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Supriya Mukherjee Fall 2008 Office: 309 Clough Phone: 843- Email: mukherjees@rhodes.edu Office Hours: MWF: 3:00-4:00 and by appointment
THE WORLD SINCE 1945 History 205-
Course Description:
This course is designed to provide students a historical perspective on the major events, trends and issues that have shaped the contemporary world. Since it is not possible to cover everything that happened in the world since 1945, it will concentrate on topics such as the Cold War, the end of the European empires, the emergence of the „third world,‟ and the origins of current conflicts, especially those relating to religion and ethnicity. It will also look at the major changes in the world economy since 1945, and address the issue of globalization, both as an economic as well as a cultural concept. This course does not include material on United States history, other than that necessary for understanding world history. During the semester, considerable attention will be paid to the non-Western world.
Required Readings:
Michael H. Hunt, The World Transformed, 1945 to the Present Michael H. Hunt, The World Transformed, A Documentary Reader Liang Heng, Son of the Revolution Kamala Markandaya, Nectar in a Sieve V.S. Naipaul, A Bend in the River
Additional readings are to be found in the following: a. my faculty folder on the Acad_Dept_Pgm server b. through the JSTOR database
Course Requirements:
There will be a total of three exams, two short mid-terms and a longer final. These will consist of an essay component and a short identification component. The mid-terms will count for 200 points and the final 300 points. Additionally, students will be asked to write two short papers, 4-5 pages in length, each worth 150 points. The questions for the papers will be given to you during the second week of classes. 200 points will go towards class discussion and participation. Although this course will include lectures, there will be considerable emphasis on discussion and classroom interaction, not in a
random way, but based on assigned readings. Students are expected to read assigned material before they come to class and have a general overview of the historical background of a particular topic. From time to time, I will be emailing you questions to consider for discussion prior to our meeting. Check your email on a regular basis. You will be called upon to read out your answers in class. Occasionally, we will break up the class into discussion groups with an assigned (by me) discussion facilitator. At the end of the class, the group will be responsible for summarizing any conclusions drawn. The primary documents or articles assigned will be the focus of class discussion. Obviously, class attendance is required for class participation, and roll will be taken, but keep in mind that just showing up to class does not count towards discussion points. Participation is required. I will also call on individual students so that they might contribute to the discussion. It is recommended that students bring a list of questions or comments so that they can actively participate in the discussion. Class attendance is not an option. You are expected to come to every class session. Medical leave that is officially approved by the College administration is the only exception to this rule. It is, of course, understood that emergencies may occur. Therefore, you are allowed to miss three (3) class periods for any reason. Additional absences will adversely affect your grade. If you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. You are still responsible for all material covered in the class whether or not you attended it. Honor Code: You are bound by the Honor Code of the Student Handbook. Please review the Honor Code section if you are unfamiliar with it, especially the definition of what constitutes “plagiarism”. On every assignment, you should reaffirm the Honor Code by writing the entire honor pledge and signing your name. No written work will be accepted without an Honor Code pledge. While team studying is allowed, and discussion among students encouraged, your written work should be your own. Other Considerations: I reserve the right to make changes in the syllabus during the semester, but will give you advanced warning so that you can make the necessary readjustments in your schedule without excessive difficulty. This means that I can change the readings assigned, give additional handouts, or give short assignments for the next class period. Again, you are advised to check your email on a regular basis. Finally, all assignments must be turned in order to get a passing grade for this course. Essay assignments must be turned in to me on the date due in class. I will accept a hard copy only.
CLASS SCHEDULE – Fall 2008
W 27 Aug. Course procedures and goals What is contemporary history?
F 29 Aug. Why start in 1945? Cold War Overview The World Transformed (hereafter TWT ), 1-
W 24 Sep. Discussion of Son of the Revolution continued
F 26 Sep. Out of the Ashes of War: The Golden Age of Capitalism (Part I) TWT , 77-84, 88- “The State and the Free Market” ( Reader, 69-83)
Start reading Nectar in a Sieve
M 29 Sep. The Golden Age of Capitalism (Part II) TWT , 199- Heron, “Recollections”; Huws, “On Breaking into the Middle Class‟ ( Reader , 190--193)
W 1 Oct. The End of Ideology? Paris, 1968 TWT , 176- Paris Upheaval Documents ( Reader , 171-174)
F 3 Oct FIRST MIDTERM EXAMINATION
M 6 Oct. Where Did the Third World Come From? TWT , 15- Discussion: Nectar in a Sieve
W 8 Oct. Decolonization: Overview (Part I) TWT , 129- Nehru, “Towards Freedom”; Nehru Gandhi Letters ( Reader , 119-123)
F 10 Oct. Decolonization: Overview (Part II) Thiong‟o, “Decolonizing the Mind” (folder) Frantz Fanon reading (folder)
M 13 Oct. Decolonization with Partition: India TWT, 133- Urvashi Butalia reading (folder)
W 15 Oct. Decolonization with Partition: Palestine (Part I) TWT , 403- “Statement of Arab Views”; Israeli “Declaration of Independence” (Reader, 387-390)
F 17 Oct. Palestine (Part II) Thomas Friedman, “The Fault Line” (folder) Tony Judt, “Dark Victory: Israel‟s Six Day War” (folder)
View Film “Battle of Algiers” over Fall Break
M 20 Oct. FALL BREAK
W 22 Oct. Colonial Crisis in Algeria TWT, 290-
Start reading A Bend in the River
F 24 Oct. Colonial Crisis in Algeria Discussion of The Battle of Algiers
M 27 Oct. The Challenges of Independence: Development (Part I) TWT, 147-149; 229- Nkrumah Speeches ( Reader , 243-249) *** **FIRST PAPER DUE*****
W 29 Oct. The Challenges of Independence: Development (Part II) TWT , 229-
F 31 Oct. The Challenges of Independence: Crisis of the Nation State (Pt. I) TWT, 266-278; 416-
M 3 Nov. The Challenges of Independence: Crisis of the Nation State (Pt. II) B. Berkeley, Intro. from The Graves Are Not Yet Full (folder) The Economist , “The Global Menace of Local Strife” (folder)
W 5 Nov. Bula Matari : The Congo Bill Berkeley, Chapter from The Graves Are Not Yet Full (folder)
F 7 Nov. Discussion: A Bend in the River
M 10 Nov. A Bend in the River discussion continued
W 12 Nov. SECOND MIDTERM EXAMINATION
F 14 Nov. The Cold War Comes to an End TWT, 303 & 319- Gorbachev Report ( Reader , 288-300)
M 17 Nov. Capitalism or Communism? TWT , 354-364; 463- Deng Xiaoping Speeches and Interviews (Reader, 351-356)
W 19 Nov. What is globalization? TWT , 81–84; 435-
