Social, Economic and Political Contemporary History

Code: HIS02284L

6 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours

Scientific Area: History

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese

Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Presentation

This course provides a set of fundamental historical knowledge and basic intellectual skills to anyone interested in the demographic, social and political problems of the world today.

Sustainable Development Goals

Erradicar a pobreza - Acabar com a pobreza em todas as suas formas, em todos os lugares

Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

Igualdade de género - Alcançar a igualdade de gênero e empoderar todas as mulheres e meninas.

Reduzir as desigualdades - Reduzir as desigualdades dentro dos países e entre eles.

Ação climática - Tomar medidas urgentes para combater a mudança climática e seus impactos (*).

Paz, justiça e instituições eficazes - Paz, justiça e instituições eficazes promover sociedades pacíficas e inclusivas par ao desenvolvimento sustentável, proporcionar o acesso à justiça para todos e construir instituições eficazes, responsáveis
e inclusivas em todos os níveis.

Learning Goals

This course provides a general knowledge of the global processes of historical change in the past two centuries, considering the contributions of economic, social, and political historiography. Using a multidisciplinary approach, special attention is given to the European experience and its overall impact, but also considering the asian and american perspectives.
At the end of the semester, students should know the fundamental facts, understand and describe historical processes that have led to the formation of contemporary societies and power systems.
Students must also know the sources and methodologies used in the construction of historical knowledge, to analyze qualitative and quantitative data, to understand, and present reference texts, and historiographical data on the key topics.
Students are stimulated to develop autonomous study skills and to develop cooperation strategies in the study.

The History in the Contemporary World. General trends in the evolution of human societies and on the Earth system in the last three centuries.
The growth of the world population (18th to 20th c.). The change in family systems. Migrations, 19-20 c.
Capitalism and its dynamic forces, 18th?16th c. Sources of modern economic growth.
The formation of contemporary societies: the elites, the middle classes, and the changing pattern in labor regimes. Mobility and social stratification.
The political system of European states (1814-1914).
The USA in the 19th century.
Asia in the 19th century.
World War I: origins and consequences.
The Soviet Russian, the III International, and its world impact.
The European Fascism. The crisis of the ?30s
World War II and the new international order. The Cold War.
USA, USSR, and nationalism in Asia and Africa. Non-aligned countries.
China, USA, and the collapse of the Soviet world. Neoliberalism and globalization in a unipolar world.

Teaching Methods

Enrolled students are divided into two classes. The teaching-learning methodologies considers this dimension as a conditioning factor. In the sessions, the professor introduces the topics under study and highlights the fundamental readings. As an auxiliary element, the professor provides the presentations (PPTs) used during sessions through the Moodle platform. At the beginning and at the end of the theoretical part of each session, students are invited to present questions about the topics covered and formulate critical comments. Students are stimulated to participate orally in the sessions with specific tasks, such as the presentation of historiographical texts selected by the faculty and made available beforehand. The final part of the session is also intended for practical exercises such as analysis of quantitative data, textual or visual documents, elaboration of chronologies, or exploration of Internet resources.

Assessment

This UC is subject to the Academic Regulations of the University of Évora and has two assessment modalities: continuous (AC) and final (AF). The AC consists of preparing two written tests lasting 120 minutes. (F1, F2), the execution of practical exercises (EP) and oral participation (PO) throughout the semester. The final assessment (CF) is calculated by the formula: CF= (F1*0.35)+(F2*0.35)+(EP*0.15)+(PO*0.15)
In each written test, students must choose between 3 and 4 open questions on different topics from the program, demonstrating knowledge of historical facts, reading skills of historiographical texts (in English and Portuguese) that require analysis and synthesis skills, and writing skills using concepts and historical vocabulary specific to the discipline.
If the student fails to obtain a grade greater than or equal to 7.5/20 in the first test, he/she must move on to the entrance exam system.
Students in this regime can also choose to orally present a historiographical text (AO) chosen by the teacher, if the number of students in AC allows it. In this case, the final assessment is calculated by the formula CF= (F1*0.25)+(F2*0.25)+ (AO*20)+(EP*0.15)+(PO*0.15)
The final assessment consists of a written test without consultation lasting 120 minutes, including all the syllabus' topics. Guidelines are given in advance, and the compulsory bibliography for the selected topics is indicated as well.