Latvian Folklore and Literature Course code: Folk4012 Credit points: 2 ECTS: 3 Course developer: Dr. Raimonds Auskaps Course abstract The course is designed to provide students with the basic background information for reading and analysing Latvian literature. Each author and each work is placed in its historical context. The course follows up the development of Latvian literature starting from its very origins in Latvian folklore, through National Awakening, during the Republic of Latvia between the two world wars, during the Soviet occupation, to contemporary writing. The course consists of lectures and discussions, paying attention to the most significant periods and authors. The students read and discuss the works of Latvian literature translated into English, linking the respective material with Latvian mentality and the concrete historical period. Results During the course, the students are supposed to acquire basic facts about Latvian folklore and literature, develop the skill to analyse works of literature. Course description-general outline 1. The Concept and Subdivision of Folklore. Latvian Poetic Folklore, its Genres. Dainas. 2. Narrative Folklore. Brachylogisms. Latvian Mythology. 3. National Awakening of 19th c. New Latvians. J.Alunāns. Brothers Kaudzīte. “The Time of Land-surveyors”. A.Pumpurs. “Lāčplēsis”. 4. Romantic Poetry of Auseklis. Apsīšu Jēkabs. “Rich Relatives”. Creative work of A.Brigadere. 5. Creative work of R.Blaumanis. Creative work of Aspazija, Creative work of Rainis. 6. Innovative poetry of E.Veidenbaums. Creative work of J.Jaunsudrabiņš. Creative work of J.Poruks. Creative work of V.Plūdons. 7. Creative work of A.Upīts. Fairy-tales of K.Skalbe. E.Virza. “Straumēni”. Stories of J.Ezeriņš. Creative work of A.Grīns. 8. Personality of Z.Mauriņa. Creative work of A.Čaks. Stories and Novels of Z.Skujiņš. Dramaturgy of G.Priede. Creative work of R.Ezera. Creative work of V.Belševica. Creative work of O.Vācietis. Creative wirk of I.Ziedonis. Novels of A.Bels. Creative work of M.Zālīte. Review of Creative work of Young Writers. Requirements for obtaining credit points There are discussions during the course. At the end of the course there is a written examination, in which students analyse a concrete work of Latvian literature. History of European Diplomacy (1914 – 1940) Course code: Vēst3291 Credit points: 2 ECTS: 3 Total Contact Hours: 32 Number of hours for lectures: 24 Number of hours for seminars and practical assignments: 8 Independent study hours: 48 Course developer: prof. Aivars Stranga Course abstract The course deals with the main problems of European diplomacy between the WW I and WW II and with the problems in historiography. Course covers the failed attempts to create security on continent by means of the traditional diplomacy - alliances (France's Eastern Alliances) and by a new diplomacy of the League of Nations, collective security and plans of disarmament. Great attention is devoted to the Foreign Policy and Diplomacy of Germany, France and Great Britain, as well as to the great diplomats of the era: G. Streseman, A. Briand. E. Herriot, Ostin and Nevil Chamberlains. The Foreign policy of Russian (SSSR) and Poland receives its due, too. Learning outcomes After the course students could more professionally evaluate many problems in nowadays international relations, especially, great historical and territorial changes which took place in Central and Eastern Europe after Molotov - Ribbentrop Pact of August 1939; for example - it will be more easy to them to understand the relations between Moldova and Rumania today, as well as historical destiny of the Baltic States an active discussions in Europe about the common features between nazism and communism. The analysis of A. Briand's plans of European Union (1930) would serve for the better understanding of the history of EU. A great attention will be devoted to the role of personalities in history (for example, could the great Gustav Streseman save Weimar Republic and peace in Europe unless his premature death in October 1929?). Course plan 1. Diplomacy during the end of the WWI. Paris Peace conference. 1919. (L2) 2. The Peace treaties: content, analysis. (S2) 3. France's Quest for security: alliances with Belgium, Poland, .Chehoslovakia; treaties of friendship with Rumania and Yugoslavia. 1920 - 1926. (L2) 4 The failed attempts to reform the League of Nations. The failure of Geneva protocol (1924). (L2) 5. The aims and the means of the Foreign Policy of the Weimar Germany. The era of Gustav Streseman (1923 - 1929) (L2) 6. The Locarno treaties: analysis. (S2) 7. Diplomacy in Europe on the eve of the world economic crisis. Briand - Cellog pact. Briands plans for the European Union.1939. (L2) 8. A. Hitlers Policy. Pact of The Fourth (1933). The failure of the conference for disarmament. (L2) 9. “Eastern Pact'': variants, contents, failure: 1934 - 36. (S2) 10. UK policy on the european security. 1934 - 37. (L2) 11. The foreign policy of France - from Barthoy to L. Blum. 1934 - 1938. (L2) 12 The Chehoslovakia crisis. 