SYLLABUS
HSTEU 452
EAST CENTRAL EUROPE SINCE 1918
Professor Felak
Smith Hall, Room 112-B
Office Hours: Wednesday, Noon to 1:00 p.m.
or by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The history of the peoples of East Central Europe (Poles, Czechs, Hungarians, and Slovaks) from the end of the First World War in 1918 to the post-Communist period. Through lectures, readings, and films, we will follow these peoples as they rebuild their countries after World War I, succumb to the dangers of fascism and Nazism, endure the Second World War, are absorbed into Soviet Russia’s empire, resist and ultimately overthrow Communist rule, and face the challenges of integration into the European Union. No background is needed, though a basic familiarity with modern European history is helpful.
COURSE TOPICS:
I-East Central Europe after the First World War
II-East Central Europe in the 1920s
III-Economic, Social and Diplomatic Problems in Interwar East Central Europe
IV-The Great Depression and the Rise of Nazi Germany
V-East Central Europe in the 1930s
VI-The Second World War
VII-The Communist Takeovers
VIII-Stalinism
IX-The Hungarian, Czechoslovak, and Polish Challenges to the Soviet System
X-The Revolutions of 1989
XI-East Central Europe since 1989
BOOKS TO PURCHASE:
Ivan Olbracht, The Sorrowful Eyes of Hannah Karajich
Milan Kundera, The Joke
Vaclav Havel, The Garden Party and Other Plays
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1-first examination (25%)—an essay examination, to be held on Thursday, October 26 in class.
2-a short paper (3 pages) on each of the course readings (10% each)—for each reading there will be a handout that includes both the question or questions to be addressed in the short paper, and the questions to think about in preparation for class discussion. Papers are due at the specified time, to be turned in as e-mail attachments. (Details will be given with the assignment). They are to be typed, double-spaced, with 1.25 inch margins, in a font of 12, in Times New Roman, and should not violate the stipulated length requirement. Points will be taken off for papers that violate any of these stipulations. Moreover, one of the skills this course intends to teach is the capacity to meet deadlines. Therefore, penalties for late papers will be strict. There will be an automatic 0.5 deduction from the grade of any paper not turned in by the specified deadline. An additional 0.5 will be deducted for every succeeding day that the paper is not turned in by Noon. The best papers will be the ones that are the most insightful and demonstrate that you have read and thought about the book.
3-participation in class discussions (15%)—you should attend class faithfully, do the readings beforehand, and participate competently in discussions. We will devote one class session to each of the three books assigned, on which you will be writing short papers. Come to class with at least one comment on each of the questions on the handout. There will also be class discussions on any films shown in class.
4-second examination (30%)—an essay examination, to be held on Thursday, December 7 in class.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Monday, 10/16—Olbracht paper due via e-mail at noon; (discussed on Thursday, 10/19)
Thursday, 10/26—First Examination--in-class
Friday, 11/10—Kundera paper due via e-mail at noon (discussed on Tuesday, 11/14)
Wednesday, 11/22—Havel paper due via e-mail at noon (discussed on Tuesday, 11/28)
Thursday, 12/7—Second Examination--in-class
FOR MORE IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION, SEE THE FILE TITLED "452.GUIDELINES"