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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 Semester 2012
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Wilcox Vanda
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 10:00-11:15
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Co-requisites: EN 110; Recommended: Junior Standing, One previous history course
OFFICE HOURS: MW by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

"Italy from Mussolini to the Crisis of the First Republic" introduces students to a vital period of Italian history, enabling them to better understand today's Italy. All the key developments of the twentieth century are studied, and the course will give students a chance to study both political and social developments in detail. The emergence of Fascism in Italy is a crucial element in understanding twentieth century European and global history, so we will aim to put Italian developments into a wider context and show how influential Italy has been beyond its own borders.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course will introduce students to the dramatic period of Italian history from the end of the First World War up to the end of the twentieth century. The chief focus of the course is on the political developments which have marked the century: the emergence of Fascism and the nature of the fascist regime, Italy's involvement in the Second World War and its recovery afterwards, the post-war political system and its subsequent downfall in the 1990s. We will also examine the social, economic and cultural developments of twentieth century Italy, including issues such as religion, gender, social class, education, and popular culture. Key questions including the development of Italian national identity, the relationship of Italian citizens to the state and the problems of regional inequality will be traced through the semester as a whole.

A class visit will be held on Saturday 10 March to Via Rasella and the Fosse Ardeatine, to learn directly about the experience of Rome during the Second World War.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course students will have a thorough knowledge of modern Italy and will have direct experience of considering and engaging with contrasting interpretations of key historical events in recent Italian history. They will have learned about the distinctive features of Italy in the twentieth century and will have been encouraged to make relevant and appropriate comparisons with their existing historical knowledge. Students will also have a greater understanding of different kinds of historical approach including cultural, economic and social history.

Through class discussion students will improve their skills in orally explaining an argument, while through their two papers they will progressively develop transferable skills in research, interpretation, analysis and writing.

TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Modern Italy (3rd ed)Martin Clark 978-1405823524     
A History of Contemporary Italy P. Ginsborg 978-1403961532     
Liberal and Fascist Italy Liberal and Fascist Italy A. Lyttelton 978-0198731986     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Final ExamA final exam will be scheduled during Finals Week (28 April - 4 May).30%
Mid-Term ExamAn in-class mid-term exam will be held on Monday 5 March 2012.20%
2 x Research paperStudents will write two research papers, each 2000 words long, on topics chosen independently and approved by the professor. Full details will be given in class.<br /> <br /> Paper 1 - covering the period 1914-1945 - due 17 February.<br /> Paper 2 - covering the period 1945-2000 - due 13 April.20% each, 40% in total
Class ParticipationThis is not an attendance grade but requires active participation in class discussions: asking questions, offering responses and showing evidence of having completed the assigned readings.10%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:

Assessment Guidelines for assigning main letter grades: A, B, C,D, and F.

A:  Work of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensiveknowledge 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.

B:  This 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.

C:  This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.

D:  This 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.

F: This 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 at class is mandatory. More than 3 unauthorised absences will cause your final overall grade to be reduced (ie. A- to B+, B+ to B etc). An excused absence requires a doctor's note or official confirmation from the university that you have had an illness, family emergency or legal obligation which prevents you from attending class.

Travel plans, or mistakes in travel plans, are not an acceptable reason for missing class.

Students must sign in on the class attendance sheet at the start of each class. Students arriving more than 10 minutes after the start of class will be recorded as absent. Please be punctual. Attendance records are based on the sign-in sheet so it is your responsibility to make sure you sign it every class.

It is not possible to arrange make-ups for mid-term or final exams. See catalogue for further details.

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

1. Introduction to Italy in the early twentieth century

2. Italy and the First World War

3. The Peace Settlement and the 'Mutilated Victory'

4. The Biennio Rosso: revolutionary socialism and the emergence of Fascism

5. The crisis of the Liberal State and the March on Rome

6. The establishment of dictatorship

7. Totalitarianism: statism in theory and in practice

8. Life in Fascist Italy: gender, the family and social control

9. Fascist culture: art, propaganda and the battle to win consensus

10. The Cult of the Duce: Mussolini and his personality cult (with DVD screening)

11. Imperialism, Militarism and Foreign Policy

12. Fascist Sport 13. Italy at war 1940-43: the 'Parallel War'

14. Italy at war 1943-45: Civil War, Occupation and the Republic of Salò

15. Fascism in context: review & discussion class

16. MID-TERM EXAM

17. Post-war reconstruction & the new republic

18. The Constitution and the 1948 elections

19. Italy and the Cold War: NATO membership and foreign policy

20. The 'economic miracle': Italy and Europe in the 1950s

21. Student radicalism and the protests of 1968

22. Social change: secularization and the women's movement

23. The 'years of lead': terrorism and the 1970s

24. Craxi & the 1980s 25. Organised crime & politics: the mafia and the state

26. The 'Mani Puliti' investigation and the Fall of the First Republic

27. The new republic & the rise of Berlusconi

28. Conclusions and Revision