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The Attractions of Communism - HIST2489
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HistorySpec1
 
Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
 
 
School:  School of History
 
 
Contact: Milfull,John Rowland
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Undergraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 6
 
 
EFTSL: 0.125 (more info)
 
 
Contact Hours per Week: 3
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
Prerequisite: 36 units of credit; Excluded: EURO2311, SOCA3313
 
 
Session Offered: See Class Timetable
 
 
Fee Band: 1 (more info)
 
 

Description

After the demise of the Soviet Empire, the 'totalitarianism thesis', which equates Fascism and Communism, has gained a new lease of life. Though there are many similarities in the political practices of these two movements which dominated the twentieth century, their aims and the groups they appealed to seem radically opposed. Seeks to explain the attractions of Communism through the study of documents, literary texts and film, and to shed light on the reasons for the loyalty of many European workers and intellectuals to 'the cause' despite their increasing awareness of its deformations in the Soviet Union and elsewhere.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course, students will have acquired a basic understanding of:
  • those features of the theory and practice of communism which made it one of the two most influential movements of the twentieth century
  • the ethical dilemmas associated with the deformations of socialism in the Soviet Union and elsewhere.
The format of the course, with its emphasis on active student participation, is designed to:
  • foster skills in the researching and presentation of key topics, and to
  • develop students' ability for critical and independent thinking.
It will also consolidate and develop skills in the use of the Internet (much of the course material is circulated by Web link or e-mail attachment).

Assessment

  • Take home test - 20%
  • Major essay and participation - 80%

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