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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "HS-RS 345"
COURSE NAME: "Europe since 1945"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2020
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Luca De Caprariis
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 11:30 AM 12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisites: One previous history course. Co-requisites: EN 110; Recommended: Junior Standing
OFFICE HOURS: T, Th: 10:00-11:00; 4:30-5:30
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
History Research Seminar: 300-level history courses designated by the prefix HS-RS indicate courses being offered as Research Seminars. These courses are writing-intensive and help to train students to carry out original research by guiding them through the preparation of a significant research paper. History majors are encouraged to take these before their senior year, and especially before the semester in which they prepare their thesis.
This course is an advanced survey of the history of post-war Europe. The legacy of the Second World War, the extension of Soviet power in Eastern and Central Europe and the rebuilding of Western Europe will be examined in detail in the context of the emergence and unfolding of the Cold War, the end of European Empires and the birth and widening of common European institutions. Attention will be given to the transmission and circulation of ideas, the challenges of socio-economic modernization and secularization, and the dynamics of continental and transcontinental migrations. The course will end with a discussion of the redefinition of Europe, of its identity and its relations with an increasingly globalized world after the end of the Cold War. This course will also explore the challenges historians face in studying the more recent past along with some of the approaches and analytical tools they use to do so.

Satisfies "Modern History" core course requirement for History majors.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
There will be two class meetings per week. Lectures will be followed by questions and discussion. Students should come to lecture prepared, completing the assigned readings before each class meeting.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
This course will teach students to understand the historical development of post 1945 Europe, to analyze primary and secondary materials, and to develop critical thinking.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
The First Socialist Society: A History of the Soviet UnionC. HoskingHarvard9780674304437     
The Struggle for Europe: The Turbulent History of a Divided Continent 1945 to the PresentWilliam I. HitchcockRandom9780385497992     
The Captive MindC. MiloszVintage9780679728566     
Dark ContinentM. MazowerVintage9780679757047     
Second Hand Time. The Last of the SovietsSvetlana AlexievichRandom 9780399588822     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
papersStudents will write three 4 page papers on assigned topics. 30%
Mideterm ExaminationEssay exam: students will answer two essay questions30%
Final ExaminationEssay exam: students will answer two essay questions35%
in class participation 5%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY



You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed.

Attendance is mandatory. Students should keep their cell phones turned off during lectures. You may use your laptop to take notes, but you are not allowed to surf the web during class. Should you fail to follow these guidelines I will ban laptops from class altogether

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

Schedule of Topics

January

21  Introduction. Europe and its "Bloodlands." The Foundations of Post War Order. M: 182-211; Hitchcock: 1-18, Hosking: 261-295. 

23  Wartime Diplomacy.  Hitchcock: 18-26; M: 212 -245.    

28   The Division of Europe.  Hitchcock: 26-39; M: 212-249. 

30   Britain and The Empire.  Hitchcock 40-68.

February

4   France, Italy and West Germany. I   Hitchcock: 69-97

6   France, Italy and West Germany. II    Hitchcock: 69-97.

11  Authoritarianism in Southern Europe: Spain Portugal and Greece. Hitchcock: 269-272; 277-278; 281-285.

13 The Soviet Union and the "Popular Democracies." I. Hitchcock: 98-125; Hosking 205-226, 296-325; M: 250-285.

18 The Soviet Union and the "Popular Democracies" II. Hitchcock: 98-125; Hosking 205-226; 296-325;  M: 250-285.

20  European cooperation. The First Steps. Hitchcock: 147-161.

25  Recovery and Growth in Western Europe. Hitchcock: 131-147; M: 292-298.

27 Social Transformation of Western Europe.

March

3  Culture and intellectual life in Western and Eastern Europe. Milosz: The Captive Mind.

5  Midterm Examination

17  The Political Balance in Western Europe. The end of European Empires. Hitchcock 163-192; M: 286-292.

19  The two Blocs after Stalin's Death, the Cold War goes on... 

24  The Soviet Union and the Popular Democracies after Stalin. Hitchcock: 193-220; Hoskings: 326-362.

26  Western Europe from the 1960's to the 1970's. Hitchcock: 221-268.

31  From 1968 to the 1970's: Social Movements and Conflict in Western Europe.

April

2    The Eastern Bloc to 1980. Hitchcock: 288-310, Hosking: 363-445.

7    Democratization in Spain, Portugal and Greece. Hitchcock 269-287.

9    Crisis and recovery in Western Europe. M: 327-340.

14  A new model of capitalism for the 1980's? Thatcherism. Hitchcock: 311-341.

16 The Soviet Union between Stagnation and Reforms: from Brezhnev to Gorbachev Hitchcock: 347-358; M: 361-380; Hosking: 445-501

21  The Eastern European Revolutions and the end of the Soviet Union. Hitchcock: 359-379; M: 380-388; Hosking: 445-501.

23  The Breakdown of Yugoslavia. Hitchcok: 380-409.

28  The political and social balance in Western Europe: stability, immigration, religion and difference. Hitchcock: 410-434; M: 389-403.

30  What is in store for the European Union? Hitchcock: 435-474.