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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "HS-RS 345"
COURSE NAME: "Europe since 1945"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2022
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Luca De Caprariis
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 4:30 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisites: One previous history course. Co-requisites: EN 110; Recommended: Junior Standing
OFFICE HOURS:
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. This course will primarily be run as a seminar, based on a discussion of the assigned readings. 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
Dark ContinentMark MazowerVintage9780679757047     
A History of the Soviet UnionPeter KenetzCambridge University Press9781316506233  Ebook  
The Struggle for EuropeWilliam HitchcockAnchor9780385497992     
Student revolt in 1968Ben MercerCambridge University Press9781108484480  Ebook  
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Draft and Final version of the research Paper (12-14 pages)Students will explore a topic appropriate for the course chosen in consultation with me. I will guide you through the processes of preparing a first draft and revising that draft to produce a stronger final paper. You also will present this paper to the rest of the class for discussion. The grade on this assignment will be determined by the strength of your analysis and research, the persuasiveness of your argument (including quality of writing), and the originality of your thought.40%
Historiography and Assessment of primary sources, two four page papersDiscuss an article or a book chapter relevant to one of the issue we analyze during our course Select one or more of the sources we examined during the Semester (primary, secondary, maps) relating to an issue you deem important to the understanding of the course of post WWII European History and write one providing a critical assessment of that question. Y20% each paper
In class participation, presentation of Research Paper 20%

-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 cour
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 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

The Legacy of War.
M: 182-211; Hitchcock: 1-18

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

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

Britain and The Empire
Hitchcock 40-68

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

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

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

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

The Soviet Union and the "Popular Democracies"
Hitchcock: 98-125.

The Soviet Union and the "Popular Democracies"
Hitchcock: 98-125.

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

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

Social Transformation in Western Europe

European culture
Milosz: The Captive Mind

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

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

The Soviet Union and the Popular Democracies after Stalin
Hitchcock: 193-220.

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

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

The Eastern Bloc to 1980
Hitchcock: 288-310.

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

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

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

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

The Eastern European Revolution and the end of the Soviet Union
Hitchcock: 359-379; M: 380-388.

The end of the Cold War: a new world order or conflict and disorder? The Breakdown of Yugoslavia
Hitchcock: 380-409.

Between integration, populism and nationalism: the political and social balance in Europe.
Hitchcock: 410-434; M: 389-403.

Russia after the end of the Soviet Union: Putin and the attempt to reassert Russian power.