EUT040: European Identities

School null
Department Code null
Module Code EUT040
External Subject Code R900
Number of Credits 30
Level L7
Language of Delivery English
Module Leader Professor Gerrit-Jan Berendse
Semester Autumn Semester
Academic Year 2013/4

Outline Description of Module

AIM

To provide an analysis of the key ideas, features and themes surrounding identities and differences of European culture, politics and history.

CONTENT

This module offers an introduction to Europe’s identities and identity problems in different phases of its development. It is a thematically wide-ranging course that encompasses different perspectives and disciplines, such as history, philosophy, sociology, cultural studies and politics. The sessions focus on issues relating to cultural and political identities that have significantly shaped the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. You will be exposed to different ideas and images of Europe, and will explore their role in contemporary policy-making, citizenship, politics, film, and literature.

On completion of the module a student should be able to

On completion students should be able to:

  • critically appreciate major forces that shaped Europe, both politically and culturally, from ancient Greece to modern times and beyond;
  • demonstrate an understanding of a wide range of arguments and issues relating to European ideology, culture and concepts of identities;
  • evaluate the main issues surrounding national, cultural and political concepts in the search for European identity;
  • make links between, and exhibit a critical understanding of the key concepts of thought within political and cultural perspectives.

How the module will be delivered

Teaching is by weekly two-hour seminars and by student participation. Each student or small group of students will be expected to present seminar papers.

 

Skills that will be practised and developed

Academic: intellectually-advanced skills centred on the ability to build a convincing argument, using a variety of sources relevant to the themes and topics of the module content.

Subject-specific: ability to read and assess, and to engage critically with historical, political and cultural texts. Ability to understand how politics and culture interact.

Generic:transferable skills of information gathering; critical thinking; evaluation of materials; high-level oral presentation skills; intercultural awareness; time management; high-level written communication and word-processing/visual presentation skills.

How the module will be assessed

Assessment This core course will be assessed by 1) the write-up of the seminar presentation, and 2) an essay. In both the seminar/write-up and the compulsory essay, the student should demonstrate a clear understanding of the links between cultural and political aspects of European Identities.

1)       a seminar (presentation) write-up of 2.000-2.500 words, comprising 30% of the module mark;

2)       a 3.000-3,500 word essay on any of the topics covered, comprising 70% of the module mark.

The opportunity for reassessment in this module

An opportunity to resubmit the essay and to resit the examination (in Summer 2014) is possible.

Assessment Breakdown

Type % Title Duration(hrs)
Presentation 30 Seminar 2,500 Word Presentation Write-Up N/A
Written Assessment 70 Assessed Essay (70%) 3,000 - 3,500 Word Essay Assessed Essay (70%) 3,000 - 3,500 Word Essay Assessed Essay 3,000 Words N/A

Syllabus content

The seminars are Thursdays, 2-4 pm in EUROP 0.39

(Teaching days, times and venue may vary, subject to the tutor’s arrangements with the students)

 

Introduction

3 October                      Ken Dyson:Economic Identities and Varieties of Capitalism in Europe – Does Culture Matter?

 

Cluster 1

10 October                    Jonathan Kirkup:Britain's relationship with the EU

17 October                    Andrew Dowling:Nationalism and Regionalism in Europe

24 October                    Nick Parsons:  A European Model of Society

 

Cluster 2

31 October                    Heiko Felder:The Meaning of 1989

14 November                 John McKeane: Europe and Comparative Literature

21 November                 Cristina Marinetti: Translation in European History

 

Cluster 3

28 November                 Rachael Langford:Visual Culture in Europe – photography

5 December                  Gerrit-Jan Berendse:Europe after Auschwitz in Poetry and Film

12 December                 Liz Wren-Owen: Italian Migrations

 

Essential Reading and Resource List

Indicative Reading and Resource List:

Introductory reading

Delanty, G., Inventing Europe (London, MacMillan, 1995)

Hay, D., Europe – The Emergence of an Idea (Edinburgh, EUP, 1957)

Pagden, A. (ed.) The Idea of Europe (Cambridge, CUP, 2002)

Wilson, K and van der Dussen, J., The History of the Idea of Europe (London, Routledge, 1995)

Further reading

Amin, A, ‘Multi-ethnicity and the idea of Europe’ Theory Culture and Society v21 n2 April 2004 pp 1-24

Delanty, G., ‘Models of citizenship:  defining European identity and citizenship’ Citizenship Studies v1 n3 pp 285-303

Demos, Eurovisions: new dimensions of European integration, special issue n13 1998

Judt, T., A grand illusion? – an essay on Europe (New York, Penguin, 1996)

Modood, T and Werbner, P. (eds.), The politics of multi-culturalism(London, Zed, 1997)


Copyright Cardiff University. Registered charity no. 1136855