The course aims to give students chance of acquiring analytical skills in order to identify the many factors involved in the dynamics of historical processes and understand their interconnections. The students will also develop a research method and investigation abilities in order to discover the inner complexity of the present age in its historical depth; they will be educated on how to understand otherness disclosing in the study of human events that constitute historical development.
teacher profile teaching materials
This course intends to investigate nationalism as a distinctive historical phenomenon of contemporary age, with a particular reference to European history. An analysis of several theories of nation and nationalism will serve as introductory part of the course, in which various elaborations of thinking on the idea of nation will be examined as well as the different interpretative hypotheses on nation and nationalism. European history from World War I to the post World War II era will be reconsidered stressing the topic of nationalism and its manifold influence on historical processes of the continent and its connections with other geopolitical areas. The dynamic relationship between globalization and internationalism trends and radicalization of nationalisms will be explored. A particular focus will be devoted to the revival of nationalisms after the end of the Cold War and in the first two decades of the 21st century.
2. Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism, Verso Books 2016 (Revised edition)
3. Anthony D. Smith, Nationalism: Theory, Ideology, History, Polity Press 2010 (Revised edition)
4. Colin Crouch, The Globalization Backlash, Polity Press 2018
Programme
NATIONALISM AND CONTEMPORARY HISTORY: THE EUROPEAN CONTEXTThis course intends to investigate nationalism as a distinctive historical phenomenon of contemporary age, with a particular reference to European history. An analysis of several theories of nation and nationalism will serve as introductory part of the course, in which various elaborations of thinking on the idea of nation will be examined as well as the different interpretative hypotheses on nation and nationalism. European history from World War I to the post World War II era will be reconsidered stressing the topic of nationalism and its manifold influence on historical processes of the continent and its connections with other geopolitical areas. The dynamic relationship between globalization and internationalism trends and radicalization of nationalisms will be explored. A particular focus will be devoted to the revival of nationalisms after the end of the Cold War and in the first two decades of the 21st century.
Core Documentation
1. Ian Kershaw, To Hell and Back: Europe, 1914-1949, Penguin Press 20162. Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism, Verso Books 2016 (Revised edition)
3. Anthony D. Smith, Nationalism: Theory, Ideology, History, Polity Press 2010 (Revised edition)
4. Colin Crouch, The Globalization Backlash, Polity Press 2018
Type of evaluation
Oral Exam