| Unit name | Italian Fascism |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ITAL20045 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. O'Rawe |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of Italian |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
This unit introduces students to many of the themes which are important for an understanding of Italian fascism. Fascism in Italy is both an historical question and a political one. As the first fascist country, the inventor of fascism and the first country to have a fascist regime, Italy provided a model for many other countries and experiences – including Nazism. In addition, Italy has a powerful post-fascist political party, which in 2022 took power nationally. Thus, this unit is important in terms of both understanding historical fascism as well as debates around that legacy and Italian politics, society and memory today. This legacy is not just symbolic, or theoretical, but actual – and not just in Italy, but across the globe.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit fits with other units in Italian and SML – Modern Italy and then a series of final year units. It provides background on a key period in Italian history and context for other courses and materials studied across literature, culture, film and history. It also connects to other courses that address the far right in, for example, French and HIPLA, as well as MODL23017: Woman and Nation.
An overview of content
You will study primary and secondary material on Fascism including academic studies, but also films, documentaries, photographs, songs, first-hand accounts, diaries and other types of material. Each week has a couple of set readings for class discussion and a series of other material which can be consulted and analysed at home.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
Having taken this unit, you will have developed a broad range of skills. You will have a good command of the history and the approaches to it, and a good grasp on how to understand historical debate and how it can be related to politics. You will be able to apply your knowledge to Italian and global history, but also to complex real-world debates around fascism and the far right, which are prominent in public discourse. You will in turn become confident, reflective, and effective communicators, both through seminar discussion and written assignments. You will likewise be able to research independently and sustain a sophisticated argument, in dialogue with the historical literature on the topic.
Learning outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. demonstrate an in-depth understanding of Italian fascism from a variety of angles, including relevant theoretical and methodological approaches;
2. analyse and evaluate the themes covered in this area of study – in particular those of violence, ideology, the fascist imaginary, anti-fascism and opposition, masculinity and gender and cultural change under the regime and memory.
3. compare and contrast Italian fascism with other fascisms, old and new;
4. articulate and communicate research findings effectively.
Teaching will be delivered through a combination of interactive lectures and seminar discussion, alongside self-directed reading and questions to consider outside class. In-class activities will increase your familiarity with the subject matter, thereby allowing you to increase in confidence and knowledge in the topics. Seminar discussions will allow you to develop your critical thinking about Italian fascism, its history, the debates around it, and its legacy, as well as its impact on contemporary global politics.
Tasks students are expected to complete include: preparatory reading and preparation of focusing questions every week for seminar discussion. Some viewing of film material. Analysis of primary material such as photos, speeches, films as preparation for discussion.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Group presentation, 15 minutes (30%) [ILOs 1, 2 and 4].
Essay, 2000 words (70%) [ILOs 1-4].
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ITAL20045).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
