Fall 2000 Scott J. Seregny
Office Hours: M and W, 12:15-1:15 CA 503T
e-mail: sseregny@iupui.edu
274-722

 

History D428/H509 Eastern Europe

This course deals with an important region generally neglected in European survey courses or treated in history courses on Germany or Russia merely as an imperial periphery. With its geopolitical instability (shifting and unresolved borders) and internecine ethnic strife, this region, the "other Europe," has proved of critical importance for the stability of Europe through much of the twentieth century. Its importance has again resurfaced with dramatic effect in the past few years. In the post-Cold War era Eastern Europe may provide an important bridge in the economic and political integration of the continent. At the same time, however, as the East European countries grope toward democratic institutions and market economics, the path is strewn with the wreckage of nationalist conflicts buried, but left unresolved, during forty-five years of Communism. The mix of promise and problems is different in each country in the region, and only a solid grasp of the historical background of each can provide a key to today's politics; even the terms of contemporary discourse between different groups (Czechs and Slovaks, Serbs and Croats) are framed in terms of unresolved historical issues.

Requirements:

Midterm Exam, Essay and IDs (25%)

Final Exam (35%)

Paper (40%). A 12-15 page research paper on a selected topic, with endnotes and bibliography. It should be based on at least three books in addition to those required of all students (or the equivalent in articles). Of course, the course readings can be used depending on their relevance for the paper topic. Paper topics must be checked out with the instructor ahead of time during the first three weeks of class.

NOTE on plagiarism:

NOTE on books in library system and www. sources:

In addition to the above assignments, graduate students (those registered for D528) will write two reviews (5-7 pages each) of books required for the course: Brubaker and Lampe.

Required readings:

 

August 23 Introduction and Ethnic Geography.
August 30 Themes and Early Legacies.
Text, "Introduction," pp. 1-34; Parts I and II, pp. 35-261.
Tanner, Ch. 1-4.
Lampe, Ch. 1.
September 6 The Imperial Experience: The Austro- Hungarian Monarchy.
Text, Part III, pp. 265-331.
Mason, Ch. 1-4.
September 13 The Imperial Experience: The German Empire and Ottoman Rule in the Balkans.
Tanner, Ch. 5-7.
Lampe, Ch. 2.
September 20 The Imperial Experience: The Russian Empire.
September 27 Adaptation to and Struggle against Empires
Text, pp. 332-404.
Mason, Ch. 5-10, Part IV and documents.
October 4 World War I and National Independence, 1914-1921
Tanner, Ch. 8-9.
Lampe, Ch. 3-4.
October 11 Midterm Exam
October 25 Dictatorships and Democracies in the 1920s: Problems of Political, Economic and National Integration.
Text, Part IV, pp. 407-434.
Lampe, Ch. 5.
November 1 Dictatorships and Democracies (continued)
Text, pp. 435-466.
Brubaker, Introduction, Ch. 1-3.
November 8 East Central Europe in the Devil's Cauldron: The 1930s.
Text, pp. 467-516
Brubaker, Ch. 4-6.
November 15 East Europe's Golgotha: War, Holocaust, holocausts and the Stalinist Empire
Text, Part V, pp. 519-544.
Tanner, Ch. 10-12.
Lampe, Ch. 6-7.
November 22 NO CLASS
November 29 Communist East Europe: Economic Modernization and Socialist Diversity.
Text, pp. 545-561.
Tanner, Ch. 13-19.
Lampe, Ch. 8-10.
December 6 The 1980's, Gorbachev and Eastern Europe.
Text, pp. 562-589.
December 1 The Revolutions of 1989 and post-Cold War Prospects.
Text, pp. 590-642.
Lampe, Ch. 11-12.
December 8 Post-Cold War East Europe
December 13 Final Exam