Instructional goals
The course is based on a multidisciplinary approach. It combines element of History of International Relations with history of international institutions. The objective is provide students to understand the origins of the deep changes experienced at global level after the end of the Cold War. in order to reach this goal we will start analyzing the internal balance of power along the entire period of the Cold War in order to provide the students to obtain the key to understand the origin and the role of the present day actors of the international environment
Prerequisites
to have a basic knoledge of Contemporary history at global level.
Intended learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding:
By the end of the course students will be able to understand both the origin of the current global balance of power and the different role played by the new political leadership in the international scenario.
Applying Knowledge and understanding:
students will be able to use what the learned along this course by carrying out research both for academic and professional purposes. in details they can draft and prepare policy papers for policy makers, journalists and they can provide analysis of areas of crisis for think tanks around the world.
Making judgements
the course will use a critical approach to the sources and will engage critical discussion in class of the reading and topics analyzed during the lessons.
Communication skills
In order to increase their communication skills students will be asked to contribute to the debate held in class, to present teams works along the entire period of the course and to expose them in presence in front of their colleagues. by doing so, and by answering to the questions raised they will surely improve their communication skills and they also will learn to be reactive to the challenge posed by the audience.
Learning skills
Better capacity to design and develop research work related to the field of International Relations.
Course Contents
the course will be divided into two parts. the first one will be dedicated to the study of the international order determined by end of the Second World War and the outbreak, consolidation and crisis of the Cold War period (1945-89). we will depict the international relations from the militarized bipolarization to end of the Detente and its major consequences.
the second part will be dedicated to the evolution of the building, stabilization and crisis of the model of democracy in Western Europe.
Reference Books
Odd Arne Westad, The Cold War, a World History. Allen Lane, Penguin, 2017;
Marin Conway, Western Europe's Democratic age 1945-1968, Princeton University Press, 2020;
Paul Betts, Ruin and Renewal, Profile Books, 2020 ( some selected chapters)
Teaching Methods
Traditional lectures, team works and book discussions in class and seminars with experts.
Assessment Method
The students will be evaluated for their team works oral presentation in class (35%); written individual paper (35%) and oral exam at the end of the course on the entire programme (30%).
Thesis assignment criteria
the assignment criteria for the thesis is to obtain at least 27 out of 30 as final mark. Participation in the debate held in class will be an added value to show the interest raised by subject.
Week 1 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
week 1 on line: introduction to the goals and teaching methods of the course and the outbreak of the Cold War and the division of Germany.
Week 1 on campus: from the sovietization of eastern Europe to destalinization process.
Week 2 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
week 2 on line: Foreign policy guidelines of American administration from the late Forties to the Sixties; week 2 on campus. the outbreak of the Cold War and the western European reaction
Week 3 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
week 3 on line: USA and URSS foreign policy guidelines from the Sixties to mid Seventies;
week 3 on campus: 4 team works based on the discussion of chapters (1-7) of the book "A failed empire" by V. Zubok
Week 4 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
week 4 on line: the Detente at bipolar level and at european with a focus on in the Mediterranean area main consequences; week 4 on campus: 3 team works based on the discussion of chapters (1-9) of the book We now Know. Rethinking Cold War History di J. Lewis Gaddis.
Week 5 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
week 5 on line: the main evolution of the bipolar order from Detente to the ascent of Gorbachev and Reagan;
week 5 on campus: 3 team works based on A failed empire ( chapters 8-10) and Reinterpreting the end of the Cold War ( chapter ( 7-12) S. Pons and F. Romero ( edited by)
Week 6 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
week 6 on line:
German reunification and the collapse of soviet union;
week 6 on campus movie and videos on the end of soviet communism in eastern europe
Week 7 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
week 7 on line:
The Construction of a Post- War Democratic order in Western European countries;
week 7 on campus : team works on Italy, France, Germany, UK, Spain and Portugal after WW II. A case study selection for each team.
Week 8 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
week 8 on line :
The new model of democracy emerged after the WW II.
week 8 on campus : team works on the stabilization of the democratic age and international influences
Week 9 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
week 9 on line:
the dialectic of Christian Democrat and socialist political families;
week 9
on campus: team works on the political families and parties inside the major European countries.
Week 10 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
week 10 on line:
State power, class, Gender and consumption of Democracy;
week 10 on campus: team works on class, gender and consumption of democracy in Western Europe.
Week 11 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
Week 11 on line:
contestation and crisis of the post war model.
Has something gone wrong?
week 11 on campus: team works on the 68, in Eastern and Western Europe
Week 12 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus
Week 12 on line:
the evolution during the Seventies
week 12 on campus : team works on case studies during the Seventies