03990 - History of Contemporary Italy

Course contents

The course covers the history of Italy after
World War II to the present. The awareness that a
turning point occurred in the last phase of
the XX century and great changes have occurred in
international relations and community life in
more recent years, we will examine the main
historical issues since 1945. Many historians
consider this period real Contemporary History.
The aim is to understand, with particular
reference to Italian history,  the importance
and the effects of transformations and lasting
features and the historical origins and duration
of the most important issues concerning
collective and private lives today; but also to
reflect on how history is made as a consequence
of recent events. We will compare some
of the main historical accounts written on Italy
since the war, and we will explore some thematic
nodes we see as particularly relevant today, such as
the historical question of the Republican
Constitution, the history of the Seventies, the
complex relationship between state and civil
society, the issue of political violence and terrorism.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Students not attending will present examination following texts, while attending will be given to the indication for the exam during the lectures.

Students will present an examination text chosen among those listed in Group A) and another text among those listed in Group B):

A) Historical Summary of Italy after the Second World War:

-        Paul Ginsborg, Storia d'Italia dal dopoguerra a oggi. Società  e politica 1943-1988, Torino, Einaudi, 1989 (5 chapters by choice);

-        Aurelio Lepre, Storia della prima repubblica, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2004 (8 capitoli a scelta);

-        Andrea Di Michele, Storia dell'Italia repubblicana 1948-2008, Milano, Garzanti, 2008 (3 capitoli a scelta)

-         Pietro Scoppola,, La repubblica dei partiti, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1997 (6 capitoli a scelta)

B)     Monographs or collections of essays on more specific subje

-        Valerio Onida, La Costituzione, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2007 

-        Andreina De Clementi, Il prezzo della ricostruzione. L'emigrazione italiana nel secondo dopoguerra, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2010

-        Il miracolo economico italiano (1958-1963), a cura di Antonio Cardini, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2006 (l'introduzione e 8 saggi a scelta);

-        Guido Crainz, Il paese mancato, Donzelli, Roma, 2003 (7 capitoli a scelta)

-        Cinzia Venturoli, Stragi fra memoria e storia. Piazza Fontana, piazza della Loggia, la stazione di Bologna: dal discorso pubblico all'elaborazione didattica, Bologna, Bonomo, 2007

                        -     De Bernardi, Romitelli, Cretella (a cura di), Gli anni Settanta. Tra crisi mondiale e movimenti collettivi, Bologna, Archetipo libri, 2009 (a scelta, due delle tre parti in cui il libro si articola)

Teaching methods

Lessons with discussions and presentation of historical sources. Seminars concerning themes of the program can be organized.

Assessment methods

Final test
This consists of an oral test concerning the topics of the texts indicated above in A) and B) and on all other topics dealt with during lessons (for the students attending the class).

Teaching tools

Video projector, PC

Office hours

See the website of Alberto Preti