Lecture Course Santa Reparata International School of Art Course Syllabus Semester Course Course Title: History of Contemporary Italy: Literature, Cinema, Politics and Culture SRISA Course Number: POLI 3102 Maryville Course Number: PSCI 370 Credits: 3, Contact Hours: 45 1. COURSE DESCRIPTION In this course students will study the history of Contemporary Italy from WWII (the 1940’s and the birth of the Italian Republic) and continue on through to the development and the radical change of the country during the 1960’s, the long Anni Settanta and the so called “years of lead”, contemporary Italian politics up through most 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 women in Italian society. 2. CONTENT INTRODUCTION This course introduces students to the history and politics of contemporary Italy from the time of WWII to the present. The course is divided into five parts, with the first part focusing on the transformation of the country and its eventual industrialization. We will study the reconstruction and economic boom of the 1950s and 1960s, social post-war conflict, and the year 1968 - with the student and worker protests - and the final changing of Italian social geography. Great importance will be given to internal migration, from south to north and to the development of the Mafia. The second part of the course focuses on the history of the 1970s, later called the “Years of Lead”, because of terrorist escalation culminating with the assassination of MP Aldo Moro in May 1978 by the Red Brigades. The third part of the course focuses on the 1980s, the economic consecration of Italy between the world’s big countries, and the progressive de-industrialization. The fourth part is devoted to under- standing the present. We travel through the establishment of the European Union and the birth of the new currency: the Euro. We investigate Italian politics of the 1990s; the political earthquake that goes under the name of Tangentopoli; and the terrorist strategy of the Mafia at the beginning of the decade (bombs in Florence, Rome and Milan and the assassination of Judges G. Falcone and P. Borsellino) until the rise and the final affirmation of Silvio Berlusconi and Berlusconismo, the Government of Mario Monti (2011); the political elections of February 2013 and the latest events that have lead Matteo Renzi in power in 2014. The fifth and final part is devoted to the evolution of the current Italian society and politics, the eco- nomic crisis and the end of the so-called "Second Republic". The course is organized along a chron- ological and inter-related thematic sequence. The lectures will be organized in order to always provide a historical introduction to the topics addressed, followed by a lecture given by specialists on the subject. There will be many guest lecturers: scholars who will allow us to delve deeply into the themes. We dedicate an abundance of space to fashion, design, fine arts, music, literature and film, without ever losing sight of a basic concept: Italy is easier to be loved than to be understood. The goal of this course is to accomplish both. There will also be an in-depth analysis of the political crisis and trans- formation of the Italian democratic system today. 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 idealiza- tions of the concept of Italy, its role during the 20th century in particular, as well as its current signifi- cance. 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 century and the beginning of this one. 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 contemporary 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 arran- ged 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: Long- man, 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. 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 follow- ing 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.