Aims

The course studies the major developments and structures in politics, social relationships and culture, and introduces the students to contemporary life in the German-, English- or Dutch-speaking communities in Europe.
By the end of the course, students are expected to have acquired in-depth knowledge of German-/ English-/ Dutch-speaking Europe.

Main themes

1. the material reality and the geographic/ cultural communities
2. political and social organisation (form of government)
3. moral attitudes
4. intellectual, philosophical and religious life
5. the hopes, failures and achievements of these communities

Content and teaching methods

This course concentrates mainly on the contemporary aspects of the German-speaking countries, regions and cultures, taking World War II as a starting-point. Special attention is paid to the history of the two German-speaking states, which led to two societies that are in many ways diametrically opposed to each other, and to the profound alterations brought about by the Wende of 1989 and the fall of the Berlin wall. Even if it is hard at this early stage to make a more definitive assessment of the new developments since then, the course will study this reversal in detail.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Pre-course requirements: a good knowledge of German/ English/ Dutch, both spoken and written.

Assessment: oral or written exam

Study aids: course book, text syllabus, video extracts of films, documentaries and archives.

Teaching method: formal lectures, personal reading

Other credits in programs