Middle-class sectors gained prominence across the world beginning in the mid-twentieth century … although at different junctures and to varying degrees. The notion of a middle class is a fairly recent phenomenon in world history. Those who ascribe to this class (or at least a middle-class consciousness) often see themselves as a stabilizing force in society. Their main function, as some scholars suggest, is to act as “go-betweens,” or intermediaries, between the elite/powerful and the poor/powerless by virtue of their education and social ascendancy. Where and when do we first see the idea of a middle class? Why do so many politicians pitch their candidacies to this class sector? What are some markers, or identifiers, that have come to represent the middle class? What can we learn about a history that is not “from below,” nor “top-down,” but squarely in an imagined middle?
In this course, we will analyze primary and secondary source materials, discuss recent scholarship on the middle class, compile annotated bibliographies of academic literature on the subject, and, ultimately, produce a 20-25 page (not including bibliography nor appendices) research paper on a related topic of your choice. As the capstone course in the history major, HIS 4100 will demand the very best of you. As such, find a topic that excites you for your research project. Ground yourself in the necessary background information by reading and annotating our course readings, engaging in class discussions, and listening to and assessing your classmates’ ideas and projects.
[NOTE: The History Department requires all majors to earn a C or higher in HIS 4100 in order to graduate with a degree in history.]
