Ateneo - UPO

Triumph and Crisis of the European Model: an introduction to European history from 1945 to 2025. This course is meant to be a survey of European history from the end of WWII to the present time. The main focus will be on the reasons for the birth and success of a European model of economic, social and cultural development that has produced a period of peace and prosperity without equal in the history of humanity. The course will then examine the reasons for the crisis of this model, which started from the turning point of 1973-75 and led up to the current situation of uncertainty and to the return of war.

All students will prepare for the exam by reading: 1. Tony Judt, Postwar. A History of Europe Since 1945, London, Penguin, 2005. 2. One monograph of your choice from the two following titles: - Philipp Ther, Europe Since 1989. A History, Princeton, Princeton UP, 2016. - Kiran Klaus Patel, Project Europe. A History, Cambridge, Cambridge UP, 2020.

At a basic level, the aim of the course is to provide students with an overview of the historical evolution of Europe between the end of the Second World War and today and to illustrate the historiographical categories with which this period has been read. The second aim is to provide, through the seminar part, an opportunity to exercise one's research skills and to use the notions learned in the first part of the course in a concrete way by analyzing a national case. At an advanced level, the aim of the course is to provide an in-depth knowledge of the historiographical debate on European history and on the concept of applied history. The aim of the second part of the course is to provide the tools through which students can analyze and understand the most recent contemporary history, even outside the European context.

Knowledge of the main features of modern history is required. For those who have not attended a basic contemporary history course, we suggest reading Lucio Caracciolo and Adriano Roccucci, Contemporary history. From the European world to the world without a centre, Le Monnier-Mondadori, Milan 2017.

The course will consist of frontal lectures: the instructor will illustrate the main topics of European history starting from the post-war period, outlining the process of expansion and later crisis of the European model. The course will be carried out entirely in English.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services- students-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The evaluation will be determined by the following elements: - a general knowledge of concepts and events as a set of notions without a conceptual link between them, with the use of inappropriate language in oral discussion, will be considered sufficient. The only presentation of one's case study without interaction in the seminar part will be considered just enough. Corresponding vote: 18-22 - A more in-depth but not detailed knowledge of concepts and events, with the use of a language generally appropriate to the topic being discussed, will be considered discreet. The interaction in the seminar part with the cases presented by the other participants, making comparisons and references with one's own case study, will be considered discreet. Corresponding vote: 22-26. - An in-depth knowledge, showing a good understanding of the relationships between different phenomena and the ability to use the notions learned autonomously, applying them to different events, will be judged as satisfactory. It will be judged fully satisfactory if the student shows an ability to speak of the texts he has read with independent judgement, enucleating the author's point of view and dialoguing with it in a critical way. The interaction during the seminar part that demonstrates the will to elaborate a general interpretation of the phenomenon including all the case studies will be considered excellent. Corresponding grade: 27-30 cum laude. The seminar and the final exam will be held in English.

The lessons will take place according to the following outline: - Lesson 1: Introduction to the course and practical information. Europe at the end of the Second World War. - Lesson 2: The emergence of the Cold War 1947-1953. - Lesson 3: The European Project from Jean Monnet to De Gaulle. - Lesson 4: The economic boom of the 1950s-1960s. - Lesson 5: A Brief global history of the welfare state. - Lesson 6: The Revolutionary 1960s. - Lesson 7: A Turning Point: The Crises of the 1970s. - Lesson 8: The EEC from The Hague Conference to the Delors Commission. - Lesson 9: Towards the Velvet Revolutions. - Lesson 10: Old and New Rivalries. - Lesson 11: The European Union from Maastricht to Covid. - Lesson 12: The Neoliberalist Transition. - Lesson 13: The Two Waves of Neoliberalism. - Lesson 14: The 2008 Crisis. - Lesson 15: The Russian Empire versus the Ukrainian Nation.

At the basic level: Knowledge and understanding: demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the issues related to the political, social and cultural history of Europe in the second post-war period. Demonstrate knowledge of the fundamental stages of the development of European history with particular reference to European economic and political development and international relations both among European states and with non-European countries. Know the fundamental stages of European political history both in the context of the Cold War and in that of the second hinge age. Applied knowledge and understanding: Demonstrate the ability to understand and discuss issues concerning the European history of the second post-war period with reference to the various historiographical interpretations and their main authors. At the advanced level: Knowledge and understanding: demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the historical development of a country of choice and compare it with the general European interpretative paradigm. Applied knowledge and understanding: demonstrate the ability to use the tools used in the seminar part to analyze the historical development of a country of choice and discuss it by comparing it with other cases studied by the other seminar groups. These learning outcomes are consistent with the provisions of the SUA of the Study Programme, framework A4.b2 (particularly for the Historical Area).