History and War Studies with Foundation Year

This module provides an introduction to the social, cultural and economic foundation of early modern England, focusing upon the key issues, theories and methodologies underpinning the development of the Tudor and early Stuart State. Particular attention will be drawn to the main historical approaches regarding elite and popular culture, gender, religious practice, trade, poverty, social insurrection and war.

This module examines the foundations of modern British society through a focus on the broad period of industrial development and social change c1700-c1819 (the year the Monarchy was presented with an heir apparent). Especial emphasis will be given to the impact of industrialisation, British imperialism and urbanisation on the world of work, politics, culture and the household.

The module introduces you to the study and practice of history (and if you are studying for a degree in a cognate field, the practice of academic work). Different approaches to the subject, historiographical and methodological issues will be studied in order to familiarise you with the pathway learning outcomes, derived from the QAA History benchmarking statement, which will underpin your studies. A key focus of the module will be the development of subject and key skills that will enable you to cope with more advanced work in the subject.

This module introduces students to key issues and debates concerning the origins, nature, and conduct of war. The contributions of political philosophers are discussed, as is the concept of 'Just War', which is applied to recent conflicts. Other contemporary issues in how war is waged are also covered. This module provides an ideal opportunity to develop your thinking about the causes, conduct, and nature of war.

The module provides the foundation for the War Studies programme by examining key issues such as strategic thought, definitions of war, and trends and themes in global conflict in the modern era. Particular attention is given to the rise of western styles of warfare and its interaction with differing cultural approaches to war. The importance of analytical skills and the type and nature of source material is also strongly emphasised.

This module shows students how to make sense of the past through archival and oral sources. It provides an opportunity for students to gain an appreciation of the way historical evidence is drawn from the contested space of the archive and the multiple historical perspectives that exist in memory. It will explore relationships between past and present, memory and history, popular and scholarly discourses, and individual and group identities. Students will be introduced to local archives, oral history collections and how to conduct their own oral history interviews. In doing so, they explore how the use of archival collections and oral history can help to challenge gender, class and racial stereotypes and promote cross-cultural and cross-generational understanding.

The module aims to acquaint students with the changing nature of battlefield command in the period from the fifteenth century to the current day. Issues focusing on the manner in which command has been exercised in battle, how such methods have changed and adapted, and how they have reflected the desire to seek decisiveness in war, will be central themes to the module.

The twentieth century witnessed momentous shifts. As empires collapsed and new countries were born, technology, economic change and new societal norms radically altered the way people lived their lives. In this module, we will explore some of this social, economic, political and cultural change by looking at a diverse selection of historical episodes from around the world. In doing so, we will ask questions about the ways the changes of the last century shaped the world in which we live today.

This module surveys the history of Europe and the Americas between 1776 and 1914 by exploring major areas of intersection and interdependence in the historical development of both continents. It examines similarities in the use of forced labour, the complex web of economic relations between the continents, and sheds light upon the flow of people and ideas across the Atlantic. In addition, the module also considers the consequences that nation-building and imperialism in Europe and the Americas had for ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples.

Terrorism was, is and will continue to be a technique used by aggrieved individuals, groups and rogue states that cannot see, or refuse to see, any other way of influencing political developments. Drawing on first-hand research, this module will offer students an opportunity to engage with a wide range of causes/concepts/ debates surrounding the subject and identify the characteristics that make terrorism the distinct phenomenon that it is.

The Holocaust stands as a watershed event for western civilization, calling into question the moral and ethical foundations of the West. This module sets the historical exploration of the events of the Holocaust within the wider context of political, religious and legal issues.

This module explores the history of feminism by examining some of the ways women have organised to challenge their subordination in national, imperial and international contexts. Students will study movements to promote different and evolving visions of women’s rights in the realms of politics, work, education, and the family. The module will also analyse women’s involvement in wider movements for social, economic and political change such as abolitionism, anti-colonialism, workers’ rights, and disarmament. Through a series of case studies, students will encounter women activists from Britain and their counterparts in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas to analyse narratives of internal tension and set-back alongside more positive histories of solidarity and historic achievement.

