History

This course provides a core of knowledge of Italy's post-Unification history, grounding students in the political, economic, and social development of the country. Commencing with the nation-state's formation, the analysis of issues surrounding Italy's early identity, society, and political structures reveal many of the problems that subsequent regimes have sought to address. After developing a solid grounding in the formation and establishment of the new nation state, the course explores the impact of World War One upon the interwar period of Fascist Italy. After establishing what Fascism was and what it meant for Italian people, consideration turns to the Second World War, the fall of Italian Fascism and its longterm legacy upon the postwar republic. Examination of post-1945 Italy considers the influence of America and the Cold War upon the internal battle for political control between the Left and the Catholic Right. This period also focuses on Italy's economic recovery and re-entry into "normal" diplomatic relations that was rubber-stamped by the 1960 Rome Olympic Games. With the country's foreign relations stabilized, attention turns to the internal crises of insurrection, terrorism, mafia activity, and corruption that led to Tangentopoli, the collapse of the old political order, and the rise of Silvio Berlusconi. The course concludes by examining the rise of the contemporary political phenomenon of the Five Star Movement and the Lega.

This course examines the social, economic, cultural, political, and international dimensions of the history of women and gender relations. It discusses the presence and evolution of patriarchy in different societies, the importance of gender as a factor of inequality, and the theoretical foundations of feminism within western philosophical trends and its contribution to societal evolution. 

This course provides an introduction to the culture and society of contemporary Italy in the post-war period, identifying and challenging traditional stereotypes. In Semester 1, the course identifies the major political, economic, and social changes which have affected Italy since the Second World War. In Semester 2, students consider how we make sense of the process of Italian cultural production in multiple media and across multiple centuries, from the medieval and Renaissance period to the modern era, directing the attention towards the study and interpretation of different kinds of texts (poetic, narrative, and filmic) created in this cultural context.

This course explores how Korean thinkers and activists have engaged religions and ideologies in the major political, social, and cultural movements and activism during colonial and contemporary Korea. The course discusses how ideologies and religious ideas have informed the major debates and collective activities that have made the Korean history progress further. 

This course offers a study of the genesis and development of the ideas that revolutionized Physics within the historical context of the 20th century. Topics include: Einstein's special theory of relativity; general relativity; quantum revolution physics of the universe; elementary particles; quantum physics and technology.

This course traces the development of both Theravāda and Mahāyāna Buddhism in Southeast Asia. Major topics include the spread of Buddhism, the rise of Buddhist kingdoms, the development of popular traditions, the impact of European colonialism, the relationship between Buddhism and nationalism, the emergence of modern reformist movements, and Buddhist minorities in maritime Southeast Asia.