EVS428 Politics and society in Western Europe since 1945

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2010
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Vít Hloušek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Markéta Pitrová, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 12:00–13:30 U42
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course aims at detailed analysis of societal, economical, and especially political processes that have accompanied (re-)building of modern mass European democratic politics since 1945. Students will learn in chronological perspective with substantial developmental stages of Western European democracies. Main focus will be put on comparative description and analysis of the most important problem issues dealing with post-war society, politics, and economics. Historically oriented approach will be completed with elements of social-sciences-like analysis. Area differentiations within the Western Europe will be taken in consideration as well. At the end of the course, student should be able to interpret the notion of contemporary history and to explain its internal periodization for Western Europe. Student should be able to compose main trends of economical, societal, and political development. Student should be able as well to compare changes of Western European political systems on the basis of acquired knowledge.
Syllabus
  • 1. Definition of basic notions: contemporary history and Western Europe 2. Rebuilding of democratic politics and society (1945-1948) 3. Western Europe in the shadow of Cold War (1948-1961) 4. Changes of Western European politics and society in the 1960s 5. Birth and development of the welfare state 6. The Year 1968 in Western Europe and its consequences 7. Western Europe between the Oil Shocks 1973-1979 8. Breakdown of authoritarian regimes in Western Europe – Greece, Portugal, and Spain in the 1970s and the 1980s 9. Between nation-state and European integration – Western Europe in the 1980s 10. Towards the undivided Europe – Western Europe in the 1990s 11. Postindustrial society and postmaterial politics – Western Europe in the beginning of the 21st century
Literature
  • JUDT, Tony. Postwar : a history of Europe since 1945. London: Pimlico, 2007, xv, 933. ISBN 9780712665643. info
  • BEREND, T. Iván. An economic history of twentieth-century Europe : economic regimes from laissez-faire to globalization. 1st ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006, xv, 356. ISBN 0521672686. info
  • RIETBERGEN, P. J. A. N. Europe : a cultural history. 2. ed. London: Routledge, 2006, xxxvii, 54. ISBN 0415323592. info
  • WEGS, J. Robert and Robert LADRECH. Europe since 1945 : a concise history. 5th ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2006, xvi, 343. ISBN 1403917906. info
  • WILKINSON, James and H. Stuart HUGHES. Contemporary Europe : a history. 10th ed. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004, xx, 616. ISBN 0131841769. info
  • WINDERS, James A. European culture since 1848 :from modern to postmodern and beyond. 1st pub. New York: Palgrave, 2001, xii, 291 s. ISBN 0-312-22873-2. info
Teaching methods
The form of course combines lectures, students’ own presentation on selected topics, and class discussion oriented to interpretation of the main trends of development. In the same time, as homework, students will actively find relevant primary sources to contemporary Western European history.
Assessment methods
The course is ended with an exam in the form of written text with open questions aimed at composition of main issues of contemporary Western European history. Part of the final evaluation will be evaluation of position papers that will interpret assigned readings and oral presentation in the class. Generally, the student can get 100 points. 60 points are necessary to pass the course successfully.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2010, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2010/EVS428