Description

The title of this course points to both the "common" set of experiences that Poland and Germany, as neighboring nations with intertwined populations and aspirations, have shared over the past century and to the remarkably "uncommon" nature of that shared history - by turns democratic and authoritarian, cosmopolitan and nationalistic, peaceful and unprecedentedly violent. Over the of the classroom meetings and study tour, we will explore many aspects of these two countries' intertwined pasts, including nationalism, fascism, war and occupation, the Holocaust, communism, democratization, nostalgia, and the politics of historical representation.

"(Un)Common Pasts" contains a three-week study tour to Krakow, Warsaw, and Berlin as the central component of the class, during which students will visit the Auschwitz concentration camp; Oskar Schindler's former factory (from the novel and film Schindler's List); the Warsaw Uprising Museum; the Central Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe; two industrial cities designed as models of communist urban planning, one in Germany, the other in Poland; and the former prison of East Germany's internal security agency, among many other sites. The class will also have an opportunity to meet with a number of fascinating eyewitnesses to history, including a Holocaust survivor; a Warsaw insurgent; someone who protected Jews during the Holocaust; a former victim of political persecution under communism; a filmmaker; and contemporary politicians who will speak about efforts within the two countries to bridge, represent, and perhaps even reconcile their (un)common pasts.

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Subject Areas

• European Studies (includes Politics)
• History
• Interreligious / Interethnic Relations
• Jewish Studies
• Political Science/politics
• Russian And East European Studies

Cost in US$:

USD 2,750 plus tuition

Program Fees Include:

European transportation, accommodations, museum entrances

Experience Required

no

This Program is open to

American Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Guest House

Participants Travel

Independently

Application Process Involves

• Disciplinary Clearance Form
• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Miami University's Mission Statement

Miami Mission Statement - The Engaged University Miami University, a student-centered public university founded in 1809, has built its success through an unwavering commitment to liberal arts undergraduate education and the active engagement of its students in both curricular and co-curricular life. It is deeply committed to student success, builds great student and alumni loyalty, and empowers its students, faculty, and staff to become engaged citizens who use their knowledge and skills with integrity and compassion to improve the future of our global society. Miami provides the opportunities of a major university while offering the personalized attention found in the best small colleges. It values teaching and intense engagement of faculty with students through its teacher-scholar model, by inviting students into the excitement of research and discovery. Miami's faculty are nationally prominent scholars and artists who contribute to Miami, their own disciplines and to society by the creation of new knowledge and art. The University supports students in a highly involving residential experience on the Oxford campus and provides access to students, including those who are time and place bound, on its regional campuses. Miami provides a strong foundation in the traditional liberal arts for all students, and it offers nationally recognized majors in arts and sciences, business, education, engineering, and fine arts, as well as select graduate programs of excellence. As an inclusive community, Miami strives to cultivate an environment where diversity and difference are appreciated and respected. Miami instills in its students intellectual depth and curiosity, the importance of personal values as a measure of character, and a commitment to life-long learning. Miami emphasizes critical thinking and independent thought, an appreciation of diverse views, and a sense of responsibility to our global future.

Year Founded

1809