Course content

In “Consumption under Communism” the students receive an introduction to a relatively new field of modern and late-modern history – the history of consumption. The concrete historical setting within which patterns of consumption (closely attached to varying living standards and ways of life) are to be discussed is that of the Cold War. Keeping the ongoing world-wide contestation between “capitalism” and “socialism” in mind, we will ask and reflect upon questions as follows: What was the significance and role of consumption within the Cold War rivalry between the “West” and “East”? What was the role of consumers in a communist society? How are we to understand the contemporary concepts of “socialist consumption” and “socialist way of life” and how did these discursive constructions relate to other social practices in the contemporary world characterizing everyday life and policies? In what ways and directions did “socialist consumption” affect the general social development in the region of Eastern Europe? Last but not least, we will try to assess the extent to which the emergence of modern patterns of consumption can be seen as a defeat in relation to capitalism or as a triumph for the project of communists to assert the exceptionalism of the state-socialist social order.

Learning outcome

In “Consumption under Communism” the students receive an introduction to a relatively new field of modern and late-modern history – the history of consumption. The concrete historical setting within which patterns of consumption (closely attached to varying living standards and ways of life) are to be discussed is that of the Cold War. Keeping the ongoing world-wide contestation between “capitalism” and “socialism” in mind, we will ask and reflect upon questions as follows: What was the significance and role of consumption within the Cold War rivalry between the “West” and “East”? What was the role of consumers in a communist society?

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and seminars

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises

Recommended previous knowledge

BA in history

Required previous knowledge

BA

Course materials

Syllabus