SYLLABUS
HSTEU 452
EAST CENTRAL EUROPE SINCE 1918
Professor Felak
Smith Hall, Room 112-B
Office Hours: Wednesday, 1:00 to 2:00 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 2000s. 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
COURSE READINGS::
We will read the following books for the course, in order:
1-Ivan Olbracht, The Sorrowful Eyes of Hannah Karajich—this book is available digitally as a download from the UW Libraries site. To access it, please do the following:
*log into your UW Libraries account
*search for Ivan Olbracht, The Sorrowful Eyes of Hannah Karajich
*it is a bit confusing at this point as the book comes up twice as an EBOOK. It is the second item that you want—click “Online access”
*then click “DeGruyter ebooks”
*then you should see a blue oval in the upper right hand area, which says “Download eBook (PDF)”. Click that and the book should download.
2-Milan Kundera, The Joke—this book should be available at the University Book Store on the Ave
3-Vaclav Havel, The Garden Party and Other Plays—this book should be available at the University Book Store on the Ave; we will be reading three plays from it
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
- first examination (30%)—an essay examination, to be held on Thursday, October 23 during class.
- 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. These will be posted on the course Canvas site under “Assignments.” Papers are due on the specified date at the time noted below. They are to be typed, double-spaced, in a font of 12, in Times New Roman, and should not violate the stipulated length requirement. Late papers will receive a .5 deduction if not turned in by the specified deadline, and additional .5 deductions for each 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.
- participation in class discussions (10%)—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.
- second examination (30%)—an essay examination, to be held on Thursday, December 4 during class.
IMPORTANT DATES:
Monday, 10/13—Olbracht paper due at Noon (discussed on 10/16)
Thursday, 10/23—First examination; Discussion of the film (Katyn)
Friday, 11/14—Kundera paper due at Noon (discussed on 11/18)
Monday, 11/24—Havel paper due at Noon (discussed on 12/2)
Thursday, 12/4—Second examination
[all papers will be due at Noon, via e-mail attachment]