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This course offers a comparative survey of Scandinavian and Baltic history since the beginning of the 19th century. It focuses on eight countries (Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) that are small in population (under 32 million in the year 2000), but who are today key players in the vibrant Baltic Sea area, which is taking important steps toward new forms of regional integration. The contribution of the Nordic countries to modern European development has been significantly out of proportion to their modest numbers. Note, for example, their role in the emergence of the welfare state, neutrality in foreign policy, women’s movements, and culture (literature, painting, architecture, music, film, and design, to name only certain major areas). In the 20th century they also became models of political stability and democracy. For comparative purposes we will also discuss the development of the Baltic states, who culturally–in many ways–belong with Scandinavia, but whose political history is contrasting. With the restoration of Baltic independence in 1991 the concept of "Baltoscandia" has reemerged, and we are witnessing a growing integration of the entire Baltic Sea region. By May 2004 six of these countries were members of the European Union.
Written assignments will include a 5-7-pp. essay on the plays of Ibsen and Strindberg, a midterm exam, and a comprehensive final exam. The exams will be of the essay type.
Goodbody Hall 157 | 1011 East 3rd St. | Bloomington, IN 47405-7005 | Phone: (812) 855-2233 | Fax: (812) 855-7500 | ceus@indiana.edu