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HU Credits:
2
Degree/Cycle:
1st degree (Bachelor)
Responsible Department:
Romance Studies
Semester:
2nd Semester
Teaching Languages:
Hebrew
Campus:
Mt. Scopus
Course/Module Coordinator:
Mr. Victor Taranto
Coordinator Office Hours:
On the basis of direct coordination with the lecturer.
Teaching Staff:
Mr. Victor Taranto
Course/Module description:
“Revolution” is an idea typically associated with Left-Wing Politics. This course will focus on the emergence of right-wing revolutionary thought and action from the late 19th to the middle of the 20th century, and will consider several historiographical frames for analyzing the combination of conservativism and revolution. It will use a broad, pan-European scope to consider the intellectual and culture roots of Fascism, and follow the institutionalization of Fascist ideology in movements and regimes. The first half of the course will be dedicated to a thorough treatment of a single case study: Italian Fascism 1915-1945. The second half of the class will consider other cases often described as “Fascist”: the nationalist syndicalist movement in pre-WW1 France, inter-war regimes in Germany, Spain and Romania, and post-WW2 far right movements in Europe.
The historical subject matter and interpretations given in this class are of clear relevance to contemporary issues. That said, the course will be anchored in historical case studies and primary historical sources, first and foremost the case of Italy which gave the term its name and remains, in my opinion, an implicit point of reference when using the term today. It is through familiarity with this case that we can unravel the rich and complex reality that the term “fascism” aims to describe. And in comparing this case with others, we will touch upon both the need for a generic category “fascism” as well as the need for a refined concept which is at once precise and flexible.
Course/Module aims:
Learning outcomes - On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
At the end of the course, students should leave with a basic understanding of the history and dynamics of Italian fascism and the ability to use analytical tools in order to compare this case with other historical situations.
Attendance requirements(%):
Teaching arrangement and method of instruction:
Course/Module Content:
1. Introduction – the history of Fascism and its interpretations
2. World War One and Mussolini’s shift – between myth and mass mobilization
3. Foundation of the fascist party and the March on Rome –political violence as a value
4. Foundation of the dictatorial state and the role of the party in the pursuit of totalitarianism
5. Ideology as a tool in the totalitarian regime
6. The exportation of fascist ideology abroad –the year 1933 as a key junction
7. Foundation of the fascist empire, the alliance with Nazi Germany, and the role of racism and antisemitism
8. The final catastrophe – World War Two, internal revolt, the Republic of Salo, and the Shoah
9. Comparative case study number 1: France in the age of Dreyfus –Fascism before Fascism?
10. Comparative case study number 2: Nazi Germany – German Fascism or something else?
11. Comparative case study number 3: Spain and Romania and the tensions between dictatorial regimes and filo-fascist parties
12. Comparative case study number 4: post-war far right movements in Europe – Fascism without a regime?
13. Conclusions and discussion of the question of contemporary fascism
Required Reading:
All students will be expected to read two books during the course. The first is either the very short introduction to Fascism by Kevin Passamore, or “Ur-Fascism” by Umberto Eco, and preferably should be read before the start of the first lesson. The second is a full length monograph, to be coordinated with the instructor and finished by the end of the course. Readings will depend in part on the preferred language of each student, will be coordinated with the instructor and can include texts in Hebrew, English, Italian or French. In addition, before each class students will be required to read a short primary source and an excerpt from an article relevant to the day’s discussion.
Additional Reading Material:
Because the relevant reading material is massive, in several languages, and concerns different topics, students are encouraged to coordinate directly with the lecturer. The following are some possibilities available in the HUJI library:
ישי לנדא, שורשי הפשיזם האירופי. 2015.
האנטומיה של פשיזם – רוברט פקסטון 2009
יסודות הפשיזם – זאב שטרנהל 1992
The sacralization of politics in fascist Italy, Emilio Gentile, 1996
La grande italia: the myth of the nation in the tentiwth century , 2009
Modernism and Fascism, by Roger Griffin, 2007
The nature of Fascism, by Roger Griffin, 1991
Interpreations of Fascism, by Renzo de Felice, 1977
The Fascist Revolution: Toward a general theory of fascism, edited by George Mosse
Universal Fascism: the theory and practice of the fascist international, 1928-1936, by Michael Ledeen 1972
Grading Scheme :
Essay / Project / Final Assignment / Home Exam / Referat 50 %
Active Participation / Team Assignment 10 %
Submission assignments during the semester: Exercises / Essays / Audits / Reports / Forum / Simulation / others 40 %
Additional information:
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