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FUBiS Term III: America in the 21st Century: Crises, Challenges and Chances
(course # 3.27)
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Type: |
D-Track |
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Instructor(s): |
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Language: |
English |
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Contact hours: |
72 (6 per day) |
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Credit Points: |
6 |
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Capacity: |
18 |
Resources
Course description
Numerous hopes for fundamental change were connected to Obama’s election in 2008. The country was politically divided and the reputation of the USA as a military and economic superpower in the world had suffered strongly during George W. Bush’s eight years in the White House. Moreover, a deep financial and economic crisis has made the countries situation even worse. A few months before the next presidential election, most of the hopes for a new beginning in the US have failed or are still waiting for being implemented. A stagnating economy, high unemployment rates and a high national debt worsen the prospects of a re-election of Obama. Additionally, the nearly formed ‘tea party movement’ not just make it harder to find a political compromise; it even weakens the chances for the Republican Party to win the upcoming presidential election.
In the context of this course we will try to work on a review of the recent political and societal problems of the United States. This will be done in a historical and interdisciplinary perspective in order to understand the causes as well as possible solution to the obvious problems. In a comparative perspective we will compare the development and the situation in the US with European problems in order to see what is so exceptional in the US.
Looking at the issue from different perspectives and disciplines, the students will gain a profound understanding in the history, culture and politics of the United States. The broad interdisciplinary perspective will help to understand recent developments in the United States like the election of the first black man into the White House and the newly formed protest movement that is called the "Tea Party Movement." Students with different disciplinary backgrounds will learn how other disciplines approach the United States as a research object and thereby further improving their own disciplinary skills.
Specific topics of the course will be taught with the support of Fulbright Visiting Scholars from the United States in order to integrate a transatlantic perspective.
Through a joint initiative of The German-American Fulbright Commission and Freie Universität Berlin International Summer and Winter University FUBiS, ten qualified students of Bachelor or Master studies at a German University can receive full scholarships for this course. See www.fulbright.de for more information and the application forms, applications are welcome until February 29, 2012.
Student profile
The course is designed for students of the social sciences, cultural studies, economics, and North American studies. Basic knowledge of U.S. history and politics is helpful, but no prerequisite.
Prerequisites
None
Course Requirements
Active participation; presentation; two essays
Grading
- Active participation 20%
- Presentation 30%
- Essays 25% each
Reading
A course reader and a reading list will be handed out at the orientation meeting.
