SCV0086 - Contemporary History

The course will retrace the development in Europe of the national states system, in the context of the global historical processes which took place between the American Revolution and the creation of the European Union. A particular emphasis will be given to the complexity and multiplicity of actors and factors contributing to the development of the current international order, with a focus on European history. Moreover, the intricacy of the historical causes concurring to the developing of the European unification process will be highlighted, a process providing for the creation of a new statehood by involving the civil society in its articulated phenomenology of economic, political, social, cultural and religious behaviours. National political cultures, Europeanist and federalist political ideals, the international relations system, the work of governments and diplomats, are all interplaying factors which shaped, albeit in different ways, the current European and global geopolitical order, to be understood and interpreted as such. As for the learning outcomes, students are expected to gain the ability to apply and interpret the acquired knowledge so as to better understand European dynamics as well as international political and cultural relations. This will allow them to operate in the field of communication with the appropriate cognitive skills to grasp the complexity of the present national and international situation.

1. Knowledge and ability to understand
The student acquires a thorough knowledge of the main events, processes and interpretations of contemporary history (19th–21st century), understanding their causes, dynamics and consequences.
2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
The student is able to apply historical knowledge to the analysis of sources, documents, and case studies, contextualizing events and phenomena within their historical framework.
3. Autonomy of judgment
The student develops critical skills in interpreting sources and different historiographical currents, making autonomous and reasoned judgments.
4. Communication skills
The student knows how to clearly and coherently present historical content, using an appropriate disciplinary lexicon, both in oral and written form.
5. Learning ability
The student acquires methodological tools to independently explore contemporary history topics, including through critical consultation of sources and specialized bibliography.