The essay reflects an in-depth understanding of the role of economic and political backwardness, political ideology and nationalism in East European history, as demonstrated through a more extended analysis and a command of the relevant literature.

160 hours total learning time, of which 18 hours will be contact time (12 1-hour lectures and 6 1-hour seminars). 142 hours will be allocated to independent learning. In addition to the skills acquired at Level 1, you will be encouraged to approach the subjects of this module from a conceptual angle, with especial attention paid to theoretical and historiographical issues. The independent study time will allow for individual or group study, but also for tutorial guidance on reading material and the preparation of class and assessed work. There will also be individual tutorials providing for a detailed discussion of course content and scholarly literature.

This module introduces you to the history of Eastern Europe as 'the lands between', an area of Europe that has existed uneasily between rival power blocs since the early twentieth century , largely to the disadvantage of the region itself. The module explores the ways in which economic but also poltical backwardness have shaped Eastern Europe's history, and how successive idelogies have been adopted by or imposed on the region in an attempt to overcome these problems. After charting the failure of Communism in the post-1945 period, the module concludes by examining how 'post-Communism' is affected by Eastern Europe's troubled historical legacy, which includes the continuing strength of nationalism

Recommended Library secondary sources

A COURSEWORK -ESSAY length 4000 WORDS weighted at 100%.
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General Academic Learning Outcomes
- A conceptual approach to historical study, and an ability to analyse key concepts such as nationalism,
modernisation, etc.
- A critical awareness of historiographical issues, in particular the way in which conceptual interpretations of historical
events have changed over time.
- An ability to research an historical topic in greater depth, than at Level 1, in particular through the use of scholarly periodical
literature or edited collections of articles.

Module-Specific Learning Outcomes
- A detailed knowledge and understanding of East European history in the twentieth century, and an ability to analyse
relevant historical debates.
- A critical awareness of the importance of economic and political backwardness in the context of East European history,
and of the political ideologies which have responded to this.
- An ability to analyse the continuing importance of nationalism in the history of Eastern Europe.
- An ability to demonstrate the above through extra written assessment.

Transferable Skills:
- An ability to think conceptually in analysing any problem or situation.
- An ability to identify relevant data and distinguish between the relative value of different points of view.
- An ability to express yourself conceptually, and elucidate complex concepts in written work.
- An ability to manage your time independently, appropriate to Level 2, including extra independent study for
assessment purposes.

Crampton, R.J. Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century and After, 2nd ed. (Routledge 1997)
Held, Joseph. The Columbia History of Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century (Columbia UP 1991)
Ramet, Sabrina P. Social Currents in Eastern Europe: The Sources and Consequences of the Great Transformation,
2nd ed. (Duke UP 1995)
Rothschild, Joseph. East Central Europe between the Two World Wars (Washington UP 1974)
Rothschild, Joseph. Return To Diversity: A Political History of East Central Europe since World War II, 2nd ed.
(OUP 1993)
Schopflin, George. Politics in Eastern Europe 1945-1992 (Blackwell 1993)