Questions of history : contemporary period [ LHIST1230 ]

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After a solid presentation of the very notion of contemporary history, carefully tracing the route since 1945, as well as its sources and methods, a documentary dossier, developed on a present-day issue, seeks to illustrate the political, economic, social and cultural, as well as social and juridical aspects. This dossier serves as a basis for :
1°) putting the question chosen into perspective;
2°) critical analysis of the documentation, completed, if need be, in terms of the evolution of the question during the quadrimester of the course. This part will also welcome interventions by specialists or, as the case may be, actors involved in some of the points treated. The course is mandatory for students in history and is open to DES students in political sciences. Each instructor will participate in the development of a reading dossier in terms of his speciality and will present his approach to the question in dialogue with the other members of the teaching team. As far as possible, the groups should not exceed 25-30 students. The course is mandatory for 'licence' students in history and is open to DES students in political sciences.

By the end of this course, the student should be able :
- to shed light on problems in present day society by recourse to history;
- evaluate the application of historical critique to contemporary documentation, including the new forms it has assumed;
- put the historical dimension of present-day problems into perspective by crossing approaches based on diversified sources.

Evaluation : Written examination. It deals with theory and, principally, solving practical questions.

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From the point of view of method, the instructor seeks to place the sources and methods of contemporary history into perspective; to approach a general theme by means of thematic or spatio-temporal approaches, depending on the subject chosen.

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Prerequisites : based on a written examination consisting of answering questions taken from the theme treated in the course.  Support : student notes Bibliography : a plan, a documentary dossier and student notes. Teaching staff : So as to foster critical debate, the course welcomes specialists or, as the case may be, actors involved in some of the points treated.