The module provides a critique of pre-industrial and early-industrial consumerism using a range of primary sources and artefacts to examine the extent to which a 'consumer revolution' in culture and society occurred during the period. It examines the acquisition of new goods and commodities and the agencies and motivations through which these were obtained and deployed. The module is concerned with the theoretical underpinnings to the development of consumerist attitudes. The focus is primarily on the lower and middling sorts of England and Wales, though comparisons with elite culture as well as contemporary non-British modes of consumption will also be considered.

The module aims to examine the key themes of family, gender and sexuality in Britain in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The module focuses upon urban and public culture using a variety of online and documentary sources to examine both ‘normative’ and ‘transgressive’ behaviour within British society.

The ‘traditional’ image of wars and conflicts tend to be of large confrontations where states’ forces are pitted against each other, but how accurate is this perception in the contemporary world? This module examines the reality of modern war and conflicts, highlighting its changing nature and examining why modern conflict is overwhelmingly intrastate rather than interstate. It encourages students to consider the shifting nature of war and conflict in terms of where wars occur, who are the likely victims of modern campaigns and the ways in which the causes, impacts and outcomes of modern warfare are significantly altered over recent decades.

This module explores the social, economic and political upheaval of late modern Europe by focusing on some of the groups who were most profoundly affected: Itinerants, migrants and refugees. It takes as its two main themes the geographical mobility that came in the wake of nineteenth century industrialisation and the movement of populations that resulted from war, persecution and genocide in the twentieth century. Within these two broad themes, the course traces continuities and changes in social attitudes and government policy towards these minority groups . Documents relating to specific case studies will be made available to students, but students are also challenged to uncover source material themselves to reconstruct the perspective and agency of the men, women and children whose life experience is under consideration.

This module examines a core, controversial element of modern British national identity: the Empire at its height in especially the Victorian era. It will examine the so-called 'Pax' from the Battle of Waterloo and Peace of Paris in 1815 to the peak of British interventionism under Palmerston, the subsequent period of 'Splendid Isolation', and the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. Conflicts such as the Crimean War (1853-6) will be discussed in the context of the pursuit of a 'Balance of Power' and the breakdown of the 'Concert of Europe', as well as colonial struggles worldwide including the Indian 'Mutiny' of 1857-8, the 'Opium' Wars against China (1839-42 and 1856-60), the Ashanti Wars (1823-31, 1863-4 and 1873-4), the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, and the Boer Wars of 1880-1 and 1899-1902. Further study will also be made of the complicated nature of peace and 'gunboat diplomacy' in this period, from various Anglo-American crises including the American Civil War (1861-5), periodic 'invasion scares' of France, and the 'Great Game' with Imperial Russia over Central Asia and beyond.

The course wil offer students an opportunity to engage with a range of debates surrounding political violence in a variety of manifestations. The course themes include conventional and civil warfare, colonial violence and the violence of decolonisation, counterinsurgencies, torture and domestic repression, demonstrations and riots, and terrorism.

This module traces the development of popular perceptions of war and conflict through a variety of evolving cultural mediums--namely in literature, films and games. Classics as well as cutting edge works will be analysed and discussed. What makes one book or videogame more 'popular' than another? Has our understanding of 'War' been improved or cheapened by these experiences? Is pop culture itself to blame, or a saving grace? The module will also explore how scholarly research and academic studies often inform these depictions of war in print and on screens, and how they can be enriched by literature, films and games in turn.

This module examines the planning and prosecution of the D-Day landings in Normandy, the subsequent battles, and the impact of the fighting on the soldiers and local population. A key element is a fieldtrip to the Normandy battlesites, which will include tours and visits to relevant museums.

This module examines the Great War from the variety of vantage points offered by the different sub-disciplines of historical research. It includes traditional military history, but also embraces social, gender and cultural historical approaches to explore its causes and prosecution, its social consequences, and the manner in which it has been commemorated. Students taking the module will develop an understanding of these central components to the history of the war, and of the experience of soldiers and civilians in these years, along with an awareness of the many histories of the war that can be written, and the different aims and methodologies that inform historical work in this field.

