Methodology for History dissertation

Exam will include L6 (antifascism) but most emphasis on L1-L5

SESSION 1

- What is a dissertation:

 Need to show: synthetized and precise big picture. Don’t try to be exhaustive but don’t miss
any important ideas.
 Key: articulation of arguments and examples

- Specificities of the class:

 Pay attention to interactions between Europe and Asia. Ex: link between german socialism
and Vietnamese socialism
 Multiple scales of analysis: international and national levels
 Balance between Europe and Asia

- Analyzing the topic:

Was communism a transnational movement (Europe and Asia 1917-1949)?

Born in Russia: theorized by Marx. Economic class-based revolution where the oppressed class,
namely proletariat, is supposed to overthrow the dominant class, which is the bourgeoisie.

Spread throughout the world -> transnational spread. Arguments: communist and socialist parties,
International. Where? Eastern Europe, Europ dev countries, Asia

But wasn’t successful everywhere, or marginalized -> not a successful transnational mvt. Arguments:
theory thought for agrarian bureaucracies and not already dev and industrialized countries so didn’t
rly work in Europe and Western world (ex Germany).

Answer:

 Definitions:
o Not only definitions but discussion of the words, showing all the dimensions of the
word (maybe several meanings “communisms”):
Ex: “Communism”:
 an ideology
 a pol movement (CP Soviet Union, communist parties in every countries)
 alternative world-system (Communist International)
o What the word is not:
Ex: “Transnational”:
 =/ National
  =/ International = connections between nations, acknowledgement that there
are different countries
 Transnational = transcends or ignores national boundaries , uniformity
o See the links between the several words we defined:
Communism // Transnational:
 an ideology -> transnational by nature?
 a pol movement (CP Soviet Union, communist parties in every countries) ->
tendency to nationalization of communism
 alternative world-system (Communist International) -> willing to be
transnational but did it work in practice?
 Chronological boundaries: justifying why the teacher gave these limits to this topic
 1917: Russian revolution and meaning of “world revo” -> meant to be
transnational but only succeeded in one country
 1949: China PCC won over nationalists . ½ world’s states communist. But
triumph of nationalist revos and WW2 aftermath -> communist parties
encouraged to be more national
 Geographical boundaries:
 Europe: …………
 Asia: later rise of communism, links with anti-colonial nationalist movements:
more nationalized versions of communism in Asia?
 Do not forget the hidden side of the topic!
 Ex: What role did revos played…? What they changed and what they didn’t ->
role of successful and failed revo.

- Identifying a problématique -> identify a historical problem

- Introduction:

 Catch line
 Context + Def + explanation of chronological limits of the topic
 Problématique
 Explanation of the outline

Easy way to write intro is to take the chronological boundaries: contrast the different situations at
the beginning and at the end. So what happened in between?

- Building the outline:

 1 part = 1 idea / 1 subpart = 1 argument

 Types of outlines:
o Chronological: first, try to see if chronological outline is adapted (avoids
anachronism)
o Dialectical: yes – no – maybe (already problematized)
o Thematic: tends to be descriptive (no progression with ideas)
 Make a table to distribute the arguments and examples?

- Writing the main body of the dissertation:

  Transitions: VERY IMPORTANT show the articulation of the main ideas
 Relevant examples: really select the example which will illustrate your argument, no need to
blablater, can be a quote
 Conclusion: food for thought only if relevant

- How to work efficiently in the perspective of the exam:

 Know lectures and seminars

 General textbook on XXth history
 Seminar presentations
 Readings
 Glossary, timelines…

SESSION 2 : Practice

Work individually or in group on the 2 topics and send intro and outline to the teacher:
Anatole.lebras