History of Modern Italy General
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Santa Reparata International School of Art COPYRIGHT © 2010 All rights reserved Course Syllabus Course Title: History of Modern Italy Course Number: EUH 3431 1. COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will study the history of Modern Italy from the Risorgimento and continue on through the development and decline of the liberal Italian state; Mussolini and Italian Fascism; World War II; and post World War II Italy; up through recent historical events. Introduction to major literary, cinematographic and artistic movements are covered as well as social aspects of Italian life including topics such as the Italian political system; the development of the Italian educational system; the roots and influence of the Italian Mafia; and the changing role of the woman in Italian society. 2. CONTENT INTRODUCTION: This course introduces students to the history and politics of modern Italy from the time of its political Unification to the present. The major topics covered throughout the course include the process of political unification in the mid-late 1800s; the birth and growth of Fascism in Italy (1922-1943); the Second World War (1940-45); the workings of governing institutions in the post-war period (1946-48); the role of the Church; political parties and movements; the process of massive industrialization (1950-60’s); political terrorist events (1960-80’s); as well as political corruption and political conspiracy. There will also be an in-depth analysis of the political crisis and transformation of the Italian democratic system in the early 1990s. 3. COURSE RATIONALE : The course is particularly recommended to all those students that want to gain an in-depth knowledge of the contemporary social and political history of Italy. 4. PREREQUISITES: As this course is an introduction to modern and contemporary Italian history, there are no special requirements to attend it. 5. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: This course is intended to provide students – whether they are majors in History, Political Science or whether they have taken only an introductory course – with specific answers to the question "what is Italy?". It is intended to stimulate discussion and critical thinking about representations and idealizations of the concept of Italy, its role during the 20th century in particular, as well as its current significance. Students will develop their awareness and understanding of the major historical and political issues that characterize modern Italy, and they will be able to trace them through the history of the past two centuries. They will also be able to identify the main regional cultural traits and differences. Students should gain a command not only of the "facts" of modern Italian political history; the dates of key events; the importance of major personalities and such, but also come to 1 understand the dynamics involved such as the basic trends of continuity and change; and the cause and effect and the role and influence of regional, national and international events in the Italian historical and political scenario. 6. REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS AND MATERIALS: Textbook necessary for this course are: Course Booklet and DUGGAN, Ch., A Concise History of Italy, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000 (several copies are available at the school library). In alternative, the students can read CLARK, M., Modern Italy, 1871-1995, Longman1996. Aprox.cost of the booklet: € 15 Furthermore, it is required the reading of one of the following books 1) BLACK, Ch., Early Modern Italy: a Social History, Routledge, New York-London 2009. 2) BOSWORTH, R.J.B., Mussolini’s Italy. Life Under the Fascist Deictatorship, 1915-1945, Penguin 2006. 3) CLARK, M., Modern Italy, 1871 to the Present, Longman 2008 (2rd edition). 4) DE GRAND, A. Italian Fascism. Its Origins and Development, Third Edition, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press, 2000. 5) DOUMANIS, N., Inventing the Nation – Italy, London, Arnold, 2001. 6) FORGACS, D. and LUMLEY, R. (eds.), Italian Cultural Studies – An Introduction, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996. 7) GINSBORG, P., A History of Contemporary Italy – Society and Politics 1943-1988, London: Penguin, 1990. 8) GINSBORG, P., Italy and Its Discontents – Family, Civil Society, State 1980-2001, London: Penguin 2001. 9) HAYCRAFT, J., Italian Labyrinth, London, Penguin, 1987. 10) MCCARTHY, P., The Crisis of the Italian State. From the Origins of the Cold War to the Fall of Berlusconi & Beyond, London: Macmillan, 1997. 11) SASSOON, D. Contemporary Italy – Politics, Economy & Society since 1945, London: Longman, 1988. NOTE: 1. Not all of these books are available at the school’s library. Handouts will be given by the instructor at the beginning of class when necessary. 