Unit information: Communism in Europe in 2012/13

Unit name	Communism in Europe
Unit code	MODL23019
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Allinson
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	none
Co-requisites	none
School/department	School of Modern Languages
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

At the end of the Second World War, Europe gradually became divided between West and East as Communist regimes emerged in Central and Eastern Europe, orchestrated by Stalin’s Soviet Union. In this co-taught unit, combining political, social and cultural history, we shall explore through comparative study how these regimes took and maintained power, the new society they aspired to create, the actual experience of life under them, the nature of opposition to them, the circumstances of their eventual collapse and how they are remembered now. The unit is recommended to anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of twentieth-century European political history, the Cold War, Communism in practice, the Soviet brand of so-called totalitarianism, imperialism and colonialism, the rise and fall of idealism and ideology and aspects of everyday life under dictatorship, from internal oppression to popular culture and the position of women. The unit aims to challenge key preconceptions, reflecting on both the differences between various countries’ experience of state Socialism and the unexpected similarities between East and West in the period. All primary material will be studied in English.

Aims:

• To introduce students to a significant body of knowledge of a complexity appropriate to second year level. The content matter will normally include one or more of the following: literature; social, cultural or political history; linguistics; cultural studies; film, television or other media.

• To facilitate students’ engagement with a body of literature, including secondary literature, texts, including in non-print media, primary sources and ideas as a basis for their own analysis and development. Normally many or most of these sources will be in a language other than English and will enhance the development of their linguistic skills.

• To develop further skills of synthesis, analysis and independent research, building on the skills acquired in units at level C.

• Some options may prepare students for the experience of the Year Abroad.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will have a good understanding of the history of Communism in Central and Eastern Europe from 1945-1991; they will have experienced and applied a variety of historiographical approaches to a variety of primary sources and learned the benefits and limitations of conceptual and comparative approaches to historical periods; they will have learned the benefits of working with students of other cultures, including learning how to tailor presentations to a mixed audience and how to engage with material beyond their narrow area focus.

Teaching Information

Normally one lecture hour and one seminar hour per week across one teaching block (22 contact hours), often with student presentations. In units with a smaller number of students the lecture hour may be replaced by a second seminar or a workshop. Units involving film may require students to view films outside the timetabled contact hours.

Assessment Information

One of the following:

a) A written assignment of 2000 words and a two hour exam (50% each)

b) A written assignment of 2000 words (25%) and a three hour exam (75%)

c) Two written assignments of 2000 words (50% each)

d) One written assignment of 4000 words

e) One oral presentation (25%) and one written assignment of 2500 words (75%)

Reading and References

R.J.Crampton, Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century – And After, Routledge, 1997.

Archie Brown, The Rise and Fall of Communism, Bodley Head, 2009.

Geoffrey Swain, Nigel Swain, Eastern Europe since 1945, Palgrave Macmillan, 2009.

David Priestland, The Red Flag, Penguin, 2010.

Tony Judt, Post-War: A History of Europe since 1945, Vintage, 2010.