HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

The course provides students with basic-level knowledge in History of International Relations, with an emphasis on the events, processes, actors, concepts, and methods of inquiry pertaining to the second half of the 20th century. To the extent that it conveys a set of notions, it contributes to provide students with a secure knowledge of the themes of the history of international relations. By putting an emphasis on the historical method of inquiry, the course provides students with the capacity to autonomously analyze events and processes in the international realm, and to develop original and well-founded interpretations about them, beyond the specific object of the course itself. With its attention to the definition of the concepts under consideration, the course provides students with the possibility to become confident with their communication skills in reference to the history of international relations. In general, it contributes to fullfil LCSL's requirements in History.

At the end of the course, students should have acquired:
a) a confident knowledge of the main events, actors, and processes pertaining to the history of international relations, with an emphasis on the second half of the 20th century;
b) a basic knowledge of the main methods of historical investigation;
c) the ability to communicate their knowledge with clarity and precision
d) the ability to formulate autonomous judgments about international affaris on the basis of an adequate historical knowledge;
e) the ability to develop futher their competence in the field of international history in an autonomous way.

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 a specific focus on U.S.-Soviet relations, particularly between 1941 and 1991. Specific attention will be given throughout the lectures to providing instructions on how to approach the textbook and the proposed monograph texts. A detailed syllabus will be explained in class and uploaded on moodle at the beginning of the course.

RECOMMENDED READINGS:
1) G. Formigoni, History of International Politics in the Contemporary Age, il Mulino, 2018, ch. 4-7 (may be substituted by comparable text after discussion with the lecturer);
2) E. Di Nolfo, Prima lezione di Storia delle relazioni internazionali, Laterza, 2006
3) materials uploaded by the lecturer on moodle (slides and multimedia materials);
4) at least one of the following monographs:

Fritz Bartel, The Triumph of Broken Promises. The End of the Cold War and the Rise of Neoliberalism, Cambridge USA, Harvard University Press, 2022
Fabio Bettanin, Stalin e l'Europa. La formazione dell’impero esterno sovietico (1941-1953), Rome, Carocci, 2006
Aaron Donaghy, The Second Cold War: Carter, Reagan, and the Politics of Foreign Policy, Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Press, 2021
Guido Formigoni, Storia d'Italia nella Guerra Fredda, 1943-78, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016
Simon Miles, Engaging the Evil Empire. Washington, Moscow, and the Beginning of the End of the Cold War, Ithaca, Cornell University Press, 2020
Normal Naimark, Stalin and the fate of Europe: the postwar struggle for sovereignty, Cambridge USA, Harvard University Press, 2019
Oscar Sanchez-Sibony, Red Globalization. The Political Economy of the Soviet Cold War from Stalin to Khrushchev, Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Press, 2014

Please note
Those who wish can replace the study of E. Di Nolfo's text in the list above with the study of their own lecture notes.. In addition, our interest in the past changes over time and often depends on questions from the present. It is useful to keep up to date by reading periodicals such as Le Monde Diplomatique, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and possibly, at least two or three international newspapers.

The learning assessment consists of a final oral exam of approximately 30 minutes, which will test the acquisition of knowledge and skills associated with the course through three main questions. Specifically, the three questions will aim to:
- Check the acquisition of the notions related to the general program (events, actors, processes, concepts) and the ability to communicate them clearly and accurately.
- Test the acquisition of notions and knowledge of different interpretations on the major junctures of U.S.-Soviet relations (events, actors, processes, concepts) and the ability to communicate them with clarity and accuracy.
- Test the ability to read the chosen monograph, to place its contents in the historical frame of reference, to make use of the interpretive tools acquired from the general program, and to express critical opinions on the subject of the monograph(s).

As an alternative to the above, you can replace the first question on the general program by participating in a series of tests (multiple-choice and short open-ended questions) via Moodle during regular class time. Five tests will be given in the semester. The average of the grades from the best four tests will count for one-third of the final grade. It is necessary to take at least four tests. It is understood that you can always take the "long" oral test, as per instructions above.

Lectures and individual study of the recommended readings and material uploaded on moodle by the lecturer. Lectures are mainly face-to-face lectures, with use of slides and multimedia materials. In each lecture, adequate space will be devoted to class discussion of the topics covered, with active participation of the class. Although the course does not require mandatory attendance, attendance is strongly encouraged. A dedicated forum and specific materials, as well as specific assessment activities, will be made available on Moodle for students with enrollment code "701".

Italian

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.

oral

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