Cultural Dilemmas of Contemporaneity

elective courses

Classroom

The goal of the course is to present the most important cultural dilemmas of contemporaneity in terms of social and cultural processes occurring in Europe, with a special reference to the context of European integration.

The course is devoted to the cultural dilemmas of contemporaneity, which, seen from the European perspective, exert a significant influence on the course of integration processes. The course offers therefore a possibility to identify and then to analyse the most important sociocultural dilemmas contemporary Europe is confronted with.

The course is an attempt to view the dynamics of the contemporary cultural processes in Europe. The course rises the questions on the future of the European Social Model, directions of social and education policy connected with the demographic issues, unemployment among the youth and employment problems. In this context, issues of importance are those related to the cultural dilemmas of the migration policy and the contemporary crisis of the multiculturalism ideology.

The questions about the place of religion in Europe are of similar importance, especially from the perspective of rapidly developing religious and secular fundamentalism. It is also appropriate to consider the cultural basis of the European integration and the European system of values which have laid foundations for the integration project, including the direction of the human rights’ evolution and the broadly understood equality policy.

The cultural dilemmas of contemporary Europe also include issues relating to the European cultural identity and the attitude of the European societies towards the past. We witness the birth of a new remembrance policy – a phenomenon which will exert an ever greater influence on the attitudes and the cultural/historical awareness of the Europeans. This context gives rise to the question about the present role of the national cultural canons in European societies and tensions accompanying their transformations.

Student’s workload:

classes - 30 h

preparation for a presentation - 30 h

preparation for classes (lectures) - 30 h

preparation for classes and written 30 h

altogether - 120 h

Pomian Krzysztof, „Europa jako pluralistyczna wspólnota wartości” w: tegoż, Europa i jej Narody, Słowo/Obraz Terytoria, Gdańsk 2004, s. 217-227.

Barber, Benjamin, „Dziki kapitalizm a demokracja” w: tegoż, Dżihad kontra McŚwiat, Spectrum, Muza SA, Warszawa 1997, s. 302-315.

Giddens, Anthony, „Model socjalny” w: tegoż, Europa w Epoce globalnej, PWN, Warszawa 2009, s. 15-47.

Standing, Guy, Prekariat. Nowa niebezpieczna klasa, PWN, Warszawa 2016.

Laqueur, Walter. „Migracje“ w: Ostatnie Dni Europy; epitafium dla Starego Kontynentu. Wyd. Dolnośląskie, Wrocław 2008, r. II, str. 25-34.

Scheffer, Paul, „Wielka wędrówka ludów” w: tegoż, Druga ojczyzna. Imigranci w społeczeństwie otwartym, Wydawnictwo Czarne, Wołowiec 2010, s. 125-185.

Hannam, June, „Prywatne jest polityczne” – ruch wyzwolenia kobiet i „druga fala” feminizmu w: tejże, Feminizm, Zysk i S-ka Wydawnictwo s.j., Poznań 2010, s. 143-170.

Rifkin, Jeremy, „Drugie Oświecenie” w: Europejskie marzenie: jak europejska wizja przyszłości zaćmiewa American dream, NADIR, Warszawa 2005, s. 380-430.

Cohn-Bendit, Daniel, „Wyzwanie multikulturalizmu”, w: tegoż, Co robić? Mały traktat o wyobraźni politycznej na użytek Europejczyków, Wydawnictwo Krytyki Politycznej, Warszawa 2010, s. 94-114.

Casanova José, Religia, europejskie tożsamości laickie, integracja, „Znak” nr 12/2004, s.18-39.

Kepel, Gilles. „Zakończenie” w: Zemsta Boga [tłum. A. Adamczak], Wydawnictwo Krytyki Politycznej, Warszawa 2010, s. 265-278.

Chwedoruk, Rafał, Polityka historyczna w Europie – periodyzacja i wiodące dyskursy, „Studia Politologiczne” vol. 35, październik 2015, s. 47-74.

Kostro, Robert, Merta Tomasz (red), Pamięć i odpowiedzialność, Ośrodek Myśli Politycznej, Centrum Konserwatywne, Kraków-Wrocław 2005.

Smolar, Aleksander, Władza i geografia pamięci w: Pamięć jako przedmiot władzy, Fundacja im. Stefana Batorego, Warszawa 2008, s.49-74.

Upon completion of the course, student will be able to:

1. in the field of knowledge

- identify and indicate the main cultural dilemmas of contemporary Europe in the context of global phenomena.

- understand the basic concepts and terms connected with the modern sociocultural challenges Europe is confronted with.

- understand the dynamics of the contemporary sociocultural changes in Europe.

- specify and characterize the main axes of sociocultural debates in Europe.

2. in the field of skils:

- identify and hierarchize the modern sociocultural phenomena in the context of European integration processes.

- apply the conceptual instruments in the work with texts of subject matter literature.

- get skills allowing for independent and critical interpretation of a text of subject matter literature.

3. in the field of attitudes

- interpret in a critical way the information communicated in public domain, being aware of the possible simplifications or manipulations, which are present in the contemporary public discourse.

- will use constructively the factual content and the subject matter literature in further stages of education

The final assessment is based on: 1) class attendance and activity, 2) team work, presentation and the in-depth discussion of a chosen topic 3) written exam