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European Studies 2000
(History/Political Science 2350)
Dr. Steven Wolinetz
Fall, 2003
Europe in the Twentieth Century
This course examines social, economic, and political changes from 1918 to the present, including the collapse of monarchies, the emergence of mass politics, fascism and totalitarianism, World War II, post-war reconstruction and the welfare state, European integration, and Europe in the post-war economic and political order. Emphasis will be on changing patterns of conflict and consensus, and contrasts between pre-world War II and postwar Europe, particularly the circumstances which led to war, upheaval, and the rise of fascism and totalitarianism in the earlier part of the century, and economic prosperity, stable liberal democracy, international security, and economic and political union in the latter part.
The course is organized around two texts. One, Gilbert and Large, The End of the European Era, provides a narrative history of key events in 20th century Europe, while the other, Sakwa and Stevens, Contemporary Europe, provides a thematic overview of European societies, economies, and politics at the end of the 20th century. Although reading these two books simultaneously may seem like a discordant activity, the Sakwa and Stevens volume will provide a device for considering some of the phenomena which lay behind past events. Class lectures, drawing the two books together, are an integral part of the course.
The course will combine lectures and discussion. Lectures form an integral part of the course and will highlight key themes developed in the course. Students are expected to attend class and participate in class discussions. There will be a midterm exam, one short paper monitoring events in one or more European countries, a research paper (8-10 pages in length) and a final exam. Papers are due in class on the dates indicated and late papers will be penalized 5 marks per day. Evaluation will be as follows:
Midterm exam (Tuesday, Oct. 21st ) 20%
Short paper assignment (due Tuesday, Nov. 4th) 10%
Research paper (due Thursday, Nov. 27th ) 30%
Final exam 40%
Textbooks: Felix Gilbert and David Clay Large, The End of the European Era
Richard Sawka and Anne Stevens, Contemporary Europe
Office hours:
My office is SN2031. I will be available for office hours Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-3:30 p.m. Other times by appointment. You can reach me by e-mail at swolin@mun.ca
Reading Assignments
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Week 1 Sept. 9-11 |
Europe on the eve of World War I
Sakwa and Stevens, Contemporary Europe, ch. 1-2 Gilbert and Large, chs. 1-2
Points for discussion:
What was Europe like on the eve of World War I? How were the major countries governed? What were the principal sources of domestic and international conflict? How did it differ from Europe today?
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Week 2 Sept. 16-18 |
World War I and its consequences
Gilbert and Large, chs. 3-4
Points for discussion:
What were the causes of World War I? Why did the war end up as stalemate in the west? How did war affect the economic and political position of Europe? What factors shaped the peace? In what ways did the war and subsequent peace remake the economic and political map of Europe?
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Week 3 Sept. 23-25 |
The interwar period and the rise of fascism
Sakwa and Stevens, ch. 3 Gilbert and Large, chs. 5-6
Points for discussion:
Why was international and domestic political stability difficult to achieve in the interwar period? What factors led to the fascist takeover in Italy and the Nazi seizure of power in Germany? Was the Weimar Republic doomed to failure? In what ways were the Communist regime in the Soviet Union and the Nazi regime in Germany similar to or different from each other? What is the difference between ethnic and civic nationalism? How has the concept and content of nationalism changed over time?
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Week 4 Sept. 30-Oct. 2 |
World War II
Gilbert and Large, chs. 7-8
Points for discussion:
What factors led to World War II? How can the British and French policy of appeasement be explained? How did the course of World War II differ from World War I? What were the German and Allied war aims?
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Weeks 5-6 Oct. 7-16 |
Postwar reconstruction and the postwar settlement
Gilbert and Large, chs. 9-10
Points for discussion:
In what ways did the post World War II reconstruction differ from that which followed World War I? What planning took place during World War II for the postwar world? In what ways did the role of the state in the economy change? How did the cold war shape the reconstruction of Europe? How did Europe’s position in the world change?
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MIDTERM EXAM TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21st
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Week 7 Oct. 21-23 |
The changing shape of European politics
Sawka and Stevens, chs 4 Gilbert and Large, ch. 11
Points for discussion:
What characterizes European social structure? How has it changed over time and how is it different from North American social structure? What are the elements of European modernity? In what ways have capitalism, constitutionalism, rationalization, and individualism shaped European societies?
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Week 8 Oct. 28-30 |
Government and politics
Sawka and Stevens, chs. 5,6 Gilbert and Large, ch. 12
Points for discussion:
What was Eurocommunism? How is Europe governed? And how successfully do elected politicians control the bureaucracy? Who participates in politics and what difference does it make? In what ways is political participation changing? What led to an upsurge of protests in eastern and western Europe in the late 1960s and early 1970s? Were similar factors at work?
SHORT PAPERS DUE TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4TH
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Week 9 Nov. 4-6 |
Uniting Europe?
Sawka and Stevens, ch 7 Gilbert and Large 13
Points for discussion:
What led to the initial establishment of European Community institutions in the 1940s and 1950s? What led to the Single European Act, the Maastricht Treaty, the establishment of the European Union and efforts toward “ever closer union?” Is the European Union a federation? Is it and can it be democratically controlled?
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Week 10 Nov. 13-18 |
The new international order
Sawka and Stevens, ch. 9,10 Gilbert and Large, ch. 14 Robert Kagan, “Power and Weakness” (xerox/reserve)
Points for discussion:
What is Europe’s position in the international economic and political order? Under what circumstances and in what ways is Europe capable of exercising influence in the international system? Is there a common European foreign policy? |
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Week 11 Nov. 20-25 |
Change in Eastern Europe
Sakwa and Stevens, ch. 8 Gilbert and Large, ch. 15;
Points for discussion:
What factors led to the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union and in eastern Europe? Was the reform process itself the cause? What led tot he breakup of the former Soviet Union? Why have transitions been more successful in some parts of eastern and central Europe (e.g. Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic) than in others? What difficulties have Russian and other parts of the former Soviet Union experienced in establishing liberal democracy?
RESEARCH PAPERS DUE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH
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Week 12 Nov. 27-Dec 2 |
Conclusion
Sakwa and Stevens, chs. 11, 12 Gilbert and Large, ch. 16
Points for discussion:
Is there a common European identity or culture? What differences exist between “official Europe,” “pan-Europe,” and “civilizational Europe?” |