Widerstand und Opposition in der DDR
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| MLAC3173 | Modern Languages and Cultures | 3 | 20 | Full Year UK |
- Code
- MLAC3173
- School
- Modern Languages and Cultures
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Full Year UK
Summary
This module investigates resistance and opposition in the GDR. It looks at developments during particular time periods:
1945-49
1953-68
1970-80
1980-89
The three main areas of investigation are:
political resistance and alternative ideas within the SED-party ranks and the institution of the Church in the early years
the role of intellectual dissidents and their ideas surrounding reform of GDR socialism
the formation of organised oppositional groups and their intellectual basis in the 1980s
Target Students
Available for Year 4 students of German, also open to Subsidiary and Exchange students with a good knowledge of German.
Classes
- One 1-hour workshop each week for 22 weeks
- One 1-hour seminar each week for 22 weeks
Assessment
- 30% Coursework 1: 1,500 - 1,700 word essay
- 70% Coursework 2: 3,000 - 3,500 word essay
Assessed in both autumn & spring semest
Educational Aims
By looking at a variety of contemporary texts (e.g. historical texts, autobiographical texts of GDR intellectuals, conceptual texts) students will develop a critical understanding of the complex conditions for the development and the shape of political resistance and opposition in the GDR. Students will gain awareness of the different ways in which individuals and groups seeking change to political and social structures engaged with the GDR power structures and how the ruling elite managed to suppress or defeat dissidents and opponents before the final overthrow of the SED regime in 1989.Learning Outcomes
a) Knowledge and understanding: Students will gain knowledge of key aspects of GDR history and ideology. They will develop a critical understanding of the power structures of the GDR and how dissidents and oppositional groups managed to undermine and question those structures with alternative ideas, only beginning to gain wider support from the GDR population in the 1980s. (A2).
b) Intellectual skills: Students will gather, process and evaluate information from a variety of paper, audio-visual and electronic sources in English and German (B1), reflect critically and judge in the light of evidence and argument (B2), understand concepts and ideas and relate them to the problems of analysing GDR society (B3), identify and describe questions and problems (B4), apply techniques and concepts appropriate for the analysis of political and historical materials (B6)
c/d) Professional practical and transferable skills: Students will develop their skills of reading and interpreting sources of different registers in German and English at a high level and objectively assessing information of political and theoretical content.(C3) They will develop their ability and confidence in communicating ideas and arguments effectively in English, both written and in oral presentations. (D1; D2; D4) Working independently and in groups to prepare topics and texts, they will be able to develop their presentation and essay writing skills. (D1; D2; D3; D4) They will have the opportunity to assess their own progress, strengths and weaknesses. (D6) Students will be expected to organise and manage working time, schedule tasks and meet deadlines (D7) Students will need to use IT effectively both as a means of communication and as an aid to learning. (D8)