Il melangolo 2020 (ed.or. 1944-1946)/ in alternativa: Claudio Pavone, La mia Resistenza. Memorie di una giovinezza, Roma, Donzelli, 2015
• Thomas Hippler, Il governo del cielo. Storia globale dei bombardamenti aerei, Bollati Boringhieri (ed.or. 2014) + Winfried G. Sebald, Storia naturale della distruzione, Adelphi, 2024 (ed.or. 2001)
• Bruna Bagnato,L’ Europa e il mondo. Origini, sviluppo e crisi dell’imperialismo coloniale, Mondadori Education-Le Monnier 2006 + Henri Alleg, La tortura, traduzione di Paolo Spriano, introduzione di Jean-Paul Sartre, Einaudi, 2022 (La question, ed.or.1958)
• Tony Judt, Postwar. La nostra storia 1945-2005, Introduzione + Parte III Intervallo (1971-1989) + parte IV cap. 20, Roma, Laterza 2020 (ed.or. 2005) + Susan Sontag, Davanti al dolore degli altri, Milano, nottetempo, 2021 (Regarding the Pain of Others, ed. or.2003) / in alternativa: Storia e memoria di un massacro ordinario, a cura di Leonardo Paggi, Roma, Manifestolibri, 1996
• Alessandro Colombo, Il suicidio della pace. Perché l’ordine internazionale liberale ha fallito (1989-2024), Milano, Raffaello Cortina + Lea Ypi, Libera. Diventare grandi alla fine della storia, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2023

 

Teaching methods

The course will alternate lectures with moments of discussion with students and analysis of sources. In order to stimulate a dynamic debate and active participation, students will be invited to make presentations on specific topics.

Assessment methods

Students who attend at least 75% of the lessons are considered to be attending.

Verification of learning will take place through oral examination.
In order to pass the exam, the student will have to demonstrate:

• knowledge of the main events of contemporary history
• understanding of the essential characteristics of transitions in contemporary history
• capacity to compare sources and historical witnessing pertaining to different spatial and temporal contexts, and identifying their characteristics and specific relevance.

Contribute to the final grade:

• the mastery of contents
• the ability to examine topics in a transversal and critical way
• Correctness, clarity, synthesis and fluency of expression
• an appropriate use of the specific language of the discipline, and of particular themes and authors
• a capacity of autonomous and personal re-elaboration of contents

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).

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Written, literary, iconographic, and video sources as a starting point for presentation of topics and for discussion with students.

Office hours

See the website of Toni Rovatti