Modern History III, the Age of Cold War
Code: 100347Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| History | OB | 3 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Josep Puigsech Farràs
- Email :
- josep.puigsech@uab.cat
Teaching staff
- Josep Puigsech Farràs
- Francisco José Veiga Rodriguez
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of international modern history prior to 1945 and basic reading proficiency in English are absolutely necessary for the class.
Objectives
The goals to be achieved are the following: knowing and understanding the events of the so-called Cold War, in order to be able to extract the keys to explain its afthermaths. In fact, this subject is linked to current history. Thus, it seeks to get students used to argue professionally, as historians, and break the separation between their every-day and historiographic perception.
At the end of the course, students should have sufficient knowledge of the causes that led to the Cold War and the specificity of this phenomenon, as well as its phases, periods and actors on global scale. The processes of decolonization also be part of the curriculum, although they would need a specific subject. Other issues addressed are: economic and social evolution in the Western world and the Eastern bloc, economic and social evolution in the USSR and the People's Republic of China, and armed conflicts or women's role during the Cold War. Depending on the time available, specific issues such as the years of youth rebellion in the 1960s, the terrorism of the 1970s, the sport in the 1970s and 1980s or the musical counterculture in the 1980s will be addressed.
Learning outcomes
- Identifying the main and secondary ideas and expressing them with linguistic correctness.
- Organising and planning the search of historical information.
- Using the characteristic computing resources of the field of History.
- Solving problems autonomously.
- Communicating in your mother tongue or other language both in oral and written form by using specific terminology and techniques of Historiography.
- Developing the ability of historical analysis and synthesis.
- Engaging in debates about historical facts respecting the other participants' opinions.
- Working in teams respecting the other's points of view.
- Relating elements and factors involved in the development of historical processes.
- Recognising diversity and multiculturalism.
- Identifying the social, economic and political structures of the contemporary world.
- Using the specific work methods of Contemporary History.
- Recognising the historical processes that led to the contemporary society.
Contents
Each teacher will modulate the contents of the program according to their specific criteria, but always attending to the general scheme specified here:
1.- The origins of the Cold War since the Second World War. The consolidation of the blocks.
2.- Phases of the Cold War until 1956 and 1962 in Europe and Asia. Peaceful coexistence, decolonization and the birth of the Third World.
3.- From bipolarity to multipolarity.
4.- Final confrontation and outcome.
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-study | 45 | 1.8 | 3, 4, 6 |
| Seminars and guided practical exercises | 10 | 0.4 | 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10 |
| Reading texts. Writing papers. Commenting on texts. Preparation of oral presentations and seminars. Search for bibliographic information | 30 | 1.2 | 3, 4, 6 |
| Mentoring sessions | 10 | 0.4 | 8 |
| Modelled learning exercises | 5 | 0.2 | 6, 11, 12, 13 |
| Lectures | 40 | 1.6 | 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 |
Attendance to the lectures.
Attendance to guided seminars and mentoring sessions.
Comprehensive text reading.
Analytical comments.
Presentations and oral analysis.
Self-study.
This subject allows the use of AI technologies as an integral part of the submitted work, provided that the final result reflects a significant contribution from the student in terms of analysis and personal reflection. The student must clearly (i) identify which parts have been generated using AI technology; (ii) specify the tools used; and (iii) include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and final outcome of the activity. Lack of transparency regarding the use of AI in the assessed activity will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade may be lowered, or the work may even be awarded a zero. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written tests | 50 | 4 | 0.16 | 1, 6, 9, 11, 13 |
| Practical exercises | 25 | 2 | 0.08 | 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 12 |
| Readings | 25 | 4 | 0.16 | 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12 |
CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT
In accordance with what is dictated in the Degree Report, the subject will be evaluated according to the following points:
a) Exams. Written tests (both partial and final), with a cumulative mark that means up to 50% of the total of the maximum grade: Written test 1 (25%), Written test 2 (25%);
b) Coursework, take home with acumulative mark that means up to 25% of the maximum grade with written test. Coursework (25%);
c) Practices: research and analysis techniques in clasroom that means up to 25% of the maximum grade.
