JCU Logo
JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "HS 366"
COURSE NAME: "Italy from Mussolini to the Crisis of the First Republic (1918 to present)"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2026
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Luca De Caprariis
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Co-requisites: EN 110; Recommended: Junior Standing, One previous history course
OFFICE HOURS: T; Th 10:00-11-00 or by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
An in-depth survey of Italian history from the emergence of Fascism to the crisis of the first Republic in the early 1990s. Focus will be on the breakdown of the Liberal system, the emergence and nature of Fascism, and Mussolini’s “New State,” as well as the achievement and weaknesses of the post-war democratic Republic.

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 are expected to come to lectures prepared. Reading assignament should be completed before each class meeting.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Student will develop an understanding of crisis of Italian Liberalism and democracy in the aftermath of World War I, of the origins and nature of the Fascist movement and regime, and of the political, social and economic evolution of the post World War II Republic.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Italian Fascism: Its Origins and DevelopmentAlexander De GrandNebraska 978-0803266223 3rd Edition   
A History of Contemporary Italy: Society and Politics, 1943-1988P. Ginsborg St. Martin's Griffin978-1403961532     
Italy and its DiscontentsPaul GinsborgPalgrave Mcmillan978-1403961525     
The Fascist Revolution in Italy. A Brief History with DocumentsMarla StoneBedford978-0312454159     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Midterm Examinationessay exam: students will answer two essay questions30%
Final Examinationessay exam: students will answer two essay questions35%
PaperStudents will write a 10-12 page paper.30%
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 mis

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

 
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 

Introduction and Overview. Italy and the Great War. The Peace Settlement.

The Post War Crisis. The Socialist Revolutionary Offensive and the Emergence of Fascism. DG: 3-40

The Socialist Revolutionary Offensive and the Emergence of Fascism. II.  Stone, DG: 3-40.

The Breakdown of Liberal Italy: Mussolini’s March on Rome.  Stone, DG: 3-40.

1922-1925 Mussolini as “Constitutional” Prime Minister. Stone; DG 41-57.

 The "Stato Nuovo" (The New State). Stone; DG: 58-77. 

1930-1936: The years of Consensus. The Totalitarian Experiment. Stone; DG: 78-91.

Fascist Foreign Policy. I. 1922-1935. Stone; DG: 92-104.

Fascist Foreign Policy. II. 1935-1938. Stone; DG: 92-119.

The Racial Laws and the Regime’s “Semi-Nazification”. Stone: DG: 92-119

Mussolini” s “Parallel War.” Defeat and Downfall of Fascism. Stone; DG:92-129.

German Invasion and Civil War: The “Kingdom the South”, Resistance and the Fascist Republic of Salò. DG: 130-137; Ginsborg: 8-38

The Birth of the Republic. The 1948 Constitution. Ginsborg: 72-112.

The 1950’s: Italy between recovery and stagnation. Ginsborg: 141-209

1960’s: The “Economic Miracle.” The Socio-Economic transformation of Italy. Ginsborg: 210-297.

Italian Foreign Policy during the Cold War: Nato and European Integration.

The “Southern Question:” The Policies of Stat Intervention and Financing in the South. Ginsborg: 121-140.

Economic Change and Social Mobilization.  Student and Worker Protest: 1968 and 1973. Ginsborg: 298-347.

The Communist Party, the Christian Democrats and the Challenge of Terrorism: the “Historic Compromise” Ginsborg: 348-405.

The 1980's: the crisis of Communism and the rise of Craxi.

Kick -back City,” operation “Clean Hands” and the Collapse of the First Republic

1992-1994: The Emergence of a New Political System?

Berlusconi’s First Try.

The Long Road Towards a New Republic.

Prodi, D’Alema and Amato...  

Berlusconi and Prodi.

A new political system? Between "technocratic" governments and the return of the Right I, II

Conclusions