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CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL HISTORY
MICHELE DI DONATO
Academic year2022/23
CourseHISTORICAL STUDIES
Code637MM
Credits6
PeriodSemester 1
LanguageItalian

ModulesAreaTypeHoursTeacher(s)
STORIA INTERNAZIONALE DELL'ETA' CONTEMPORANEAM-STO/04LEZIONI36
MICHELE DI DONATO unimap
Learning outcomes
Knowledge

The course will analyze the international history of the second half of the twentieth century, focusing on the entwinement of three aspects: the Cold War - in its European and global dimensions - decolonization and globalization.

Assessment criteria of knowledge

Although the classes will generally take the form of lectures, active participation by the students is strongly encouraged. "Attending" students will be asked to  write a research paper at the end of the course.

 

Skills

Critical analysis of texts and primary sources. Basic elements of orientation on the key historiographical debates. Final paper. 

Assessment criteria of skills

Paper + oral exam

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of the international history of the 20th century

The only prerequisite for taking this exam is to have taken "Storia Contemporanea"

 

 

Teaching methods

Documents, texts and PowerPoint presentations will be uploaded on the university's e-learning platform. A detailed syllabus of the course will also be uploaded on the university's e-learning platform.

Syllabus

The Global Cold War. The course will critically analyze the international history of the second half of the twentieth century starting from one of its fundamental determinants: the bipolar conflict between the two blocs led by the United States and the Soviet Union. The Cold War, however, will be studied in its intertwining with two other processes, those of decolonization and globalization.


Alongside the relations between the superpowers and their European allies, the course will focus on the impact the Cold War had on a global scale (specific classes will be dedicated to developments involving Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East). In accordance with the most recent historiographical trends, the study of the diplomatic dimension of the bipolar conflict will be integrated with that of its ideological, cultural and economic aspects. Specific attention will be devoted to the role of non-state actors and transnational dynamics.

Bibliography

Textbooks:

 

 Federico Romero, Storia della guerra fredda. L'ultimo conflitto per l'Europa, Einaudi, Torino, 2009

- Odd Arne Westad, La guerra fredda globale: gli Stati Uniti, l'Unione Sovietica e il mondo, Il Saggiatore, Milano, 2013

 

"Attending" students who will have submitted the final paper will then sit for an oral exam based on one of the textbooks (of their choosing). Information on the final paper assignment is available in the syllabus that will be uploaded on the e-learning platform.

In addition to the study of the textbook, "attending" students are invited to refer to the lectures notes and to the PowerPoint presentations provided by the teacher. Further materials, such as articles and primary sources, will be available on the e-learning platform.

 

"Non-attending" students will have to study both the textbooks plus a third book to be chosen among: 

 

- Arnaldo Testi, Il secolo degli Stati Uniti,  Il Mulino, Bologna, 2017 (o edizioni precedenti)

- Silvio Pons, La rivoluzione globale: storia del comunismo internazionale, 1917-1991, Einaudi, Torino, 2012

- Sara Lorenzini, Una strana guerra fredda. Lo sviluppo e le relazioni Nord-Sud, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2017 

 

 

 

Non-attending students info

In addition to the two textbooks, non-attending students will have to read one extra book, choosing from:

 

Arnaldo Testi, Il secolo degli Stati Uniti,  Il Mulino, Bologna, 2017 (o edizioni precedenti)

- Silvio Pons, La rivoluzione globale: storia del comunismo internazionale, 1917-1991, Einaudi, Torino, 2012

- Sara Lorenzini, Una strana guerra fredda. Lo sviluppo e le relazioni Nord-Sud, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2017 

 

Assessment methods

For attending students: paper + oral exam

 

Non-attending students will not be required to write a paper. They will however have to study three books: the two textbooks + one more book to be chosen among the studies by Lorenzini, Pons and Testi.

 

 

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Additional web pages

 

 

Notes

The course will start on Thursday, 22 September 2022

Examination panel:

 

President: Michele Di Donato

Members of the panel: Gian Luca Fruci, Arturo Marzano

 

Substitute panel:

President: Gianluca Fulvetti

Members of the panel: Vinzia Fiorino, Carlotta Ferrara Degli Uberti

Updated: 15/09/2022 11:53