INTERNATIONAL HISTORY

This course provides a basic understanding of the history of international relations, with an emphasis on the events, actors, processes, concepts, and research methods related to the second half of the 20th century. By conveying a set of concepts, the course helps students gain a firm grasp of the main themes in the history of international relations, with particular attention to the dynamics of interaction between the United States and the Soviet Union, the respective relationships of the United States and the Soviet Union with Western Europe, Japan, and the “Third World,” and the processes of decolonization and “globalization” in the second half of the 20th century. By focusing on the methodological aspects of historical research, the course provides the foundation for independently analyzing international events and processes and for developing well-founded arguments about them, beyond the specific subject matter of the course itself. By emphasizing the definition of the concepts used, the course enables students to become familiar with their own communication skills and to develop appropriate specialized language. Overall, it contributes to the acquisition of historical knowledge and skills within the Bachelor’s Degree Program in Languages, Civilizations, and Linguistic Sciences.

By the end of the course, students should have acquired:
a) a solid understanding of the major events, actors, and processes in 20th-century international relations, as well as the historiographical debates surrounding them;
b) an understanding of the methodological foundations of the history of international relations;
c) the ability to form critical judgments on the topics covered in the course;
d) the ability to communicate their knowledge effectively using appropriate specialized terminology;
e) the ability to independently pursue further study in the field of international history.

Basic knowledge of modern and contemporary history as from High School programs. It is useful, though not necessary to have taken at least another BA-level course in contemporary history. A deep interest for the subject and a serious approach to the lessons and the reading materials are not formal requirements, but usually help.

The course covers the history of international relations in the 20th and 21st centuries at a basic level, with in-depth analysis of specific topics. An indicative list of topics includes: The end of World War I and the Versailles Conference; From the 1929 crisis to World War II; Postwar plans; The breakdown of the Grand Alliance and the creation of “blocs”; Stabilization of the blocs, the crisis of Western colonialism; Challenges to the global order and bipolar détente; The “Great Détente” and its limits; The Third World in the 1970s; International political economy amid crisis and transformation; The “Second Cold War”; The end of the Soviet bloc and the U.S. “unipolar” era; The peak and crisis of “neoliberal globalization”; Past and Present: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict; Past and Present: The Russia-Ukraine War. During the lectures, specific attention will be given to providing guidance on how to approach independent study of the textbook and other recommended readings. A detailed course syllabus will be presented in class and uploaded to Moodle at the beginning of the course.

1) G. Formigoni, Storia della politica internazionale in età contemporanea, Bologna, il Mulino, 2018, Chapters 5–7 (may be replaced by a comparable text, subject to discussion with the instructor)
2) Lecture slides uploaded by the instructor on Moodle (Note: any materials linked to in the slides are also required reading)
3) A selection of primary sources uploaded by the instructor on Moodle

Note: The texts and other materials listed above are, in my opinion, the most appropriate resources for preparing for the exam. This does not mean that you cannot pass the exam by studying alternative texts (because you already have them at home, because they seem clearer to you, etc.). If so, feel free to share your suggestions with me, and I’ll be happy to give you my opinion on them. In any case, the texts and other materials have to be studied (at a leisurely pace, taking notes, reviewing what you have read, memorizing relevant dates and names, and, if possible, discussing the more complex issues with fellow students and the instructor, etc.). Simply skimming through them is not recommended (and it is even less advisable to rely on any summaries of my course that may be circulating online). D.B.

Learning assessment will take the form of a final oral exam lasting approximately 20 minutes, which will evaluate the acquisition of the knowledge and skills associated with the course through three main questions. Specifically, the three questions will aim to:
1) Assess knowledge of the contents of Formigoni’s textbook and the slides (events, actors, processes, their interconnections, and related historiographical debates), as well as the ability to contextualize specific events and processes within broader contexts and to articulate what has been learned with clarity and precision.
2) Assess the acquisition of the methodological foundations of international history, as well as the ability to develop, with clarity and precision, critical assessments of the issues raised by the selection of primary sources provided in the course.
3) Assess the ability to independently apply what has been learned to recent and contemporary international issues.

The first question accounts for approximately 50% of the final grade, the second for approximately 30%, and the third for approximately 20%.

Note: During the semester, three optional tests will be administered via Moodle during class time. Everyone is welcome to take the tests from any location (classroom, home, vaporetto, etc.). The tests are for self-assessment purposes and will receive feedback from the instructor. Students who wish to do so may, however, use the average of the scores from their two best tests toward their final grade, in place of the first question. It is understood that students who do not consider the average score obtained in this manner to be satisfactory may always take the full oral exam, as indicated above.

oral

The instructor is responsible for ensuring the authenticity and originality of all examinations and coursework. In cases of suspected academic misconduct, an additional on-site assessment may be required during the exams, which may differ from the standard format.

30L / 30: Comprehensive knowledge of the textbook and slides. Full mastery of methodology and critical analysis of sources. Independent and brilliant ability to place the most recent international issues in their historical context. Impeccable use of specialized language.
29 - 27: Solid and well-structured knowledge. Good ability to contextualize and correctly analyze primary sources. Accurate critical assessments and connections to current events. Confident command of language.
26–24: Good knowledge, but primarily rote. Ability to synthesize and analyze sources is not sufficiently in-depth. Connections to current events are accurate but lack independence. Language is at times generic.
23–21: Knowledge limited to general aspects, with gaps or inaccuracies. Analysis of sources is non-specific, with a generic contextualization. Critical and expository skills are uncertain.
20–18: Minimal, fragmented knowledge limited to basic concepts. Limited ability to contextualize and analyze sources. Colloquial language and difficulty in presentation.
< 18 (Insufficient): Serious gaps in knowledge and conceptual misunderstandings. Failure to grasp the methodology. Confused presentation lacking even basic specialized terminology.

Independent study of the recommended readings and the materials uploaded to Moodle by the instructor. Classroom sessions, conducted using slides and multimedia materials, are designed to reinforce knowledge and critical and methodological skills, including through interactive classroom discussions of the course’s main themes, their interpretations, and possible implications. Although attendance is not mandatory for this course, it is strongly encouraged. Specific audio/video materials to support student learning will be made available on Moodle for students with registration code “701.”

Students enrolled in the course may find information about extracurricular activities (seminars, conferences, etc.) posted on the "Bacheca RIC" on Moodle to be of interest: https://moodle.unive.it/course/view.php?id=13200 .
The teacher is easily available for questions concerning the course at his office hours and by email at duccio.basosi@unive.it. Emails have to be written in a formal style and should not ask questions whose answer can be found in the information contained in this syllabus. The teacher will not reply to message which do not conform to the rules above.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "International cooperation" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development