This module explores the impact of the Cold War on US foreign and domestic policy between 1945 and 1974. The module traces the course of US foreign policy from the end of Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration, through periods of crisis and detente, to the end of the Nixon administration in 1974. At the same time, the module explores the evolving ramifications of the Cold War upon domestic politics and society across these decades.

This module allows students to understand and analyse the origins, course and conduct of the Second World War, of how a major war in Asia begun in 1937 became fused with a major war in Europe begun in 1939, to expand and create the most devastating global war in history, together with its outcome.

This module provides opportunities for community-based learning through voluntary community engagement. This activity enables students to understand the relevance of their studies within a community context, combining practical experience with academic studies. In addition, it is an opportunity to develop a critical understanding of the Third Sector, and the notion of citizenship. Both subject specific and transferable skills will be developed and utilised throughout this module, thus developing graduate employment attributes.

This module will provide an analysis of the Second World War in Europe between 1939 and 1945. Emphasis is placed on: causes of  war; military and strategic conduct; politics and diplomacy; impact of war on societies; and appraisal of the eventual outcome.  

The module aims to provide students with an understanding of significant themes in the history of the working class in British society from the late-Victorian period to the politics of Thatcherism in the 1980s. The module explores the rise of the trade unions and the labour party, migration, the changing nature of work and everyday life, popular culture, and depictions of the working class in film and television.

This module is intended to develop an understanding of selected aspects of international politics. It begins by looking at key schools of thought and evolving debates in international relations theory in order to introduce students to some of the key concepts regarding which factors shape how international politics and relations are conducted. The module also considers some of the key structural factors at play in international relations. To this end the role of the international and transnational organisations is examined, and debates regarding their purpose and effectiveness are considered. The module also looks at the concepts of regionalism and globalisation, and explores how states respond to these ideas in terms of policy formation.

The way wars are fought and won has been radically changed with the advent of air power. As it has become an indispensable feature of contemporary warfare, it is now hard to imagine a conflict conducted without an employment of aircraft. However, air power’s ability to deliver ‘strategic’ objectives has recently been debated. With advancing technological innovation its capabilities are being strengthened, however with changing strategic and security environment and new, asymmetric threats emerging, they may prove to no longer be relevant. This module allows the students to critically assess the potential and limitations of air power in contemporary warfare. To start with, it will explore the development of air power theory since World War I and, using relevant case studies, discuss the limits of its practical applications. Then, in order to explore air power’s role and utility in contemporary warfare, the module will focus on its post-Cold War employment.

This module explores the emergence of the United States as a world power at the end of the nineteenth century and its subsequent rise to “superpowerdom” by the end of the Second World War. Although the module’s focus in upon US foreign relations, it approaches this topic on a variety of levels. Alongside conflict and diplomacy among nations, the module will also consider the impact of US foreign affairs on society and politics within the United States and the impact of US occupations on societies outside of the 48 contiguous states.

The module aims to provide a comprehensive critique of pre-industrial and early-industrial material culture using a range of primary sources and artefacts to examine the extent to which a 'consumer revolution' in culture and society occurred during the period. It examines the acquisition of new items such as tea, coffee, chocolate, gin and household decencies and the agencies and spaces through which these were obtained and displayed. The module is concerned with the theoretical underpinnings to consumption stressing the importance of gender and contemporary attitudes to changing modes of acquisition and use. The focus is based primarily upon the lower and middling sorts of England and Wales, although comparisons with elite culture and Anglo-American and continental European modes of consumption are stressed.

The module aims to analyse the development of maritime power from the emergence of the all big gun battleship as a statement of national power through to the rise of the aircraft carrier and submarine as the principal weapons of seaborne power projection.  The module will focus on the influence of strategists and theorists such as Mahan, Corbett, Dönitz, Genda and Towers and will identify trends and developments in the field of maritime warfare during the period of the two world wars and beyond.  It will also place the role and nature of maritime power in the context of international rivalry and great power status.

