Yugoslavia from Creation to Collapse
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| MLAC2208 | Modern Languages and Cultures | 2 | 20 | Full Year UK |
- Code
- MLAC2208
- School
- Modern Languages and Cultures
- Level
- 2
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Full Year UK
Summary
The state of Yugoslavia existed in two vastly different forms during the twentieth century, representing eighty odd years of change between political systems, cultural overhaul and social upheaval, all linked by the central idea of the unification of the South Slav peoples. This module will examine the history and culture of these nations, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and explore the causes behind their violent collapse in the Second World War and in the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s. The module will introduce the central socio-political idea of Yugoslavism, designed to bring together a diverse range of people, with different languages, alphabets, religions and imperial influences, into a coherent and modern state. Whilst examining the historical and political context, students will also have the opportunity to examine how culture supported, interrogated and challenged the state through the close examination of different cultural texts, including literature, art, film, newspapers, and diaries, amongst others. As a part of this, students will be introduced to the many faces of the political and social idea of nationalism, and the concept’s long-lasting impacts on the places and peoples of (the former) Yugoslavia.
Target Students
Available for all second year students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Available to Exchange Students.
Assessment
- 40% Coursework 1: Commentary 1,500 words.
- 60% Coursework 2: Essay 2,500 words.
Assessed in both autumn & spring semest
Educational Aims
This course aims to introduce students to the diverse and complex history and culture of the state of Yugoslavia in its two ethno-political constructions – the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The course will provide students with a solid grounding of the historical and political context of the creation and collapse of these states, but it will also introduce the cultural works that accompanied, bolstered and reflected these processes. Students will develop and broaden their knowledge of literary, cultural and political theory to develop a critical understanding of this history, the political constructions, and challenges of identity in the two Yugoslav states. The course will also build on students’ broader knowledge of Slavonic cultures in terms of concepts such as empire, nationhood and national identity, ethnicity, class and family constructions. Students will examine and interrogate the interaction of the states with the international community, examining and learning about the processes of international intervention in conflict and conflict-resolution.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding:
Knowledge of the history of the central Balkan region in the designated period
Understanding of the rise of nationalism, Socialism, and the reactions of the international community to the collapse of Yugoslavia
Critical awareness of the link between artistic narratives, and the political and cultural history of the South Slav nations
Intellectual skills:
Ability to create a structured and reasoned argument to support ideas
Ability to evaluate and analyse primary and secondary sources, both orally and in writing
Ability to differentiate between politics and aesthetics in the interpretation of artistic works from the period
Ability to engage with and apply selected theoretical concepts in interpretation of artistic and historical texts
Ability to engage with advanced political mythologies and their ethno-political bases
Professional/Practical Skills:
Development of effective skills in independent research and critical analysis
Ability to process, review and present evidence in good written and spoken English
Ability to present written work according to set conventions and instructions
Transferable (Key) Skills:
Critical thinking
Ability to engage in group discussions on varying topics
Oral and written communication on set topic
Teamwork
Time management and self-organisation
Ability to prioritise tasks, organise work schedules, and meet deadlines
Effective digital skills in research and presentation of research