Aims

•       To introduce students to key political ideas, movements, and events which have contributed to the shaping of the 21st century
•       To introduce debates over the differing interpretations of political history
•       To deepen and broaden students’ awareness of historical context
•       To equip students with factual and conceptual knowledge which will promote their ongoing study of contemporary politics

Outline Of Syllabus

Will the 21st century witness a ‘clash of civilizations’? Or is history leading towards ever increasing forms of liberal democracy? Structured around the concepts of order and disorder in the international system, this module introduces students to key ideas and events of 20th century history. It focuses on those events which have led to the most dramatic changes in politics at the national and international levels and which have helped to shape the 21st century. The module provides a solid foundation for future studies in Politics and reinforces an element of progression in the programme. The module goes beyond merely discussing history by focusing on the relevance of historical events and their interpretations for contemporary politics. By presenting the material in an engaging fashion, the module seeks to enhance student motivation and encourage them to expand their knowledge of historical context through independent study.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures will provide students with an introduction to key ideas, movements and events, which have helped shape the 21st century. The lectures are delivered in two formats - an online asynchronous lecture that introduces students to key concepts and historical information, and an in-person lecture. The use of online lectures allows students to engage with and process key theories and concepts before attending the in person lecture, and at their own pace.

There will be no pre-recorded lecture for the first week of teaching, as students are not yet familiar with the Canvas system. There will also be no pre-recorded lecture for the final week of teaching, and instead there will be an assessment surgery. This is to support focus on engagement with the VLE, and the assessments.

Seminars will allow students to follow up these ideas and issues by asking questions and debating amongst themselves; students will be guided through preparation for seminars through both questions and tasks to help them get maximum benefit from the readings, and through working together in small study groups. They provide the context for students to articulate their knowledge and understanding and to help them prepare for written assessment. The weekly feedback hour will allow students to ask questions and get guidance from the module leader.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

15 Min Group presentation- Students will be able to choose the topic of their presentation from the topics introduced in the module, and will be asked to reflect on why they think this topic is the most important in the study of contemporary international politics. The presentation reflects the following intended knowledge outcomes:

-Account for the key political ideas, movements and events covered in the module
-Articulate their understanding of historical context and interpretation in oral and written communication
-Apply their knowledge of historical events, context, and interpretation to the analysis of contemporary politics


100o words Reflective Essay- The individual reflection further challenges students to demonstrate their understanding of the topics of the module, but also presents an opportunity for students to demonstrate their engagement with the topics.