History 247: The Rise of the New Europe

St. Lawrence University
The Cultural Encounters Program

Dr. Judith DeGroat

Course Content and Requirements:
We will examine the changing meanings of the terms "Europe" and"European" by studying the people who have claimed those labels over the pasttwo centuries. In particular we will look at the impact of non-European immigrants—oftenfrom countries dominated by European rulers—on the culture and society of Europe. We willask several questions beyond basic definitions and their change over time: What are thedefinitions of citizenship in culturally diverse societies? How do those definitionsinfluence policy? How do secular constitutional regimes make space for citizens fromcultures defined by religious law? These and many other questions will emerge in ourdiscussions throughout the semester.

As that last sentence notes, you will have a significant role in this course, which isstructured as a seminar. There are weekly readings that will form the basis of ourdiscussions. That reading and your participation in discussion are class requirements.Each week, you will submit a written summary of and questions on the readings. These willbe graded and returned to you (10%). Each of you will be responsible for leading thediscussion of one of the readings and then you will write a review (3-4 pages) of theselection (10%).

You will keep a journal that includes your reflections on class discussion and a log ofcurrent intra-European ethnic issues that you will collect from the library's periodicalholdings. The latter source will be the basis of an in-class project. In this journal youwill also begin to develop questions for a research trip abroad (20%).

You will conduct research on a community composed of old and new Europeans. The results ofthat research will be presented to the class in oral form and in a research paper of 8-10pages (15%). Finally, there will be two in-class essay exams: at the mid-term and acumulative final (15% each).

You will receive more information about all of these assignments throughout the course ofthe semester. Let me say here that the majority of your grade will derive from activeparticipation in class (15%). Attendance is a class requirement; absences will have anadverse affect on your final grade. In order to participate, you must be in class. Alsonote that the value of each assignment is approximate. Your efforts, including revision,will be taken into consideration in the final grade. If you have questions about thecourse, the course material or the classroom activities, ASK.

Required Texts

Bjorgo and White, Racist Violence in Europe
Hobsbawm and Ranger, The Invention of Tradition
Kramer, Unsettling Europe
Ozdamar, Mother Tongue

In addition, a packet of selected essays will be available for purchase in the historydepartment.

ASSIGNMENTS

Changes in the schedule of assignments are the prerogative of the instructor. It is yourresponsibility to remain aware of any changes that are announced in class.

Readings marked with an * are in the course packet.

I. Introduction: The Meanings of Cultural Identity

Discussion of Syllabus
Methodology of Course
Assignment of Discussion Topic
Discussion of Research Topics

II. Nationalisms

Hobswanm and Ranger, Ch. 1-3
Johnson, "The Making of the French Nation" *
Fanon, "On National Culture" *
Schmidt, "The Nation in German History" *

III. Movements within Europe

Cross, "Immigrant Laborers" *
Marrus, selections from The Politics of Assimilation*
Wolf, from Europe and the People without History*

IV. Building Empire

Chaudhuri, "Shawls, Jewelry, Curry and Rice in Victorian Britain"*
Fraser, "Nineteenth Century West Indian Migration to Britain"*
Hobswanm, Ch. 4-7
Said, from Orientalism*

V. Designing Empire

"Punch Projects"-an assessment of the changing representation of empire and thepeoples of the emerging colonial empires from the British journal "Punch."

VI. MIDTERM

VII. World Wars and Decolonization

Freeman, "Caribbean Migration to Britain and France" *
Ignatieff, selections from Blood and Belonging*
Tabili, "We ask for British Justice"*

VIII. Guest Workers

Kramer, Unsettling Europe, entire.

IX. The Languages of Identity

Ozdamar, Mother Tongue, entire
Carpentier, Cesaire Paz-selected poems*
Guest Lecture, Professor Stephen White

X. Resistance and Hate

Bjorgo and White, Racist Violence, entire.
Husbands, "National Front"*
"My Beautiful Launderette" -film

XI. Assimilation or Segregation?

Kramer, "Affaire de Foulards"
Frank, "The Exodus of Turks from Bulgaria, 1989"*
Ireland, "Facing the True Fortress Europe': Immigrant Politics in the EC"*

XII-XIII. Research Presentations, Summary, FINAL EXAM.