Course image HMS4216_S1_A_20: War And Peace: Twentieth-Century Europe And Global Conflict
History And Politics
Module Code: HMS4216
Academic year: 20
Semester: S1
Occurrence: A
Level: L4
Location: BO
This module provides students with an overview of the political, cultural, and military history of Europe during the 20th century articulated through a study of its major conflicts and global forces. The central focus of the module is the international history of the major Great Powers between 1914 and 2000. Its comparative scope allows for the principal study of Britain, France, and Germany, as well as a reflection on their empires and the people subject to those empires. Students will be encouraged to think about political and historical trends which have impacted on more than one nation-state at any one time. Detailed historical analysis will focus on the following forces which have shaped Europe: nationalism, liberalism, imperialism, communism and fascism. In addition, the module will include detailed discussion of some of the major events of the 20th century such as the origins of the First World War; the origins of the Second World War; the origins of the Cold War as well as more contemporary events such as the breakup of Yugoslavia and wars in the Balkans. Students will be able to engage with the debates surrounding anti-imperialism and colonial conflict; the ‘New World Order’; and the role of gender in wars.