Learning objectives
The course aim at providing the proper knowledge of the main issues of the contemporary age. Furthermore, the course provides specific tools helpful for carrying on an analysis of the main Italian parties’ political discourse during the Republican period (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 the 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
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Bibliography
All students must study the handbook (Contemporary History):
Giovanni Sabbatucci e Vittorio Vidotto, Il mondo contemporaneo. Dal 1848 a oggi (Roma-Bari: Laterza, ultima edizione).
All students must study one of the following books (Italian History):
Paul Ginsborg, Storia dell’Italia dal dopoguerra ad oggi (Torino: Einaudi, ultima edizione)
Pietro Scoppola, La repubblica dei partiti. Evoluzione e crisi di un sistema politico, 1945-1996 (Bologna: Il Mulino, ultima edizione)
Simona Colarizi, Storia politica della Repubblica. Partiti, movimenti e istituzioni, 1943-2006 (Roma; Bari: Laterza, ultima edizione)
Non attending students must also study one of the following books:
Roberto Biorcio, La rivincita del Nord. La Lega dalla contestazione al governo (Roma-Bari: Laterza, 2010)
Giovanni Orsina, Il berlusconismo nella storia d’Italia (Venezia: Marsilio, 2013)
Stefano Pivato e Marco Pivato, I comunisti sulla luna. L’ultimo mito della Rivoluzione russa (Bologna: il Mulino, 2017)
Girolamo Rossi, Lo scudo crociato. Un simbolo medievale nella comunicazione politica del Novecento (Roma: Armando, 2014)
Anna Tonelli, Falce e tortello. Storia politica e sociale delle feste dell’Unità (1945-2011) (Roma-Bari: Laterza, 2012)
Teaching methods
During the entire course, student are required to participate actively, both individually and collectively, analyzing textual and audiovisual sources (leaders’ speeches, newspaper articles, posters, electoral campaigns.). Some seminars with expert scholars are scheduled.
Assessment methods and criteria
For attending students: The exam will consist of an interview on the issues covered during the lectures + on the Handbook of Contemporary History (Sabbatucci-Vidotto) + on the Handbook of Contemporary Italy (Ginsborg or Scoppola or Colarizi).
For non attending students: The exam will consist of an interview on the Handbook of Contemporary History (Sabbatucci-Vidotto) + on the Handbook of Contemporary Italy (Ginsborg or Scoppola or Colarizi) + on a third book (Biorcio or Orsina or Pivato or Rossi or Tonelli).
Student will be evaluated on their knowledge about events, concepts and expression skills. Final grade is communicated immediately at the end of the exam. Online registration is mandatory.
Other information
Consulting a historical-political atlas is highly recommended.
