IREb1004 Contemporary History of Europe

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2022
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Vít Hloušek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Romana Burianová (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Lenka Martínková (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Vít Hloušek, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Wed 12:00–13:40 AVC
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! IRE104 Contemporary History of Europe && !NOW( IRE104 Contemporary History of Europe )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course aims at introduction into political, societal, and economic history of 20th century Europe. The main goal of the course within the pre-graduate program is to set a sound knowledge base for following course on European contemporary politics in general and European Integration in particular. The course consists of twelve topics that cover European history from the First World War to the break-up of Soviet rule in Central and Eastern Europe. Main attention is paid to political history of Europe after the Second World War and the course offers balanced focus both on development of Western liberal democracies and East-Central European communist countries. The concept of the course combines traditional approach of political history aimed at presentation of key historical events with social-sciences-based comparative assessment of long- and medium-term processes of economic and social history.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the history of Europe in the 20th century.
Understand relations among political, economic, and social historical processes.
Compare trajectories of political development of Post-War Western and East-Central Europe.
Evaluate impact of 20th century historical developments on present European politics.
Analyse secondary historical sources.
Demonstrate academic writing skills.
Demonstrate oral presentation skills.
Syllabus
  • 1) What is Europe and what is contemporary history
  • 2) European way to modernity
  • 3) Ups and downs of European politics in the period between two World Wars
  • 4) Totalitarianism and the Second World War
  • 5) „Zero Hour“ and the Division of Europe
  • 6) Post-war in Western Europe
  • 7) Emerging socialist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe
  • 8) Western Europe in the period of troubles (1968-1978)
  • 9) Crises of socialist regimes before and after 1968
  • 10) Emerging neo-liberal Western Europe
  • 11) Transition to democracy in Central and Eastern Europe
Literature
    required literature
  • ROTHSCHILD, Joseph. Return to diversity : a political history of East Central Europe since World War II. Edited by Nancy M. Wingfield. 4th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008, xii, 274. ISBN 9780195334753. info
  • WEGS, J. Robert and Robert LADRECH. Europe since 1945 : a concise history. 5th ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2006, xvi, 343. ISBN 1403917906. info
  • JUDT, Tony. Postwar : a history of Europe since 1945. 1st pub. New York: Penguin Press, 2005, xv, 878. ISBN 1594200653. info
  • MAZOWER, Mark. Dark continent : Europe's twentieth century. First Vintage Books edition. New York: Vintage Books, a division of Random House, Inc., 2000, xvi, 487. ISBN 067975704X. info
  • DAVIES, Norman. Europe : a history. Repr. with corr. London: Pimlico, 1997, xix, 1365. ISBN 0712666338. info
Teaching methods
The course combines front-line teaching with the individual presentations of the students.
Assessment methods
The final grade consists of a written exam test (50 per cent), a class presentation (15 per cent) and a term paper (35 per cent).
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2021, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2022, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2022/IREb1004