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Unit outline_

HSTY2626: Fascism and Antifascism

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

How does fascism take root in democratic societies? And what are the means by which fascists exercise power? This unit traces the emergence of authoritarian regimes in Europe after World War One, as well as the movements that arose to resist them. Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and other case studies will be explored through a study of ideology, propaganda, memoirs, art, and cinema.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit History
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 1000 level in History or Ancient History or Asian Studies or Jewish Civilisation, Thought and Culture
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
HSTY2026
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Marco Duranti, marco.duranti@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Marco Duranti, marco.duranti@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Take-home exercise
See Canvas
30% Formal exam period
Due date: 11 Nov 2024 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO7
Small continuous assessment Discussion posts and tutorial participation
See Canvas.
10% Ongoing Weekly comments
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO2
Assignment Essay draft
See Canvas for assessment description and instructions.
20% Week 07
Due date: 09 Sep 2024 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Research essay
See Canvas for assessment description and instructions.
40% Week 13
Due date: 28 Oct 2024 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

See Canvas.

Assessment criteria

See Canvas site for assessment instructions, guides, and marking criteria.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

5 points per calendar day

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to the history of fascism and antifascism Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 Ideological origins of fascism Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
What is fascism? Tutorial (1 hr) LO5 LO6
Week 03 Causes of the rise of fascism Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
What were the long-term causes of fascism? Tutorial (1 hr) LO5 LO6
Week 04 Democracies in crisis Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Mussolini's worldview and rise to power Tutorial (1 hr) LO5 LO6
Week 05 Research and writing methods Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Hitler's worldview and rise to power Tutorial (1 hr) LO5 LO6
Week 06 Fascism and Nazism in Comparison 1 Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Social roots of Italian Fascism Tutorial (1 hr) LO5 LO6
Week 07 Fascism and Nazism in Comparison 2 Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Social roots of Nazism Tutorial (1 hr) LO5 LO6
Week 08 Fascist cinema Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Gender in Fascist Italy Tutorial (1 hr) LO5 LO6
Week 09 World War 2 and the Spanish Civil War Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO7
Gender in Nazi Germany Tutorial (1 hr) LO5 LO6
Week 10 French fascism Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO7
Fascist aesthetics Tutorial (1 hr) LO5 LO6
Week 11 FILM: Leni Riefenstahl's 'Triumph of the Will' and 'Olympia' Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Anti-fascist cinema Tutorial (1 hr) LO5 LO6
Week 12 FILM: Roberto Rossellini's 'Rome: Open City' Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Psychological dimensions of fascism Tutorial (1 hr) LO5 LO6
Week 13 FILM: Bernardo Bertolucci's 'The Conformist' Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Debating fascism in the era of Donald Trump Tutorial (1 hr) LO5 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

 

ATTENDANCE: Attendance in lectures and tutorials is mandatory. If you are unable to regularly attend lectures due to a clash, you must email me with the reason before Week 2. Attendance in tutorials will be calculated on the basis of the in-class surveys, which you are only permitted to submit if you have attended tutorial. 

 

ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS TO PASS UNIT: Students need to attempt every assessment in order to pass a unit. If you encounter issues that prevent you from submitting, you should always contact Marco Duranti (marco.duranti@sydney.edu.au) to discuss possible solutions

 

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

See Canvas site.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. By studying in depth, in their historical contexts, the important fascist movements in twentieth century Europe you will expand your knowledge of contemporary European history and current political movements, within Europe and without.
  • LO2. You will acquire a critical understanding of the ways in which historians, scholars in other disciplines, creative artists, and commentators in the media have approached the study of fascism, right wing authoritarianism and antifascism.
  • LO3. Pursuing an independent research project culminating in an original essay, you will develop analytical and writing skills.
  • LO4. In conducting research and building bibliographies you will extend your skills in information and digital literacy.
  • LO5. Through group activities and discussions, you will arrive at informed opinions on controversial historical and contemporary issues, developing your collaborative and communication skills.
  • LO6. Through group activities and online discussion you will learn to sensitively communicate and explain comparative social, cultural and institutional differences across historical periods and places, integrating diverse perspectives on the past and understand how exploring how axes of inequality (such as class, gender and racial inequalities) have been historically constructed.
  • LO7. Appreciating how Europe's fascist past informs our own troubled present, you will consider what fascism and antifascism means in the 21st century.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Tutorial readings, topics, and activities have been revised in response to student feedback.

See the Canvas site for readings, assessment instructions, lecture recordings and slides, etc.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.