CONTEMPORARY ISSUES & INSTITUTIONS: MODERN EUROPE

In this course, we will try to understand how specific spaces are constructed both in reality and in the European imagination from the 19th to the 21st century. Exploring differences and commonalities between various nations, such as Germany, France, and England and working with specific spatial concepts – such as the city, the countryside, the department store, the border – will allow us to pursue questions such as the following: How are space and place determined and produced? What does this production mean for the individual and social groups, for countries and nations and their respective self-understanding? How do spaces and social practices influence European and national identities? In the process, we will become aware how various spaces have developed historically and learn about the legal and political frameworks that play a role in the ideological and cultural production of space and place. We will read critical texts from different disciplinary perspectives (history, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, geography), literary texts from various national traditions, and watch a film or two. Assignments will include online reading quizzes, short writing projects, a midterm and a final exam.
Days: TU TH  11:00-12:20 PM

Echoes of Empire in Contemporary European Memory and Identity

The era of New Imperialism (1880–1914) was underpinned by racial and cultural hierarchies that cast Europe as superior and therefore morally justified in pursuing global dominance over “uncivilized” territories. Echoes of Empire examines both the ideological foundations of New Imperialism and the systems of governance it produced, before turning to the processes of decolonization that radically reshaped Europe in the decades after the Second World War. The course focuses on how late colonialism transformed Europe through demographic shifts, migration policies, and cultural and political debates about national identity. Readings and films reveal how Europe continues to negotiate its colonial past through nostalgia, silence, and avoidance. Case studies from Britain, Germany, France, and the Netherlands illustrate how colonial legacies remain central to contemporary debates over multiculturalism, populism, and memory. By the end of the course, students will gain both historical literacy and the tools to assess how late colonialism continues to influence European identity and politics.
Days: MO WE  02:00-03:20 PM

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