GISDepartment of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies

The world we live in is a world of sovereign (nation-)states. It seems as if the states as we know them today have always been there, at least in some form. This course will examine this view and look at the major developments in Western history from the 18th to the 20th century that shaped our modern world:

The emergence of modern states, 1789, the idea of the nation and nationality; the Industrial Revolution; colonisation and imperialism; the idea of 'balance of power'; the onset of mass democracy; and two world wars.

1) Gain an in-depth understanding of the origin of European state-and-nation-building, its impact on the world, and how it still shapes our perceptions today; 2) Identify the major intellectual, economic, and political developments from 1789-1945; 3) understand how 'modernity' and 'modern life' took shape in Western Europe and why; 4) Train your academic writing and speaking skills.

Will be able to gain “DP 1”, “DP 2”, “DP 3”, and “DP 4”.

英語 / English

This course has three components: 1) The main component of the class is a series of lectures. 2) Each class will begin with a discussion part where students will pre-discuss the week's topic. 3) Lastly, at the end of the course, depending on the number of students, you will be asked to sit a final exam or give a brief presentation.

Feedback will be given to each individual student's graded work in writing.

あり / Yes

なし / No

授業形態/methods of teaching：対面/face to face

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1[オンライン/online]：A State in the Middle Ages?

The creation of the sovereign state - what is 'sovereignty'?

2[対面/face to face]：Varieties of Absolutism

How 'absolute' was absolutism? The Tilly Thesis

3[対面/face to face]：1789: the Watershed

The French Revolution: causes, triggers and ramifications

4[対面/face to face]：1789: the Aftermath

The triumph of absolutism after 1789? Napoleon; liberalism; the 'Holy Alliance'

5[対面/face to face]：The Concert of Europe

The post-Napoleonic order: Balance of Power; the Great Powers; the system of Bismarck; the German question; the question of nationalism

6[対面/face to face]：Europe - an Anomaly?

Modernity; capitalism; the Industrial Revolution; Europe - an anomaly?

7[対面/face to face]：Review & Mid-term Exam

A short exam on the topics covered in the readings & the lectures so far

8[対面/face to face]：Nationalism and the Nation-State in the Nineteenth Century

The forging together of state and nation; the meaning of nationalism: the Gellner Thesis

9[対面/face to face]：Heart of Darkness

Colonisation; Orientalism; the internationalisation of the European order

10[対面/face to face]：Social Change

This lecture will look at the other side of the coin - the social changes created by all the previously studied political developments, such as changing gender and family roles, as well as the rise of the modern consumer economy

11[対面/face to face]：The Collapse of the Concert of Europe

Setting the stage for World War I: the growing complexity of the international system

12[対面/face to face]：'The Great War': World War I

Strategies, objectives & the uncertain outcome; 'total war'; the Treaty of Versailles

13[対面/face to face]：The Rise of Totalitarianism & World War II

Strategies, objectives & ramifications; the disenchantment of the world: the Holocaust

14[対面/face to face]：Great Expectations: Beyond the Nation-State?

The beginnings of a supranational European institutional order [DEADLINE: submit your final essay in both hard copy & digital copy]

1) Please conduct background research in preparation for the in-class discussion on each week's assigned topic. 2) In the case of no final exam: Brief presentation, due at the end of the term: Pick any European country you like and write about one specific aspect of its historical development that we address in this class. Preparatory study and review time for this class is ca. 1 hour per week.

Merriman, John. (2010). A History of Modern Europe (Volume Two): From the French Revolution to the Present. New York: Norton & Company.

http://legacy.fordham.edu/Halsall/mod/modsbook13.asp A very useful collection of primary sources, such as letters from Marie Antoinette, the Declaration of the Rights of Man, or writings from von Metternich. Ordered according to topic (see menu bar on the left) & http://avalon.law.yale.edu/default.asp
Similar to the Fordham collection, but listed chronologically.

Participation: 20%; Mid-term exam: 30%; Final Presentation or Final Exam: 50%

Each lecture will start with a ca. 20 minute pre-discussion of the main themes of the week.

None.