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- and 21st-century international relations, as well as the historiographical debates surrounding them;
b) knowledge of the methodological foundations of international history;
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.

This course provides an introductory overview of the history of international relations in the 20th and 21st centuries, with in-depth analyses of specific topics. An indicative list of topics covered 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 the “blocs”; The stabilization of the blocs and the crisis of Western colonialism; Challenges to the global order, bipolar détente, and the limits of détente; International political economy amid crisis and transformation; The “Second Cold War”; The end of the Soviet bloc and the U.S.-led “unipolar” era; The peak and crisis of “neoliberal globalization”; Past and present: the war between Russia and Ukraine, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran. During the lectures, particular attention will be given to providing guidance on how to approach independent study of the textbook and other recommended readings. A detailed 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 4–7 (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 the instructor’s opinion, the best ones for preparing for the exam. This does not mean, however, that you cannot pass the exam by studying alternative texts, provided you discuss this with the instructor first. In any case, the texts and other materials must be studied (i.e., read carefully, taking notes, reviewing what has been 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 relying on any course summaries circulating online is even less advisable).

Learning assessment takes the form of a final oral exam lasting approximately 20 minutes, which will evaluate the acquisition of knowledge and skills associated with the course through three main questions. Specifically, two questions will assess students’ knowledge of events, figures, and processes in 20th-century international history, as well as their ability to properly contextualize specific events and processes, to correctly use primary sources for argumentative purposes, and to convey what they have learned clearly and accurately. The third question will assess students’ ability to place recent international events in a historical context based on the knowledge acquired in the course. The first and second questions each account for 40% of the final grade, and the third accounts for 20% (provided that all three are at least satisfactory).

Note #1: During the semester, three optional tests will be administered via Moodle, consisting of short written responses to specific open-ended questions. The tests will be made available during the first twenty minutes of specific classes (see below for the schedule). Everyone is welcome to take the tests (from the classroom, from home, on the vaporetto, or from any other location). The tests are intended for self-assessment, and students will receive feedback from the instructor. Students who wish to do so may have the average of their scores on their two best tests (provided both are at least passing) count toward their final grade, in lieu of the first two questions of the oral exam (see above). 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.

Note #2: The instructor is responsible for ensuring that the rules regarding the authenticity and originality of exam materials are followed. Consequently, in cases where there is suspicion of irregularities in the ongoing tests, the exam may include a further assessment—conducted concurrently with the oral exam—which may be carried out in a different format than those described above.

Note #3: During the semester, we will also address some issues related to the responsible use of AI tools for studying. The University’s guidelines for the responsible use of AI tools can be found here: https://www.unive.it/web/it/18258/intelligenza-artificiale-ai .

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