HIST269-19S2 (C) Semester Two 2019

The Rise and Fall of Communism in Central and Eastern Europe, 1944 - 1991

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 15 July 2019
End Date: Sunday, 10 November 2019
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 26 July 2019
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 27 September 2019

Description

The end of the Cold War and of Eastern European communism in 1989-1991 did not mean the loss of global interest in developments in the former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. On the contrary, the recent history of these countries, the period of their post-communist transition to political democracy and a market economy, has been marked with new instabilities, crises and wars which have had serious implications for global trends. This course is designed to provide a broad background to an understanding of the political, socio-economic, and cultural developments in the former communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe as an essential prerequisite to understanding the modern world.

The end of the Cold War and of Eastern European communism in 1989-1991 did not mean the loss of Eastern Europe’s global importance. On the contrary, the recent history of Eastern European countries, the period of their post-communist transition to political democracy and a market economy, has been marked with new instabilities, crises and wars, which have had serious implications for global trends as well.

In addition to the primary focus on the internal evolution of the countries of former communist Eastern Europe from the end of the Second World War to the early 1990s, significant attention will be paid to the most important events and themes of the pre-war history of this part of the world.

Learning Outcomes

  • This course will enable students to become familiar with the major issues of the history of communism in East-Central and Eastern Europe as well as the reasons for both the Soviet conquest of the related countries and for the collapse of Soviet domination and communist rule in these countries. In particular, through their work in this course, students are expected to be able to:
  • understand and describe the geopolitical conditions in which the countries of East-Central and Eastern Europe fell under Soviet domination and communist rule after the Second World War,
  • understand, describe and analyse the nature and main characteristics of communist rule in the countries of East-Central and Eastern Europe during the period 1945-1989/91
  • develop an awareness of theoretical debates relating to the themes and topics examined,
  • define and analyse the main socio-economic and political causes of the collapse of communist rule in East-Central and Eastern Europe during the period 1989-1991
    • University Graduate Attributes

      This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

      Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

      Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

      Globally aware

      Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.

Prerequisites

Either 15 points in HIST at B grade or better or 30 points in HIST or Ancient History (CLAS111 and CLAS112 with a passing grade. Alternatively, a B average in 60 points of coursework.

Restrictions

EURO226, EURO222, HIST264 (prior to 2006), INCO225, HIST386, EURA226, EURA326, EURO326, HIST329

Equivalent Courses

Course Coordinator

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences Head of Department

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Class attendance and participation 10%
Mid-course test 20% Held week 6
Essay 30% 2,000 words, due week 11
Exam 40% Held during University-scheduled exam period

Textbooks / Resources

Additional and optional readings are listed in the Course Outline (available for enrolled students on LEARN).

Course links

Library portal
LEARN The full Course Outline is available on LEARN (only for students enrolled in this course).

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $761.00

International fee $3,188.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .

All HIST269 Occurrences

  • HIST269-19S2 (C) Semester Two 2019