ECTS:

4

Code:

KE0E38

Cycle / Level:

Undergraduate

Compulsory / Optional:

Optional

Teaching Period:

Spring

Course Content:

It is a course in contemporary political and social history focusing on Europe and the world in relation to Europe. The course discusses the history of the Cold War as well as the period 1989-early 21st century. It is divided into four sections.
The first section deals with the beginnings of the Cold War, from the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Korean War (1953).
The second section focuses on the post-war reconstruction of Europe, the issue of reparations and the reconstruction of the Jewish communities after the Holocaust. It delves into the political, economic and social changes that took place during the 1960s (end of colonialism, economic “miracle”, new social movements, Arab-Israeli conflict).
The third section covers the developments from the 1970s to 1989 (end of the “golden thirties” – economic crisis, fall of communist regimes in Eastern Europe).
The fourth section is shorter but more comprehensive and examines the rise of nationalisms in the 1990s, the change in the European map with the creation of new states, the wars in Yugoslavia, the rise of the far right, questions and prospects for the future of Europe).

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: • To describe and define the historical context of the post-war reconstruction of the European continent, the economic, political, military position in which each European country found itself in order to better understand todays politics and balances. • Recognize the Cold War period as a bipolar system of balance of power that was gradually transformed from 1990 onwards. • Criticize the historiographical readings of the Cold War and 1990 decade. • To study primary historical sources (archives, press, photographs, material and intangible culture, oral testimonies) and to draw conclusions.