Year 2010-11
Introduction to the History of Contemporary Societies (21287)
Qualification: Degree in Political and Social Science
Year: 1st
Term: 1st
Number of ECTS credits: 4 credits
Hours of student dedication:
Teaching language: Spanish
1. Introduction to the course
The study of the main political, social and cultural processes in contemporary societies analysed thematically and diachronically. An introduction to the study of contemporary history based on some of our societies' key past and present topics (demographic movements and migration, democratization of liberal states, the building of nation-states, imperialism and anti-imperialism,...)
2. Competencies to be achieved
Generic competences:
- Ability to analyse and synthesise
- Ability to manage information from different sources
- Ability to be critical and self-critical
Specific competences:
- To recognise the historical dimension of social and political processes. That is, to know and to be able to interpret the political and social past to explain the current context in order to gain a better understanding of today's reality and its future projections.
Subject specific knowledge
•a) Knowledge of the theories of power and politics
•b) Knowledge of different political texts to be able to integrate them into global interpretative outlines.
•c) Knowledge of the epistemology and methodology of World History.
•d) Knowledge of contemporary political and social history and the Spanish context.
Transferable knowledge
•e) Use of historical sources
•f) Interpretation of political and social phenomena
•g) Establishing the elements that continue and discontinue in processes of historical change and comparative analysis.
•h) Identifying past and present critical political events and processes.
3. Contents
•- Unit 1: The path towards democracy: democratisation of liberal states.
•- Unit 2: The making of contemporary societies: migratory movements.
•- Unit 3: The making of the modern world: colonialisms and imperialisms.
•- Unit 4: Building nation-states in Europe in the 19th century.
4. Assessment
The final mark will be the sum of the marks for the individual exercises and active participation in each of the three seminars (30%), and a final exam (70%).
5. Readings and resources
5.1. Basic reading
ÁNGEL BAHAMONDE, RAMON VILLARES: El mundo contemporáneo, siglos XIX y XX, Madrid, Santillana, 2001
CHRISTOPHER A. BAYLY: The Birth of the Modern World, 1780-1914: global connections and comparison, Malden, Blackwell, 2004
LUCIANO CANFORA: La democracia. Historia de una ideología, Barcelona, Crítica, 2004
DAVID K. FIELDHOUSE: Economía e imperio. La expansión de Europa, 1830-1914, Madrid, Siglo XXI, 1990
ERIC J. HOBSBAWM: La era del imperio, 1875-1914, Barcelona, Crítica, 1998
ROBERT B. MARKS: Los orígenes del mundo moderno: una nueva visión, Barcelona, Crítica, 2007
5.2. Teaching resources
Course web page
6. Methodology
The educational approach to the course is based on the sum of three teaching-learning activities:
•- Lectures (7 sessions x 2 hours = 14 sessions)
•- Seminars (5 subgroups; 3 sessions x 2 hours = 6 hours per subgroup)
•- Individual tutorials with the teacher (during tutorial hours, in the teachers office)
The seven lectures will apply a Socratic style approach. The three seminar sessions (small groups of around 25 students) will be based on the discussion of two or three texts per session. Students must attend the seminars having read the relevant texts. Tutorials will be used to clarify students' individual doubts.
7. Programme of activities
Session 1 and 2: Unit 1
Session 3 and 4: Unit 2
Session 5 and 6: Unit 3
Session 7: Unit 4
•- Seminar 1: From the first trade unions to the 2nd International.
•- Seminar 2: Between the political power and the economic power: two visions in conflict.
•- Seminar 3: Spanish nationalism and Catalan nationalism: a case study