View Specification DocumentA Women's History of Socialist Europe during the Cold War CEES4104
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Social and Political Sciences
- Credits: 20
- Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
- Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
The course explores achievements and shortcomings of gender policies in countries under Communist rule during the Cold War, and their mixed legacy. We will examine work of leading scholars and feminist thinkers along with a variety of historical sources, that offer a nuanced understanding of women's roles and everyday lives under socialism. The course requires active participation in discussion and weekly engagement with course materials.
Timetable
Two consecutive hours per week, for 10 weeks, divided as following:
Lecture: one hour per week, for 10 weeks, in person
Seminar: one hour per week, for 10 weeks, in person
Requirements of Entry
Mandatory Entry Requirements: General Honours entry requirements
Recommended Entry Requirements: Grade C3 in Central and East European Studies or cognate social science or humanities Level
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
Podcast: 30% of approximately 10 minutes (minimum of 8, maximum of 12)
Written research project: 70%, 2500 words (excluding reference list)
Course Aims
The aim of this course is to introduce students to the regional and global relevance of the project of women's emancipation promoted by the communist leadership of socialist Europe during the Cold War. By assessing the achievements and failures of the socialist project of women's emancipation, this course provides students with tools for thinking critically and creatively about the role of gender in post-1945 European history.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
1 Demonstrate core understanding about the importance of the gender emancipation for the history of socialist Europe during the Cold War.
2 Reflect and critically evaluate the gap between gender equality policies and women lived experiences under socialist regimes in Europe, using historical and primary sources.
3. Analyse and contextualise key themes in women's roles across different periods of socialist and post-socialist history, including nation-building, internationalism, and transition.
4. Communicate historical insights through diverse formats (written, oral, and digital), demonstrating the ability to create original content that deepens understanding of women's history and its relevance today.