Europe: Making and Breaking of Nations

This subject is not offered in 2016.

170 hours

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject explores national identity in Europe in the modern era through studying the ‘making’ and ‘breaking’ of nations at key moments in Europe’s history such as the 19 th century, post-World War I and II, the break up of the Soviet Union and the expansion of the European Union. It introduces students to the national myths and legends of Western European countries such as France, Germany, Italy, and Spain as well as select countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Students will read stories of national beginnings and endings, tales of heroism and rebirth, nostalgia and hope, liberation and unity, taken from popular culture, songs, poems, drama and art. An enduring theme will be the ways in which a sense of national self emerges from direct comparison to perceptions of “others”, including Jews, women, the poor and peoples of other nations. Students will gain an appreciation of nation and national identity in Europe as a discursive process, and an understanding of the distinct national stories of a number of European countries.

On successful completion of this subject, students should:

• be aware of how nations and national identity in Europe have emerged in the modern era;
• be able to appreciate national identity as a discursive process, something which is created and reflected upon in national myths and legends;
• have gained an understanding of the different national narratives of countries through reading texts which reflect on the impact of revolutions, wars, colonialism, modernisation, the Cold War and the creation of the European Union;
• have gained an appreciation of how the formation of national identities in Europe is a comparative process.

• 1 x 10 minute class presentation (equivalent to 1000 words) due during semester [20%]
• 1 reflective research essay (1500 words) due during semester [40%]
• 1 analytical research essay (1500 words) due at the end of semester [40%]

Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials in order to pass this subject. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Students who successfully complete this subject should:

• be able to develop effective public speaking and written communication skills;
• have acquired critical thinking and analytical skills;
• have acquired an understanding of cultural, linguistic, national and transnational contexts;
• have developed an international awareness and openness to the world;
• have developed effective time management and planning skills;
• have developed research and essay-writing skills.