DHIS 22A02 - Ideologies in Action: Communism, Fascism, Antifascism

This course is designed to cast light on the role of key ideologies in the shaping of European societies and cultures in the first half of the twentieth century. Democracy, socialism, communism, fascism and antifascism will be identified as crucial determinants of European history up to the end of World War II - and closely studied. After a thorough investigation of the interplay between the rise of fascism and antifascism in the interwar period, we will subsequently address the Spanish Civil War and World War II, in particular the emergence of powerful resistance movements, which intensified this standoff between hostile ideologies. Throughout this course, we will investigate the role of ideology in its interaction between theory and practice and we will consistently employ a transnational approach. [Please note that there are no separate sessions devoted to the Russian Revolution, which played an inordinate role in determining the contours of the three subsequent decades. As all students will also be enrolled in the course on the History of Contemporary Worlds, and as I will devote some detailed attention to the evolution of the Russian Revolution towards the beginning of that introductory course, I wish to avoid duplication. This will require that all students enrolled in Ideologies in Action will be present for the relevant lectures in History of Contemporary Worlds.] Emphasis will be placed on class discussion during the twelve sessions of this course. It is thus indispensable that student will have read the materials indicated for each week by the time the class will meet. Please bring the texts along to class for easy reference to select passages.

Gerd-Rainer HORN

Séminaire

English

Spring 2024-2025

To validate the course, the student is expected to pass the following assignments: - one 1hr in-class test: 50% (11 March) - one 2.000 words Research Paper: 50% (15 April) Please note that the Research Paper deadline is firm. The Research Paper in paper format to be handed in at class session on 18 April. For every day of delay in delivery of your paper, I will have to subtract one point of the notation scale of 0-20.