2. Further readings will be required and indicated by the professor in class. 3. A booklet with texts of prominent Italian politicians, writers, poets etc. will be given in class. 7. GRADING POLICY AND EVALUATION PROCEDURES: 20 % Attendance 20 % Class participation 20 % Mid-term test 20% Final Paper 20 % Final exam Following grading system will be observed: A Excellent 4.0 (95% -100%) A- 3.7, (90% to 94%) B+ 3.3 (87% to 89%) B Above Average 3.0 (83% to 86%) B- 2.7 (80% to 82%) C+ 2.3 (77% to 79%) 2 C Average 2.0 (73% to 76%) C- 1.7 (70% to 72%) D Below Average 1.0 (60% to 69%) F Failure 0.0 (59% and below) W Withdrawal 0.0 8. EXAMS There is a Mid-term Test and a Final Exam for this course. No make-ups are allowed for the exams and the dates of the exams CANNOT be changed for any reason. If a student misses the Final exam, the final grade will be an “F”. Mid-term Test (20% of final grade) The exam will last one hour. It will consist of 10 specific essay questions about the assigned readings and the lectures. Final Exam (20 % of final grade) The exam will last one hour. It will consist of 10 specific essay questions about the assigned readings and the lectures. If you need to consult with the instructor on any academic question, it is possible to do so by appointment – this should be set up the week before. Guidelines for Final Paper (20% of final grade) The length of the paper should be a minimum of 8 pages and a maximum of 12. A full bibliography must be included at the end of the paper. Web sites consulted should also be cited. All direct quotations from published sources should be acknowledged in your text immediately following the quotation. This is to avoid any inadvertent plagiarism. All papers should be handed personally to the instructor before the final exam review session. If you need to consult with the instructor on anything relating to the final papers (or indeed on any academic question) it is possible to do so by appointment – this should be set up the week before. In the week preceding exams – both mid-term and finals – ‘Office Hours’ will be held at a time and place to be announced. 9.ATTENDANCE AND BEHAVIOR POLICY: Students may miss up to 2 classes with no penalty to their grade. If you are absent 6 or more times you will receive an “F” on your transcript. • Tardiness: After 10 minutes into class time, students are considered absent. • Students who leave 10 minutes before class time ends will be considered absent. • Excused absences require a doctor’s note or a written note from the Director. • Arriving in class unprepared to work is considered an unexcused absence. • The use of cellular phones is prohibited during class time. • Students are expected to participate in class, act responsibly, and behave properly while on the school premises. Classrooms are to be left in order and clean. Students must take care of equipment and materials and promptly report any damage and/or loss. • No eating or drinking in class. 10. COURSE CALENDAR: Week 1 Introduction – What will this course be about? Italy: a Nation? • Geography of Italy: not an easy deal… • Italy and the Italians: not the same thing Week 2 The Risorgimento and the Creation of the Nation State Required Readings: Ch. Duggan 87-116 (Chapter 4: ‘The emergence of the national question 1789-1849’). 3 D. Forgacs, Italian Cultural Studies, pp. 13-33. The Liberal State. What is the political meaning of liberal, and what the social implication of this conception? Required Readings: Ch. Duggan 143-170 (Chapter 6: ‘The Liberal State and the Social Question 1870- 1900’). Week 3 The first challenge: World War I. The Risorgimento accomplished, at least? Required Readings: M. Clark, 180-201. Ch. Duggan 189-95. N. Doumanis 86-106 (Chapter 5: ‘ Inventing the Italian nation: from the Risorgimento to the Great War’). The Rise of Fascism, the birth of Fascisms Required Readings: Ch. Duggan, 205-239 (Chapter 8: Fascism). Week 4 The Fascist State and the conception of totalitarian State: an Italian invention Europe to the Catastrophe: World War II Required Readings: M. Clark 302-326 P. Ginsborg, A History of Contemporary Italy, pp. 8-38 (Italy at War). Week 5 Resistance Movement and Liberation: a second Risorgimento? Required Readings: Ch Duggan 240-244 (Chapter 9: ‘The Republic’) P. Ginsborg 39-71 The Post War Settlement: Peace Treaty and the New Constitution. Mediterranean Europe and the USA Required Readings: M. Clark 316-26. P. Ginsborg 72-101 (The Post-war settlement) D. Sassoon 15-25 (‘Economic Reconstruction, 1945-1950’) Week 6 More on the collapse of Fascism, WWII and the Italian Republic. Class discussion Screening of the film: “The Night of the Shooting Stars”(1987) or other film on WWII, Resistance Movement or Liberation of Italy. Week 7 Mid-term Review Mid-term Exam Week 8 –BREAK Week 9 Parties and Politics: The 1948 Elections. The first Suffragio universale in Italy Required Readings: P.