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History Project Topic Guidelines |
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Discuss the consequences of war and conflict in post-modern Europe by talking to Europeans and Recent wars that involved European combatants include those in the Balkans (1990s), the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1980s), UN missions to Africa and MidEast (1970s-90s), World War II (39-45), the Falkland War (82), etc. Recent conflicts include the Solidarity Movement
(1980's), conflicts surrounding the Iron Curtain ('45-'89), the French Youth Riots ('68),
the French-Muslim Riots ('06), terrorism in Spain, the power vacuum at the fall of Franco
('75), activities of the IRA (1970s), MidEast interventions in Iran and Palestine
('39-'67), etc. In a general sense answer the question Where is Europe heading? Then get more specific. Get a grasp on Europe's future by talking to Europeans and seeing where they stand on international issues and, most importantly, how you see their history playing into this. Potential topics: • The riots in France and Euope dealing with immigration from the MidEast and Africa. You may want to talk to Muslim groups and people living in Europe today. • The fall of Nationalism in Western Europe. Problems surrounding the surrender of national identity and the EU. The Turkey problem? World War II? • U.S. - European relationships. What do real Europeans think of us? Look in newspapers, talk to people. Issues may include the death penalty, war in Iraq, economics, moderate socialism, etc. Migration from Europe to the U.S. and elsewhere has changed over the years in many ways. Recent debate has focused on immigrants from Latin America, but immigration from Europe remains a strong force. Chicago hosts a veriety of immigrants and has large enclaves of foreign-born Polish, Bosnians, Russian Jews, Greeks, Ukrainians, Serbians, Irish, Croats, and Albanians. Chicago also has smaller populations of Latvians, Germans, French, British, Italians, Czechs, and Lithuanians. This makes Chicago a prime location in the U.S. For doing this sort of research. Migration since the start of World War II has often been the result of war and deep economic depression. This direction would have you talking to immigrants and recording their stories, stories that often go untold. Factors to Consider: • life in Europe – What was daily life like in Europe? How did their government affect the decisions they made or were forced to make? What do they think of the contextual history and zeitgeist that surrounded them? • the push/pull factor – what led them to move, what made them choose to leave their original country and move specifically to America • the journey – what kind of problems encountered, where there stops along the way, how long were these stops • the beaurocracy – what sort of process did immigrant have to go through in original country and new country • new experiences – how did experiences in their new home differ from what they new, adjustments, first jobs and living arrangements • perspective on modern Europe and the U.S. - What criticisms do they have that we can learn from? European Emigration Since
WW2 • people trying to escape Nazi persecution (especially Slavic and Jewish populations) • people avoiding the restrictive policies of the Soviet bloc • people who are running from war and disorder in the Balkans • people looking for a better livlihood (especially from Ireland, East, & South) Target Locations: United States, Canada, Israel, Argentina, Great Britain, Australia Where to go? • friends and family often know people with interesting stories or have stories themselves • neighbors can be excellent resources |