School of Humanities  
 
 
HIS-30115 Reconstructing Eastern Europe, 1918-2000: Space, Place and Society II  
Co-ordinator: Dr Robert Gray   Tel:34258  
Teaching Team: Miss Amanda  Roberts, Mrs Christine  Edge, Miss Jo-Anne  Watts  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 3 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office: Tel: 01782 733147
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
History Dual Honours (Level 3)
History Major (Level 3)
History Minor (Level 3)
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
Barred Combinations
None

Prerequisites
Successful completion of Constructing Eastern Europe, 1800-1918: Space, Place and Society I

Description

Building on the topics covered in Constructing Eastern Europe, this module will investigate how space, place and society were reconstructed under the revolutionary forces of communism and fascism during the $ùshort twentieth century&©. Taking a comparative approach to the study of Nazism, Stalinism and communism as it was applied to Eastern and Central Europe, it will look at how visions for a new society and 'new man' shaped society and culture within the region. We will see how the imposition of varying forms of totalitarian society both consolidated the idea of Eastern Europe as a distinct $ùother&© in relation to the West and served to undermine the idea of Eastern and Central Europe as it had emerged in the nineteenth century. Finally, it will investigate how totalitarianism tried to transform the physical space of Eastern and Central Europe $ú its geopolitics, its landscape and its environment $ú under the guise of creating new, utopian societies.
Aims
To introduce students to the history of Eastern and Central Europe in the twentieth century; to consider how the application of particular ideologies have shaped historical developments; to assess how varying forms of totalitarianism challenged definitions of 'East', 'West' and 'Europe' as social and cultural constructs; to highlight the benefits of an interdisciplinary approach to the study of history; to provide an opportunity for students to critically assess the value of different types of historical sources, including art, film, landscape and literature.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Understand the nature of Nazism, fascism and Communism as competing, revolution ideologies will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
Reflect on a variety of utopian visions for the reconstruction of Eastern and Central Europe will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
Consider how political ideologies have been applied to different societies in the past, and the variety of responses (individual and collective; public and private) this has elicited will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
Evaluate and critically assess a range of different kinds of primary sources, and use them appropriately in the development of histroical analysis. will be achieved by assessments: 1,2
Study hours
10 x two-hour seminars, 50 hours seminar preparation, 50 hours essay preparation, 30 hours preparation for 32-hour take home examination.
Description of Module Assessment
01: Essay weighted 60%
Essay
An essay of c. 2,500 words on a topic chosen by the student in consultation with the module tutor.
02: Unseen Exam weighted 40%
Unseen take-home exam
An unseen, thirty-two hour take-home exam requiring an extended commentary of c. 1,500 words on a selection of sources familiar from seminar work.
Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Oct/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.