In the twentieth century, there were frequent revolutionary upheavals, particularly in Russia and Eastern Europe. These revolutionary events present great contrasts, yet at the same time clarify the nature of revolutions and why they occur. An important theme of this course will be the influence of Russia's revolutions on revolutionary events in Eastern Europe in 1945-1948 and 1989. The collapse of the Soviet Union has revealed a mosaic of nations, peoples, and cultures emerging from a hidden landscape formerly perceived as monolithic. We will explore the rediscovered histories, cultures, and arts of peoples who have dwelled upon the vast Eurasian plain for over two thousand years and whose interaction with one another and the West has been and will continue to be crucial in shaping the history of two continents.
Nationalism presents one of the greatest challenges to the survival of multiethnic states.
They have had to create new strategies to deal with the demands of ethnic minorities. Taking the four states of Spain, Canada, Russia, and the former Yugoslavia as examples, we will focus on ethnonationalist movements within these states and the responses of central governments to their demands. Mr. Jones Prereq. We study the history and politics of Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Germany, Rumania, Albania, and Yugoslavia since 1918, including the revolutions of 1918-1919, the dictatorships of the interwar period, the impact of World War II and the Stalinist epoch, and finally the dramatic revolutions of 1989. Mr. Jones Prereq.