396/Econ. 396/Pol. Sci. 396/Slavic 396/Hist. 333/Soc. 393. Survey of Eastern Europe. (4). (SS).
Some people want to know more about political conflicts in that part of the world where the first two world wars began and where two systems now face each other with awesome armies and weapons. Some people are curious about the economic institutions, social policies, and results of some forms of existing socialism. Others are interested in the kinds of human consciousness which develop in lands between great powers, among people having witnessed great social changes. Still others find themselves acting out family lessons learned by their grandparents in such places as Serbia, Silesia, or Budapest – and they want to understand those lessons. Such persons may profit from this course. This course is a survey course, providing a broad multidisciplinary overview of the history, politics, economic systems, social structure, and cultures of Eastern Europe. The format of the course involves a series of lectures by scholars from different departments within the University, a series of East European films, and sessions for discussion and integration of the lectures, films, and readings. The course is organized through the Center for Russian and East European Studies, and will be coordinated this term by Professor Simkus of the Department of Sociology. The course format has the great advantage of exposing students to diverse perspectives, and to lecturers who have a great deal of expertise in each subject. In this course you will receive a more expert broad introduction than you could get in any other course; thus it is a good choice for those who know very little about Eastern Europe, or those whose background is specialized within a single discipline and who want to broaden their knowledge. The course requirements include a midterm, an in-class essay exam, and a final examination. (Simkus)
401. Senior Seminar in Russian and East European Studies.
Permission of instructor. (4). (SS). May be elected
for credit twice.
Section 001 – Continuity and Change in State Socialist Societies.
This course seeks to identify the most significant social, economic, political and ideological changes that have taken place in the
USSR and East Europe since 1956. The course will focus on selected
caesura in Soviet and East European development, e.g., economic
reform in Hungary in 1966, intellectual ferment in Czechoslovakia
in 1968, and social upheavals in Poland in 1970 and 1980. These
will be juxtaposed with the greater adaptive capabilities of the
other state socialist societies. Particular emphasis is placed
on indices of continuity and change during the 1980s. Students
should possess a background in one of the social sciences, or
in a humanities subject which has dealt with cultural trends in
one of these states, OR in an area language. A two-hour seminar
will be held each week for which students will be expected to
prepare occasional papers. Student assessment will be based on
such seminar papers, one 25-page term paper, and a final exam.
(Taras)
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