Course Description
The extraordinary proliferation of communist states in the twentieth century has few historical parallels, and few people anywhere remained indifferent to communism’s utopian idea. What was communism? How did it move untold millions worldwide? Crucially, what relationship does the communist utopia bear to the horrendous violence done in its name?
Athena Title
Global History of Communism
Prerequisite
Any HIST course or ENGL 1101 or ENGL 1101E or ENGL 1101S or ENGL 1102 or ENGL 1102E or ENGL 1102S or POLS 1101 or POLS 1101E or POLS 1101H or POLS 1101S
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
- By the end of this course, students will be able to arrive at conclusions about the global history of communism by gathering and weighing evidence, logical argument, and listening to counter argument.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to write stylistically appropriate papers and essays. Students will be able to analyze ideas and evidence, organize their thoughts, and revise and edit their finished essays.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to identify how the global history of Communism shaped diverse social and cultural attitudes toward wealth and property, national identity, and global politics, encouraging them to understand diverse worldviews and experiences.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to apply appropriate methodological approaches to their analysis of primary sources and to organize their evidence to show historical continuities and discontinuities.
Topical Outline
- Utopian thought
- Pre-modern socialism and collectivism
- Marx and Marxism
- Nationalism, imperialism, and colonialism
- Late Russian Empire
- Lenin and Marxism-Leninism
- The Russian Revolution
- Bolshevism in power
- Communism in America
- Stalin and Stalinism
- European Social Democracy
- Origins of the Cold War
- Eastern Europe and the Communist Bloc
- Yugoslav communism
- Decolonization and independence movements
- Chinese Revolution and Maoism
- Sino-Soviet Split
- Soviet foreign policy
- North Korea and Korean War
- Cuban Revolution
- Communism in Africa
- Communism in Southeast Asia
- Vietnam War
- China after Mao and capitalist transitions
- Dissent and the Eastern Bloc
- Collapse of the Soviet Union
- Communist afterlives (Cuba; DPRK)
- Anti-capitalism after 1989
Institutional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Communication
The ability to effectively develop, express, and exchange ideas in written, oral, interpersonal, or visual form.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