1938. THe Policy of UK anf FRance. THe Munich conference. (L2) 13 The ''revolution'' in british foreigh policy March, 1939. (S2) 14 British - polish alliance, march - august 1939. (L2) 15The aims of soviet Foreigh Policy in 1939. Relations with Germany. Espionage and foreigh policy . D. C. WAt.'HOw WAr CAme'' (L2) 16. THe Foreigh Policy of GErmany till the end of the July. German - Japanese relations. Soviet - german relations from the end of the JUly till the 19 th of August: the preparation of non - agression pact and a secret protocol with Germany. (L2) Requirements for awarding credit points 1. A participation in class discussions with 2 oral papers - 60 %. 2. Final written exam - a final written paper, a topick of which is chosen in a dialog with professor; 12 - 15 000 points, with a list of literature. - 40 %. Compulsory reading 1. Andersons E. Latvijas vēsture. Ārpolitika.I,II daļa.-Daugava,1982.-1984. 2. Virsis M.,Feldmanis I., Stranga A. Latvijas ārpolitika un starptautiskais stāvoklis 30. gadu otrā puse. - R.,1994. 3. Feldmanis I., Stranga A. The destiny of the Baltic Entente. 1934.-1940. - R., 1994. 4. Latvija Otrajā Pasaules Karā. (1939 - 1945) - Rīga, ''JUmava'', 2008. 4. Henry Kissinger. Diplomacy. - Simon and Schuster, 1994. 5. Norman Davies. Europe. A History. - Oxford, 1996. 6. A.I. P. Taylor. The Origins of the Second WW II. - London, 1964. 7. Ian Kershaw. Hitler. 1889 - 1936. Hubris. - London, 1998. 8. J. Hiden. Republican And Fascist GErmany. 1918 - 1945. - London, 1996. 9. The Baltic And The Outbreak of THe Second World WAr. Ed. by J. Hiden, Th. Lane. - Cambridge, 1992. 10. M. Ilmjarv. Silent Submission. Formation Of Foreigh Policy Of Estonia, Latvia And Lithuania. From Mid – 1920s - To Annexation In 1940 - Stockholm, 2004. 11. Olavi Hovi. The Baltic Area in British Policy. 1918 - 1921. - Helsinki, 1980. 12. Marco Lehti. A Baltic League as a Construct of the New Europe. - Frankfurt am Main, 1998. 13. G. N. NIkoļson. Kak delalsja mir v 1919. g. - Moskva, 1945. 14. Geoffrey Roberts. Russo - German Relations and the Road to War, 1933 - 1941. - London, 1995. 15. Histoire de la diplomatie francaise. II . De 1815 a nos jours. - Paris,2005. Further reading 1. Starptautisko attiecību problēmas. Latvija, Baltija, Eiropa. Profesoram A. Varslavānam 75. Jubilejas rakstu krājums. - LU akādemiskais apgāds, 2005. 2. Alberts Varslavāns. Latvijas Republika starpvalstu attiecību sistēmā. Pirmā desmitgade. 1919 - 1929. - LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2008. Periodicals and other sources 1. Žurnāls ''Latvijas Vēsture'', 1991 - 2010. 2. Latvijas Vēstures Institūta Žurnāls, 1991 - 2010. 3. Britu enciklopēdija. Notes Though course is mainly prepared for the history students, it can atrract the interest of students of economy, too, because its deals with many problems of international economy and trade in 1919 - 1919. The History of Baltic, part II. The End of the 19th century – 2000 Course code: Vēst2106 Credit points: 2 ECTS: 3 Total Contact Hours: 32 Number of hours for lectures: 24 Number of hours for seminars and practical assignments: 8 Independent study hours: 48 Course developer: prof. Aivars Stranga Course abstract The course deals with the main problems of political, economic and cultural history of the Baltic region since the middle of the 19th century - so called National Awakenings, including a lot of material about the period of the independent states (1918 – 40; since 1990). Course deals with the main problems in historiography; the questions of common and different features in the history of Baltic nations, countries and states, with emphasis on relations with great powers (Russia, Germany), as well as the main problems of religious and cultural life, art will be covered. The history of ethnic and religious minorities will receive its due also, especially - the history of Baltic Germans, local polish, Jewish and Russian minorities. Learning outcomes Students will be competent to understand the history of Eastern Europe and integrate this knowledge into more wider understanding of all Europeans history. Course is specially usefull to the students from another continents - USA, China, Japan. During their stay in Latvia they would get a knowledge of i an interesting state, nation and culture. Course plan 1. Introduction into the course. Historiography. (L2) 2. The Baltic Provinces in Russia: cultural, economical and political development. The national movements in Baltic: 1850–1880. (L4) 3. The Revolution of 1905 in Baltics. The specific features in Latvia. (L2) 4. The First World War. German occupation. Collapse of Imperial Russia and Kaiser’s Germany. Latvians, Lithuanians and Estonians in Russian Revolution and Civil War. The Struggle for Independence: 1918–1920. (L4) 5. The Creation of the Independent Baltic States: 1918–1920. (S2) 6. The Independent Baltic States: political, economical and cultural development in 1920–1940. Foreign Policy. (L4) 7. The Destiny of Liberal Democracy. Foreign Policy. (S2) 8. Molotov – Ribbentrop Pact. Soviet Occupation. 1940–1941. (S2) 9. Nazi Occupation: 1941 – 44 (45): Collaboration and Resistance.