Dominique Agostini
Faculty
Email: dagostin@middlebury.edu
Phone: work802.443.5526
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Courses
Courses offered in the past four years.
▲ indicates offered in the current term
▹ indicates offered in the upcoming term[s]
FREN 6606 - Politics in a United Europe
Les politiques d’une Europe unie / Politics in a United Europe
More than fifty years after the treaty of Rome, Europe has become a major power of more than 400 millions of people. Based on the friendship between France and Germany, it has been a factor of peace and prosperity. However, since the end of the Cold War and the Treaty of Maastricht, Europe has been more and more criticized. The “no” to the constitutional treaty in France in 2005 has been a major setback. The economical crisis also puts a lot of strain on the European Union. Our aims are to explain:
1- How Europe has become what it is: its institutions and its different stages.
2- How France has had to adapt its institutions to the European construction. How France had to give up large fields of its sovereignty, especially since the Euro. In other words, how Europe has influenced French politics and policies
3- And finally how Europe can find its place in a globalized world.
No previous knowledge is required.
Required Texts:
Bino Olivi et Alessandro Giacone, L’Europe difficile: Histoire politique de la construction européenne, Folio Histoire Gallimard 2007
“L’Europe Difficile: Historie politique de la construction européenne”, Bino Olivi et Allessandro Giacone, Filio Histoire Gallimard 2007
(Besides regular credits this course may also count for one unit (i.e. 3 credits) in the M.A. in Mediterranean Studies program)
N.B. Students who choose section A can validate their credits in methodology (equivalent to 6525) or they can choose standard evaluation without validating the methodology unit.
Civ Cul & Soc PedagogySummer 2009, Summer 2010
FREN 6636 - Mediterranean Cult & Civ
Histoire de la Méditerraneée / Mediterranean Ancient Culture and Civilization
The purpose of this course is to present a general view of the Mediterranean history from the Antiquity to Modern times. We will put a special emphasis on the Greek and Hellenistic period and on the Roman Empire. The Middle Ages with the rising of Islam, the crusades and the Italian cities will also be studied, as well as the Renaissance and the constitution of the Ottoman Empire.
We will finish our historical journey with the 19th century when Mediterranee was divided by western nations. Beyond the historical point of view, we will study the geographical and cultural aspects of the region. The course will thus have a pluridisciplinary approach.
Required Text: Jean Carpentier, Francois Lebrun, Histoire de la Méditerranée, editions seuil 2006.
N.B Students who choose section A can validate their credits in methodology (equivalent to 6525). (Besides regular credits this course may also count for one unit (i.e. 3 credits) in the M.A. in Mediterranean Studies program)
Civ Cul & SocSummer 2008, Summer 2011
FREN 6660 - France on the World Stage
La vie politique en France / Political Life in France
This course’s aim is to define the institutional context of French political life (constitution, government, European institutions), and to examine how the different political parties from the extreme left to the extreme right appeared and interact. We will also study their program and their role in today’s society. This course will offer the students a large overview of the French political agenda. A large palette of themes will be presented: France and Europe, the economical reforms, the educational system, the foreign policy. No previous knowledge is required.
Recommended text: Les Institutions de la France Ve République, B. de Gunten, Fernand Nathan 2007
Civ Cul & SocSummer 2008
FREN 6679 - Contemporary France ▹
La France contemporaine / Contemporary France
(Section A – Methodology ; Section B – Civilization)
France has gone through many changes, european integration, globalization, euro zone crisis. Despite all these changes, France has still the will to play a major role in the world. This role is based on its « soft power », that is to say its cultural and social model. The aim of this course is to give a general outlook of french culture and society in an era of globalization and crisis. We will focus mainly on demography, immigration, social stratification, educational system, religious beliefs, work and leisure, artistical trends, etc.
This course will be pluridisciplinary and we will always study these topics in their economical and historical context.
Required Text: L'Etat de la France 2011-2012; Editions la découverte, ISBN 978-2-7071-6890-0
N.B Students who choose section A can validate their credits in methodology (equivalent to 6525).
Civ Cul & SocSummer 2011, Summer 2012
FREN 6692 - Mod Periods Mediterranean Civ ▹
La méditerranée dans le monde actuel / Modern Periods of Mediterranean Civilization
"The Mediterranean occupies an important place in the 20th century as it has been involved in the two world wars and it is still the centre of the major conflicts of the second part of the 20th century. Today the major powers are aware that world peace cannot be reached if the Mediterranean conflicts are not settled. This is why France and Europe have the aim of stabilizing a region through “l’Union pour la méditerranée” which was launched in 2008. The course will give a large overview of the geopolitical problems of the region since 1945. We will study all the countries around the Mediterranean and we will examine the major conflicts of the Near East. And we will see how Europe and France can become major actors in the region. No previous knowledge required.
Required text:Histoire de la Méditerranée,Jean Carpentier, Francois Lebrun, editions Seuil 2006. ISBN 978-2-02-051913-7
N.B Students who choose section A can validate their credits in methodology (equivalent to 6525).
Besides regular credits this course may also count for one unit (i.e. 3 credits) in the M.A. in Mediterranean Studies program
Summer 2009, Summer 2010, Summer 2012
