The roots of modern German history (1648-1918) and a comprehension of German history and its peculiarities depend upon the recognition of two important aspects. On the one hand, the constitutional traditions of Prussia, which finally merged into the German Reich 1870/71, and on the other the specific way in which Germany came to terms with the democratic liberal influences of the Western nations. Both tendencies result in the formation of the German Empire as a reflection of a hindered democratization, and have left their lasting mark on German history up until the time after the Second World War.
Prerequisites:
Interest in questions of a historical and social nature
Learning outcomes:
By the end of this course, students should possess knowledge of the roots of modern German history. Student will also have developed skills for critical thinking in historical matters.
Method of presentation:
Lectures and discussions
Required work and form of assessment:
Term paper (25%), mid-term (25%) and final exam
(30%), and class participation (20%)
content:
1. The rise of Prussia to a superpower since Friedrich Wilhelm I
2. German dualism since Friedrich II
3. French Revolution 1789: the fundamental principles and problems
4. Reactions to the French Revolution in Germany
5. Congress of Vienna and the Restoration: 1815-1848
6. Democratic oppositional movements against the Restoration: "Vormärz"
7. Second Restoration and the Industrial Revolution: 1848-1871
8. The political unification of Germany: the foundation of the Prussian Empire
9. The social and economic history of the Bismarck era: 1871-1890
10. The development of German foreign policy: Imperialism
11. On the way to the World War - consequences for German history
Required readings:
Grundzüge der Geschichte. Vol. 4, Stuttgart 2006
Thränhardt, Dietrich. Geschichte der Bundesrepublik. Frankfurt am Main, 2007. Zeiten und Menschen. Vol. 2, Paderborn 2004
Recommended readings:
Elias, Norbert. "Ein Exkurs über Nationalismus" in Studien über die Deutschen. Frankfurt a. M., 1994.
Hertz-Eichenrode, Dieter. Deutsche Geschichte 1871-1890. Das Kaiserreich in der Ära Bismarcks. Stuttgart,
2002.
Hertz-Eichenrode, Dieter. Deutsche Geschichte 1890-1918. Das Kaiserreich in der Wilhelminischen Zeit.
Stuttgart, 2002.
Krockow, Christian von. Preußen - eine Bilanz. Frankfurt a.M., 2001.
Loth, Wilfried. Das Kaiserreich. Obrigkeitsstaat und politische Mobilisierung. München, 2001.
Nipperdey, Thomas. Deutsche Geschichte 1866-1918. München, 1994/5.
Salmonowicz, Stanislaw. Preußen. Geschichte von Staat und Gesellschaft. Köln, 1994.
Schoeps, Hans-Joachim. Preußen. Geschichte eines Staats. Berlin 1997.
Siemann, Wolfram. Die deutsche Revolution von 1848/49. Frankfurt a.M., 2001
Vovelle, Michel. Die französische Revolution. Soziale Bewegung und Umbruch der Mentalitäten. Frankfurt a.M., 1985.
Wunder, Bernd. Europäische Geschichte im Zeitalter der französischen Revolution 1789-1815. Stuttgart,
1999.
Brief Biography of Instructor:
Wolfgang Würger earned a M.A. in Social Sciences from the University of Freiburg in 1982. He then earned a Ph.D. in Social Philosophy from the University of Frankfurt am Main in 1985. He is currently an instructor for IES Freiburg and other institutions. He pursued his postdoctoral lecture qualifications in Social Philosophy at the University of Oldenburg in 1994. Current research areas focus on anthropology, political theory, modern German and European history. Among his more recent publications are: “Grundlegung einer negativen Antropologie: Bd. 1 Ethik” (2003); “Gundlegung einer negativen Anthropologie: Bd. 2 Die Macht und das Böse“ (accepted; will be published in 2010).
German History And German Nation
The roots of modern German history (1648-1918) and a comprehension of German history and its peculiarities depend upon the recognition of two important aspects. On the one hand, the constitutional traditions of Prussia, which finally merged into the German Reich 1870/71, and on the other the specific way in which Germany came to terms with the democratic liberal influences of the Western nations. Both tendencies result in the formation of the German Empire as a reflection of a hindered democratization, and have left their lasting mark on German history up until the time after the Second World War.
Interest in questions of a historical and social nature
By the end of this course, students should possess knowledge of the roots of modern German history. Student will also have developed skills for critical thinking in historical matters.
Lectures and discussions
Term paper (25%), mid-term (25%) and final exam
(30%), and class participation (20%)
1. The rise of Prussia to a superpower since Friedrich Wilhelm I
2. German dualism since Friedrich II
3. French Revolution 1789: the fundamental principles and problems
4. Reactions to the French Revolution in Germany
5. Congress of Vienna and the Restoration: 1815-1848
6. Democratic oppositional movements against the Restoration: "Vormärz"
7. Second Restoration and the Industrial Revolution: 1848-1871
8. The political unification of Germany: the foundation of the Prussian Empire
9. The social and economic history of the Bismarck era: 1871-1890
10. The development of German foreign policy: Imperialism
11. On the way to the World War - consequences for German history
Grundzüge der Geschichte. Vol. 4, Stuttgart 2006
Thränhardt, Dietrich. Geschichte der Bundesrepublik. Frankfurt am Main, 2007. Zeiten und Menschen. Vol. 2, Paderborn 2004
Elias, Norbert. "Ein Exkurs über Nationalismus" in Studien über die Deutschen. Frankfurt a. M., 1994.
Hertz-Eichenrode, Dieter. Deutsche Geschichte 1871-1890. Das Kaiserreich in der Ära Bismarcks. Stuttgart,
2002.
Hertz-Eichenrode, Dieter. Deutsche Geschichte 1890-1918. Das Kaiserreich in der Wilhelminischen Zeit.
Stuttgart, 2002.
Krockow, Christian von. Preußen - eine Bilanz. Frankfurt a.M., 2001.
Loth, Wilfried. Das Kaiserreich. Obrigkeitsstaat und politische Mobilisierung. München, 2001.
Nipperdey, Thomas. Deutsche Geschichte 1866-1918. München, 1994/5.
Salmonowicz, Stanislaw. Preußen. Geschichte von Staat und Gesellschaft. Köln, 1994.
Schoeps, Hans-Joachim. Preußen. Geschichte eines Staats. Berlin 1997.
Siemann, Wolfram. Die deutsche Revolution von 1848/49. Frankfurt a.M., 2001
Vovelle, Michel. Die französische Revolution. Soziale Bewegung und Umbruch der Mentalitäten. Frankfurt a.M., 1985.
Wunder, Bernd. Europäische Geschichte im Zeitalter der französischen Revolution 1789-1815. Stuttgart,
1999.
Wolfgang Würger earned a M.A. in Social Sciences from the University of Freiburg in 1982. He then earned a Ph.D. in Social Philosophy from the University of Frankfurt am Main in 1985. He is currently an instructor for IES Freiburg and other institutions. He pursued his postdoctoral lecture qualifications in Social Philosophy at the University of Oldenburg in 1994. Current research areas focus on anthropology, political theory, modern German and European history. Among his more recent publications are: “Grundlegung einer negativen Antropologie: Bd. 1 Ethik” (2003); “Gundlegung einer negativen Anthropologie: Bd. 2 Die Macht und das Böse“ (accepted; will be published in 2010).