Modern Italy SRISA Course Number: HIST 4301 Maryville Course Number: HIST 343 Credits: 3, Contact Hours: 45
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Lecture Course Santa Reparata International School of Art Course Syllabus Semester Course Course Title: The History of Modern Italy SRISA Course Number: HIST 4301 Maryville Course Number: HIST 343 Credits: 3, Contact Hours: 45 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 roll 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. PREREQUISITES As this course is an introduction to modern and contemporary Italian history, there are no special requirements to attend. 4. 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 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. 5. REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS AND MATERIALS • Students are required to keep notes from class. • Students will find assignments and readings, every week, on the SRISA website in the section dedicated to Academic Material (http://www.santareparata.org/restricted/armadillo_prova.php). • Only registered users can access these pages. • At least one of the following textbooks are required, plus another book that can be arranged with the instructor: 1. GINSbORG, P., A History of Contemporary Italy – Society and Politics 1943-1988, London: Penguin, 1990. 2. BLACK, Ch., Early Modern Italy: a Social History, Routledge, New York-London 2009. 3. BOSWORTH, R.J.b., Mussolini’s Italy. Life Under the Fascist Deictatorship, 1915-1945, Penguin 2006. 4. CLARK, M., Modern Italy, 1871 to the Present, Longman 2008 (2rd edition). 5. DE GRAND, A. Italian Fascism. Its Origins and Development, Third Edition, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press, 2000. 6. DOUMANIS, N., Inventing the Nation – Italy, London, Arnold, 2001. 7. FORGACS, D. and LUMLEY, R. (eds.), Italian Cultural Studies – An Introduction, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996. 8. DUGGAN, Ch., A Concise History of Italy, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. 9. GINSbORG, P., Italy and Its Discontents – Family, Civil Society, State 1980-2001, London: Penguin 2001. 10. HAYCRAFT, J., Italian Labyrinth, London, Penguin, 1987. 11. MCCARTHY, P., The Crisis of the Italian State. From the Origins of the Cold War to the Fall of Berlusconi & Beyond, London: Macmillan, 1997. 12. SASSOON, D. Contemporary Italy – Politics, Economy & Society since 1945, London: Longman, 1988. 13. CLARK, M., Modern Italy, 1871-1995, Longman1996. 14. FOOT, J. Modern Italy, Palgrave and MacMillian 2003. 15. J. DICKIE, Cosa Nostra. A history of Sicilian Mafia, Palgrave MacMillian 2005. 16. A.G.D. MARAN, Mafia: Inside the Dark Heart: The Rise and Fall of the Sicilian Mafia, Thomas Dunne 2010. 17. M. B. MIGNONE, Italy Today, Peter Lang 2008. 18. R. SAVIANO, Gomorrah, Ferrar 2007 (all editions are accepted). NOTE: 1. Almost all the textbooks are available in the School’s Library, but not all of them. 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 (see above). 6. 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%) 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 7. PLAGIARISM AND COPYING SRISA severally condemns ignorant plagiarism and copying during examinations. Any student that makes use of words or ideas taken from another person’s work without properly citing credit for the specific purpose of deceiving their professor will receive an automatic “F” on that assignment or exam. Should the offense be repeated, the student will receive an automatic “F” in the class. fair use and copied imagery with their professors before turning in their assignment. 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 5 pages. 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. Absolutely no feet on chairs or other behaviors contrary to the respect of the others will be tolerated. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action. 10. COURSE CALENDAR Lecture I: Introduction • Understanding Italy: From the Unification to Fascism • Italy between WWI and WWII. Fascist Italy __________________________________________________________________________ Lecture II: Italy and Fascism • The Totalitarian State (1920’s) • Building the consensus (1930’s) • Towards the Catastrophe: Italy between 1938-1940 __________________________________________________________________________ Lecture III: WWII: Italy and the War • From the Alliance with Germany to the collapse of Fascism: 1940-1943 th • July 25 1943: Mussolini arrested. It is the end of Fascism, but the war goes on th • September 8 : The armistice and the beginning of the civil war __________________________________________________________________________ Lecture IV: The Resistenza • Partigiani and Repubblichini • The end of the war and the new world equilibrium __________________________________________________________________________ Lecture V: Post war Italy. The difficult reconstruction • The new Constitution • The Elections of 1948 • Christian Democracy vs ICP (Italian Communist Party) __________________________________________________________________________ Lecture VI: The 1950’s. A new deal for Italy • A poor and illiterate Country • Unemployment and Inflation. The situation of Italian workers • City vs Countryside __________________________________________________________________________ Lecture VII: 1955-1965.