12693 - Contemporary History (1)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will be able to tell the different dimensions and the great trends of development of the contemporary world. This course introduces students to the analysis 20th century history. A special attention will be paid to political-institutional systems. The chronology of the course ranges from the beginning of the XX Century to the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989). The course provide a compared analysis of the main historical events which concerned Italy, France, Germany, Great Britain, Russia and US.

Course contents

The course chronologically retrace the main junctions of contemporary political history (from the first decade of the twentieth century to the fall of the Berlin Wall), through a comparative analysis of the most significant historical events that have affected the European context and the main extra-European realities. The course will be divided into two parts. The first part will analyse the political transformations in Europe at the beginning of the XX century, the interwar period and the totalitarian political systems during the Twenties and Thirties. The second part of the course will focus on the Second post-war period, with particular attention on Cold War, transformation in European political systems and the development of Italian republican democracy.

Readings/Bibliography

INSTITUTIONAL PART OF THE SYLLABUS

Fulvio Cammarano, Giulia Guazzaloca, Maria Serena Piretti , Storia contemporanea dal XIX al XXI secolo, Firenze, Le Monnier, 2015 (attending students: chapters 5-15).

Non-attending students have to study the whole textbook

MONOGRAPHIC PART OF THE SYLLABUS

Each student (both attending and non-attending students) will be expected to study one monograph. The choice is between:

a) Brizzi R. e Sbetti N., Storia della Coppa del mondo di calcio (1930-2018). Politica, sport, globalizzazione, Le Monnier, 2018.

b) Cammarano F., Cavazza S. (a cura di), Il nemico in politica, Il Mulino, 2010.

c) Pombeni P. (a cura di), Storia dei partiti italiani, Il Mulino, 2016.

Teaching methods

Due to the restrictions imposed by the current health emergency, teaching will be carried out in a traditional didactic manner.

This means the teacher will always be present in the classroom designated for teaching, students will alternate in attendance according to a schedule of shifts being defined (more detailed information about the shift and how to access the lesson in attendance will be provided later).

It will always be possible to connect remotely and follow live streaming of the lessons in the classroom via TEAMS platform.

Assessment methods

The exam consists of a written examination to assess whether students have acquired the knowledge of contemporary history.

No oral examination is scheduled.

For attending and non attending students, the written examination will consist of 11 closed-ended questions (1 point each), and 3 open questions on the texts of the bibliography (up to 7 points each).

It will be assessed as excellent the performance of those students achieving an organic vision of the course contents, the use of a proper specific language, a structural and historical-contextual understanding of the subjects studied, the originality of the reflection as well as the familiarity with the tools of analysis of 20th century political history. It will be assessed as discrete the performance of those students showing mostly mechanical or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, not articulated synthesis and analysis capabilities, a correct but not always appropriate language, as well as a scholastic study of 20th century political history. It will be assessed as barely sufficient the performance of those students showing learning gaps, inappropriate language, lack of knowledge of the instruments of 20th century political history. It will be assessed as insufficient the performance of those students showing learning gaps, inappropriate language, no orientation within the recommended bibliography and inability to analyse 20th century political history.

To take the examination, students shall register in the list by AlmaEsami service. Non-enrolled students will be excluded from the test. If students registered decide not to sit the examination, they are required to cancel their name from the exam list. Students are also required to sit the examination with their UniBo credentials and a recognition document.

Teaching tools

Powerpoint presentations; audio-visual material, digital resources.

Office hours

See the website of Riccardo Brizzi