Fall 2002 Scott J. Seregny

Office Hours: CA 503T 274-7227

Wednesday 4:30-5:15 e-mail: sseregny@iupui.edu

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). In addition, sources on the Internet may be used, but should be cited in full and should only be used to supplement books and 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. Paper is due November 20.

In addition to the above assignments, graduate students (those registered for D528) will write a book review (5-7 pages) of the assigned book by Brubaker. Due November 13.

Course Objectives:

This course is designed to convey factual knowledge about the region and analysis of major issues, as well as further students' understanding of East Europe today. The course is designed to sharpen students' skills of comparative and critical analysis, improve writing proficiency and enhance their capacity to organize and present their thoughts. These objectives are consistent with the goals articulated in IUPUI's "Principles of Undergraduate Learning, the text of which may be found at <www.jaguars.iupui.edu/gened/gnedprin.htm>.

Plagiarism:

Plagiarism will be punished in accordance with university policy, as outlined in the IUPUI Campus Bulletin, 2000-2002

(p. 36). The following is excerpted from the School of Liberal Arts official statement on plagiarism:

"Plagiarism is the use of the work of others without properly crediting the actual source of the ideas, words, sentences, paragraphs, entire articles, music or pictures. Using other students' work (with or without their permission) is still plagiarism if you don't indicate who initially did the work. Plagiarism, a form of cheating, is a serious offence and will be severely punished. When an instructor suspects plagiarism, he/she will inform the student of the charge; the student has the right to respond to the allegations. Students whose work appears to be plagiarized may be asked to produce earlier drafts of work or all the books/articles used in a paper or speech. Students should, for this reason and as a protection in cases of lost papers, retain rough drafts, notes, computer files and other work products for three weeks after the end of each semester. The penalties for plagiarism include reprimands, being failed for a particular take-home exam, paper or project or the entire course, disciplinary probation, or dismissal. Faculty, after consulting with their chair and/or School of Liberal Arts Dean of Students must notify students in writing of their decision. Students have the right to appeal such decisions by submitting petitions to the Academic Affairs Committee. Petitions can be obtained in room CA 401. For further information, see 'Code of Student Ethics,' available in CA 401."

Required readings:

R. Bideliuex and I. Jeffries, A History of Eastern Europe = Text.

J. Mason, The Dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

R. Brubaker, Nationalism Reframed.

C. Sudetic, Blood and Vengeance.

August 21 Introduction and Ethnic Geography.

August 28 Themes and Early Legacies.

Text, "Introduction," pp. 1-34; Parts I and II,

pp. 35-261.

September 4 The Imperial Experience: The Austro- Hungarian Monarchy.

Text, Part III, pp. 265-331.

Mason, Ch. 1-4.

September 11 The Imperial Experience: The German Empire and Ottoman Rule in the Balkans.

review Part I of Text.

September 18 The Imperial Experience: The Russian Empire.

reveiw Part II of Text.

September 25 Adaptation to and Struggle against Empires

Text, pp. 332-374.

Mason, Ch. 5-10, Part IV and documents.

October 2 World War I and National Independence, 1914-1921

Text, pp. 375-404.

October 9 National Independence (continued)

October 16 Midterm Exam

October 23 Dictatorships and Democracies in the 1920s: Problems of Political, Economic and National Integration.

Text, Part IV, pp. 407-434.

October 30 Dictatorships and Democracies (continued)

Text, pp. 435-466.

Brubaker, Introduction, Ch. 1-3.

November 6 East Central Europe in the Devil's Cauldron: The 1930s.

Text, pp. 467-516

Brubaker, Ch. 4-6.

November 13 East Europe's Golgotha: War, Holocaust,

holocausts and the Stalinist Empire

Text, Part V, pp. 519-544.

Sudetic (start).

November 20 Communist East Europe: Economic Modernization and Socialist Diversity.

Text, pp. 545-561.

Sudetic (finish).

November 27 NO CLASS

December 4 The 1980's, Revolutions of 1989 and post-Cold War Prospects.

Text, pp. 562-642.

December 11, 5:45-7:45 Final Exam