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2005/06 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HIST3770 Mussolini and Fascist Expansion, 1932-1940

40 creditsClass Size: 20

Module manager: Prof J Gooch
Email: j.gooch@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2005/06

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- comprehend, describe, analyse and explain the main stages of Fascist expansion in Europe and Africa between 1932 and 1940;
- place that knowledge in the context of the historiographical debate about the immediate and longer-term nature of fascist and Italian foreign policy; and
- offer informed views as to the motivating forces and factors chiefly responsible for that expansion.

Skills outcomes
Further enhances Common Skills listed below:

High-level skills in oral and written communication of complex ideas.
Independence of mind and self-discipline and self-direction to work effectively under own initiative.
Ability to locate, handle and synthesize large amounts of information.
Capacity to employ analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to engage constructively with the ideas of their peers, tutors and published sources.
Empathy and active engagement with alternative cultural contexts.
Plus:
Skills in interpretation and analysis of complex documentary-based material.Further enhances Common Skills listed below:

High-level skills in oral and written communication of complex ideas.
Independence of mind and self-discipline and self-direction to work effectively under own initiative.
Ability to locate, handle and synthesize large amounts of information.
Capacity to employ analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to engage constructively with the ideas of their peers, tutors and published sources.
Empathy and active engagement with alternative cultural contexts.
Plus:
Skills in interpretation and analysis of complex documentary-based material.

Syllabus

The module will begin with a brief consideration of the background of foreign policy in Liberal Italy up to 1922, and of the first decade of Fascist diplomacy from 1922-1932. Consideration will be given to the nature of Mussolini's personal rule and to the Fascist movement and party as contributors to formulation and creation of Italian external policy from 1932 onwards.

The module will then examine in detail Italy's incursion into Abyssinia 1935-6, her involvement in the Spanish Civil War 1936-9, the creation of the Axis and the Pact of Steel, and finally Mussolini's decision to intervene in the war in Europe in June 1940.

While use will be made of some Italian primary source material in English, the prism through which these events will be viewed will chiefly be the published British, American and German documents on foreign policy.

Teaching methods

Seminars: 22 x 2 hours.

Private study

Exam preparation; researching, preparing, and writing assignments; undertaking set reading; and self-directed reading around the topic. 356 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Contributions to class discussions, two assessed exercises, an exercise or exercises worth 10% of module marks.

Methods of assessment

Two written exercises, essay or their equivalent, each of 3,000 words (40%);
Oral presentation (10%);
One 3 hour examination (50%).
The submission dates for the written exercises will be 12 noon on the Friday of the second week of the January examination period and 12 noon on the Friday of the May revision week.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 27/04/2005

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