As a whole, to pass the subject the student must obtain a grade of 5 out of 10. On the other hand, each teacher may mark, if they deem it useful, a minimum to be achieved in each of the items a), b) and c) here exposed
This is specified in:
• Two written tests (25 + 25 points) spaced throughout the course. TOTAL: 50 points
• Coursework test, based on the development of a topic (25 points) spaced throughout the course. TOTAL: 25 points
• Five practices. TOTAL: 25 points
COURSE TOTAL MAXIMUM: 100 POINTS; PASS WITH: 50 POINTS
The scoring system will be cumulative, without applying percentages or arithmetic averages
On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.
SINGLE ASSESSMENT
a) Exam: Written test 50% of the total maximum grade;
b) Coursework based on the development of a topic: 25% of the maximum grade; spoken assessment is possible.
c) Practices: 25% of the maximum grade.
On the other hand, each teacher will be able to mark, if he/she considers it useful, some minimums to be reached in each item a), b) and c) here contemplated.
This translates into:
- Written test. TOTAL: 50 points
- Coursework (spoken assessment is possible) TOTAL: 25 points
- Five practices. TOTAL: 25 points
MAXIMUM TOTAL FOR THE COURSE: 100 POINTS; APPROVED: 50 POINTS.
On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.
RECOVERY
Students must have been previously assessed in a set of activities the weight of which is equivalent to a minimum of 2/3 of the total grade (CONTINUOUS EVALUATION) or submit all the planned tests (SINGLE EVALUATION). In addition, the student must have a final average grade of at least 3.5 points (CONTINUOUS EVALUATION or SINGLE EVALUATION).
Continous assessment: a single test will be carried out, on the date set by the administration of the center. In this test, one of the activities failed during the course can be recovered, which will be added to the scores obtained in the rest of the tests of the course (without points of test course select). Therefore, only the activities previously taken and failed will be made up, with a minimum of 20% average.
In no case, may reevaluation be considered as a means of improving the grade of students who have already passed the subject in the normal continuous assessment process. The maximum mark that can be obtained in the reevaluation is 5.0 (Pass)
Single assessment: the same assessment method as continuous assessment will be used. The final cumulative grade to be able to make the recovery must be 3.5.
Warnings:
Plagiarism from written sources (internet, books, papers, etc.) or copying in the exam, supposes a zero in the grade for the exercise. Self-plagiarism by the student himself or take home plagiarism by others falls into this category as long as the percentage of plagiarism is high. Plagiarism control scanners are used in this subject
In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.
The students will have the right to review the results of the tests carried out. The professor will establish the mechanisms to do so, during office hours.
No type of individual special exam will be established outside of the dates established for common students. Any imponderable that may affect a specific student, with duly documented justification, will be resolved within the framework of the dates and calls set for all and with the arbitration of the Coordination of Studies, if necessary. No favorable treatment will be granted to one another based on personal or professional circumstances.
Students will obtain a Not assessed/Not submitted course grade unless they have submitted more than 1/3 of the assessment items.
Bibliography
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-FONTANA, Josep, Por el bien del imperio. Una historia del mundo desde 1945, Pasado & Presente, Barcelona, 2011.
-FRIEDMAN, Jeremy, Shadow Cold War. The Sino Soviet Competition for the Third World, The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, 2018.
-FULBROOK, Mary, Europa desde 1945, Crítica, Barcelona, 2002.
-FÜRST, Juliane, PONS, Silvio & SELDEN, Mark (eds.), The Cambridge History of Communism. Volume III. Endgames? Late communism in global pesrpective, 1968 to the present, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2017.
-GADDIS, John Lewis, La Guerra Fría, RBA, Barcelona, 2008.
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-LEFFLER, Melvyn P. & WESTAD, Odd A. (eds.), The Cambrigde History of the Cold War, 3 vols., Cambrigde University Press, Cambridge, 2010.
-LELLOUCHE, Pierre, Le Nouveau Monde. De l'ordre de Yalta au désordre des nations, Grasset, Paris, 1992.
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Software
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Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Spanish | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | Spanish | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (TE) Theory | 2 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 2 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |