INTERNATIONAL HISTORY

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 to 20th and 21st centuries. To the extent that it conveys a set of notions, it contributes to providing 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.

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 in the 20th and 21st centuries;
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 deals with the history of international relations of the 20th and 21st centuries. While the suggested reference textbook (see below) presents the relevant events in mainly chronological order, the lessons will deal with some of the same events on an essentially thematic basis, with an emphasis first on US-Soviet relations and the on US-Russia relations. Specific attention will be given, during the lessons, to provide instructions on how to deal with the autonomous study of the proposed monographic texts. A detailed program of the lessons will be illustrated in class and uploaded to moodle at the start of the course.

RECOMMENDED READINGS:
1) G. Formigoni, Storia della politica internazionale nell'età contemporanea, Il Mulino, 2018, chap. 4-7 (can be substituted with a comparable textbook, after discussing the matter with the teacher);
2) the classnotes;
3) the materials uploaded by the teacher on moodle (slides, videos, documents, etc.);
4) at least one of the volumes listed under the heading "Monographs for choice" (see list below).

Students who cannot attend the class on a regular basis should prepare the exam on:
1) G. Formigoni, Storia della politica internazionale nell'età contemporanea, Il Mulino, 2018 (can be substituted with a comparable textbook, after discussing the matter with the teacher);
2) E. Di Nolfo, Storia delle relazioni internazionali, Vol. 3: Dalla fine della Guerra Fredda a oggi, Laterza, 2016;
2) the material uploaded by the professor on Moodle (slides, videos, documents, etc.);
3) at least one of the volumes listed under the heading "Monographs for choice" below.

Monographs for choice:
Michael Brenes, For Might and Right. Cold War Spending and the Remaking of American Democracy, Boston, University of Massachusetts Press, 2020
Guido Formigoni, Storia d'Italia nella Guerra Fredda, 1943-78, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016
Kristen Ghodsee, Second World, Second Sex. Socialist Women's Activism and Global Solidarity during the Cold War, Durham, Duke University Press, 2019
Simon Miles, Engaging the Evil Empire. Washington, Moscow, and the Beginning of the End of the Cold War, Ithaca, Cornell University Press, 2020
Oscar Sanchez-Sibony, Red Globalization. The Political Economy of the Soviet Cold War from Stalin to Khrushchev, Cambridge UK, Cambridge University Press, 2014
Fritz Bartel, The Triumph of Broken Promises. The End of the Cold War and the Rise of Neoliberalism, Cambridge USA, Harvard University Press, 2022

SUGGESTED READINGS:
Our interest in the past changes with time and often depends on present-day questions. Keep an eye on magazines such as Le Monde Diplomatique, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and, possibly, on at least two or three international newspapers.

The learning assessment consists of a final oral test of approximately 45 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:
- Test the acquisition of notions related to the general program (events, actors, processes, concepts) from 1918 to 1960 and the ability to communicate them clearly and accurately.
- Test the acquisition of notions related to the general program (events, actors, processes, concepts) from 1960 to the present and the ability to communicate them with clarity and accuracy.
- Verify the ability to read the chosen monograph, place its contents in the historical frame of reference, make use of the interpretive tools acquired from the general program, and express critical opinions on the subject of the monograph.

As an alternative to the above, it is possible to replace the two questions on the general program by actively and constructively participating in class discussions and a series of multiple-choice tests via Moodle during class time. In-class interventions will be worth about 15% of the final grade. At least 4 out of the 5 scheduled tests should be taken, and the average of the best 4 results will help determine about 25% of the final grade. For those who will follow this course, the oral test will last about 15 minutes, count for another 60 percent or so of the final grade and will be limited to discussion of the monograph, so as to test the ability to read it independently, to place its contents in the appropriate historical framework, to make use of the interpretive tools acquired from the general program, and to express critical opinions on the subject of the monograph. It is understood that you can always still take the "long" oral test, as per the directions above.

Lectures and individual study of recommended readings and of the material uploaded on moodle by the teacher. The lectures are mainly frontal lectures, with use of slides and multimedia material. During each meeting, adequate time will be dedicated to the discussion of the topics at issue, with active participation by the students.

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.

Students with disabilities can contact the Disability and Accessibility Office (disabilita@unive.it) to take advantage of the services available (e.g. alternative examination methods, readers, etc.).

oral