Economic history

obowiązkowe

The course presents an outline of economic history of Western Europe from the late middle ages till the present. The material is presented in a more detailed way in relation to the more recent history. The course focus especially on the economic changes from the early capitalism till the time of today's global economy. The students will discuss the origins and evolution of the modern economy and analyze historical constraints of different economic institutions.

The aim of the course is also to develop abilities of critical reading, academic writing and the communication skills of the students.

For credit and grade, the students are expected to pass written exam, to participate actively in classes, to prepare oral presentation and a paper of 10-15 pages (18 - 27tsd. chars.).

I. Academic writing classes: how to prepare proposal, bibliography and notes, how to search for data, etc. (classes 1-6)

II. Introduction to Economic History

7. What is Economic History?

Introduction: the main periods of economic development in the world history. The main concepts of economic history.

8. From Traditional to Modern Economy.

“Longue durée” (long term) and path dependency. Institutions and institutional change. The World-systems approach: core and periphery.

9. Economic Development and Political Map of Europe.

Political and economic power from the middle ages till WWI. Economic centers in Europe through the time.

10. Power Structure in the 20th Century.

New centers of world economy. Three waves of globalization. Technology and globalization. Consequences of globalization.

III. Modernity and Capitalism in Europe

11-12. European Economy before Capitalism.

13-14. Towards a Capitalism: Northern Italy, The Netherlands, England.

15. The Age of the Enlightenment: The Time of New Ideas and Social Revolutions.

16. The First Industrial revolution: England in the 18th and 19th Century.

17-18. The Second Industrial Revolution - The First Globalization.

19. Industrial Society in Europe: New Social Classes, New Ideologies.

20. The War Times.

The First World War and its consequences. Russsian Revolution. The Great Depression. The Second World War.

21. The World Economy after the Second World War.

New order in world economy, cold war, USA as an economic superpower. Rebuilding Europe.

22. State Socialism in the USSR and Eastern Europe

The rise and fall of communists system and central planed economies.

23. Economic Integration in Western Europe.

24. The Welfare-state.

25. Third World and the Challenge of Development: South America vs. East Asia.

26. Highly Industrialized Countries after 1970.

27. The Financial Capitalism in the Last Thirty Years.

28. The Globalization after Second World War.

Mandatory

Cameron R., L. Neale, A Concise Economic History of the World: From Paleolithic Times to the Present. New York 2002.

Recomended:

Chandler A.D. jr., Strategy and Structure: Chapters in the History of the American Industrial Enterprise, Cambridge Mass. 1962.

Greif A., Institutions and the Path to the Modern Economy. Lessons from Medieval Trade, Cambridge 2006.

Himmelfarb G., The Road to Modernity. The British, French and American Enlightenments, London 2008.

Kotkin S., Magnetic Mountain. Stalinism as Civilization, Berkeley 1995.

Landes D.S., The Unbound Prometheus. Technological Change and Industrial Development in Western Europe from 1750 to the Present, Cambridge 1969.

Landes D.S., The Wealth and Poverty of Nations. Why Some Are So Rich and Some So Poor, New York 1998.

North D.C., Structure and Change in Economic History. New York – London 1981.

North D.C., Institutions, Institutional Change and Economic Performance, Cambridge 1990

North D.C., Understanding the Process of Economic Change, Princeton – Oxford 2005

North D.C., P.R. Thomas, The Rise of the Western World. A New Economic History, Cambridge 1973.

Olson M., Rise and Decline of Nations, Yale 1982.

Wallerstein I., Historical Capitalism, London 1983.

KNOWLEDGE

Upon the course completion a student:

- is familiar with the process of formation of the modern economy

- is able to recognize the stages of globalization in the world economy

- understand the main events and the process of economic history

- is familiar with basic rules of academic writing

COMPETENCIES

Upon the course completion a student:

- is able to critically analyze long-term processes in economic history

- is able to recognize the consequences of evolution of the social and economic institutions

- is able to prepare an academic paper

KW03, KW01, KW02, KU01, KK01, KK02, KK03

For credit and grade, the students are expected to:

1. pass a written final exam

2. prepare oral presentation (ca. 30 min. long)

3. prepare a paper of 10-15 pages (18 - 27tsd. chars.)

4. participate actively in classes

5. Presence at lectures mandatory, four absebces possible.