Europe: Making and Breaking of Nations

Subject EURO30005 (2016)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2016.

Credit Points: 12.5
Level: 3 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2016.

Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 30 hours - 1 x 1.5 hour lecture and 1 x 1 hour tutorial
Total Time Commitment:

170 hours

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects:

EURO20006 Europe: Making and Breaking of Nations

Subject
Core Participation Requirements:

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

Contact

Email: benbow@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

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.

Learning Outcomes:

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;
  • have a critical appreciation of the relationships between national beginnings and endings and factors such as language, culture, geography, religion, gender and ethnicity.
Assessment:
  • 1 x 10 minute class presentation (equivalent to 1000 words) due during semester [10%]
  • 1 reflective research essay (1500 words) due during semester [45%]
  • 1 cpmparative research essay (1500 words) due at the end of semester [45%]

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.

Prescribed Texts: None
Breadth Options:

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

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.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

Students who successfully complete this subject should:

  • have developed 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 further developed research and essay-writing skills;
  • have developed the capacity to compare the national narratives of different nations
Links to further information: http://languages-linguistics.unimelb.edu.au/
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: European Studies
French
French
French
German
German
German
Italian
Italian
Russian
Russian
Spanish Major
Spanish and Latin American Studies
Spanish and Latin American Studies
Related Breadth Track(s): European Studies

Download PDF version.