Course Catalogue

View Specification Document

With a particular focus on the revolutions of 1989, this course analyses the collapse of Communism in Europe. The course will establish the main events, actors and causes of revolution in Poland, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Romania, before comparing across cases to consider the legacy of this pivotal moment in European history. This course will appeal to anyone interested in studying the history of revolutions, European Communism, or those who simply want a deeper understanding of the forging of the modern European continent.

2 hours per week for 10 weeks

For timetable details, please visit our web pages University of Glasgow - Study - Short courses

None.

None.

None.

Written Assignment (75%): Students will be asked to write a 1500 word essay.  

Situation Report (25%): Students will submit a 500 word 'situation report' based on a 'briefing folder' which will contain four to five primary source documents. 

This course aims to :

■ Introduce the events, aims, outcomes and interpretations of each of the main European revolutions of 1989 through comparative analysis.

■ Consider key Cold War political themes including the role and nature of 'dissent', 'Communism', 'democracy' and 'revolution'. 

■ Provide an opportunity for students to engage with both primary source material and secondary literature.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Critically evaluate the main events that occurred during the revolutions in Central Europe, including in Poland, Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Romania and Bulgaria

■ Identify similarities and differences across the European revolutions

■ Discuss competing narrative accounts of the 1989 European revolutions

■ Use both primary and secondary source materials in their evaluation of  one 1989 revolution case study.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.