Learning objectives
The course aims at providing a proper knowledge of the main issues of the contemporary age. Furthermore, the course provides specific tools helpful for carrying on analysis of the main Italian parties’ political discourse during the Republican age (through textual and iconographic sources, such as leaders’ speeches, newspaper articles, posters.).
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
The course focuses on the main issues of Contemporary History, from the great transformations of the last thirty years of the Nineteenth Century to the fall of the Soviet system in the Twentieth century. Particular attention is given to the political history of contemporary Italy. In the second part of the course, lectures focus on the history of the Italian political parties and their communication and propaganda, from the Resistance to the end of the Nineties.
Full programme
AA 2019/2020 — GIULIA BASSI
The course is articulated in four parts (60 hours, 3 hours for each lesson)
Part I: History of the contemporary world. The massification of the Society (1848-1914)
Lesson 1. The dawn of contemporary globalization.
Lesson 2. The new mass society.
Lesson 3. The belle époque.
Lesson 4. Nationalism(s) and Imperialism(s).
Part II: History of the contemporary world. The massification of the Politics (1914-1945)
Lesson 5. World War I and the Russian Revolution(s).
Lesson 6. The advent of the Totalitarianism(s).
Lesson 7. Totalitarian Italy: Fascism.
Lesson 8. World War II.
Lesson 9. The age of Holocaust(s).
Part III: History of the contemporary world. Mass Society and “Cold War” (1945-1991)
Lesson 10. The “Militarised Bipolarity” (1945-1955).
Lesson 11. Global antagonism and peaceful coexistence (1956-1967).
Lesson 12. From “bipolar chaos” to the collapse of the USSR (1968-1991).
Lesson 13. Seminar.
Part IV: History of contemporary Italy (1943-2001)
Lesson 14. History and Political Discourse.
Lesson 15. The second Postwar (1943-1948).
Lesson 16. The “centrismo” (1948-1953).
Lesson 17. The end of the “centrismo” (1953-1963).
Lesson 18. The “centro-sinistra” and the “Sessantotto” (1963-1968).
Lesson 19. The Seventies (1969-1979).
Lesson 20. The years between two centuries (1980-2001).
Bibliography
Texts:
- the handbook (Contemporary History): Giovanni Sabbatucci e Vittorio Vidotto, Il mondo contemporaneo (Roma-Bari: Laterza, last edition), until chapter 29 included (Il mondo islamico e lo scontro con l’Occidente)
- the handbook (Italian History): Simona Colarizi, Storia politica della Repubblica. Partiti, movimenti e istituzioni, 1943-2006 (Roma-Bari: Laterza, 2007 and following), from chapter 1 (La transizione dal fascismo alla democrazia 1943-1948) to chapter 7 (La transizione 1994-2001) included
in-depth texts:
- chapters from: Alberto Mario Banti, Le questioni dell'età contemporanea (Roma-Bari: Laterza, 2010 e successive), chapter 12 (Il nazismo e lo sterminio degli ebrei) and chapter 13 (Il totalitarismo)
- the volume: Giulia Bassi, Non è solo questione di classe. Il ‘popolo’ nel discorso del Partito comunista italiano 1921-1991 (Roma: Viella, 2019), chap. 2-3-4-5
Eventually other readings will be indicated during the course and uploaded on the Elly Platform.
Teaching methods
During the entire course, students are required to participate actively, both individually and collectively, analysing textual and audiovisual sources (leaders’ speeches, newspaper articles, posters, electoral campaigns.). Some lectures with expert scholars are scheduled.
Assessment methods and criteria
The exam will consist of a written examination with some open-ended questions (min. 4-5) on the issues covered during the lectures + on the Handbook of Contemporary History (Sabbatucci-Vidotto) + on the Handbook of Contemporary Italy (Colarizi) + the monographic volume (Bassi).
Students will be evaluated on their knowledge about events, concepts and expression skills. From the publication of the final grade, students will have seven days to accept or reject the vote. Online registration is mandatory.
NB: The students who attended during the academic year 2018-2019 (present in the list of frequencies uploaded on Elly) are invited to contact the professor.
Other information
Consulting a historical-political atlas is highly recommended.