The final decades of British rule in India were tumultuous times. From the iconic civil disobedience campaigns of Mahatma Gandhi to violent revolutionary activity, the imperial state was rocked by protest. At the same time the international legitimacy of colonial rule was dissolving in the wake of the Bolshevik revolution, the rise of the United States of America and the turmoil of the two World Wars. This module examines the ‘local’ and ‘global’ dimensions of decolonisation in South Asia, exploring the history of anti-colonial activism alongside the experiences of ordinary people who lived through the end of empire. In doing so, students will learn about the importance of gender, caste, class and religion in anti-colonial politics.

Drawing upon an extensive English-language scholarship, and through analysis of translated contemporary sources, students are invited to explore German history in what was a period of profound social and political change, but one also marked by important continuities. The topics to be addressed include: The economic growth that transformed the new state from 1871 and the high levels of geographical mobility this generated, including the mass emigration of Germans overseas. The manner in which ethnicity, gender and social class shaped the life course of German subjects throughout the period 1871-1945. The emergence of the labour movement, and the mass political participation characteristic of the peace-time Wilhelmine era (1890-1914) and of the Weimar Republic (1919-1933). Society in WW1 and the revolution that accompanied defeat in 1918. The political, social and economic developments in Weimar Germany which led to the rise of the NSDAP. The combination of coercion and consent which helped the Nazis secure and retain control and the possibilities that existed for opposing the regime. The continuities between colonialism and Nazi practices of warfare and occupation in WW2. The Nazi persecution of social outsiders and racial enemies, including the development of policy towards German and European Jews, the ideology which drove this, and the process of cumulative radicalization that led to their mass murder.

This module allows students to analyse how conflicts end. It will consider and critique the debates around the theory and outcomes of conflict resolution. The module adopts a case study approach and critically analyses the extent to which peace processes in the modern world have followed similar or unique patterns. It will consider whether examining peace processes in a comparative manner can provide ‘models’ or ‘best practice’ that may be extrapolated from the case studies considered and potentially applied to future peace processes in different states.

Changing the world, or trying to, has a long history. This module will focus on British campaigning and social action since the the anti-slavery movement of the late-eighteenth century. Students will explore how those campaigners faced similar challenges and adopted similar tactics to those seeking to expand democracy, to provide aid to those in war zones, to end poverty, racism and starvation at home and around the world. Equally, students will be introduced to ongoing debates about the contradictions and complexities of attempts to do good. In addition to learning about the history of humanitarian efforts to relieve suffering and improve society, locally and globally, students will take a deep dive into their own small-scale research project on a single case study from the modern British history of humanitarianism and protest.

The Independent Study in History enables the student to explore a relevant historical topic or theme in depth which has either generated particular academic and intellectual interest, or has not been covered extensively in the academic programme. Students will register two proposed topics, the most viable of which will form an agreed title. In consultation with the Independent Study co-ordinator, students are then allocated to an appropriate academic supervisor. The final assignment comprises an extended written piece of work based on independently-accessed primary and secondary source material.

Most people do not learn about the past in university lecture halls and seminar rooms. This module offers an introduction to the field of public history, broadly defined to cover encounters with the past outside of the academic discipline. Students will learn to be critical consumers of representations of the past in museums and at heritage sites, in fiction, on screen and online, as well as community history projects. After surveying different public history approaches to the past, students will undertake and reflect on their own small-scale original project in curating historical materials or presenting historical insights for non-academic audiences, depicting the past in creative work or on a short-term placement. In doing so, students will be encouraged to think critically about the limits and the potential of non-academic encounters with the past.

This module will be about the anarchy, cruelty and overwhelming confusion of modern warfare. In particular the module will analyse: what happens when morality vanishes from the battlefield; and why torture is endemic in modern warfare; how human rights, in times of war, lose its meaning as a set of principles; whether official propaganda and enemy demonization make barbaric behaviour easier; and how can we develop cultures opposed to torture that damage the legitimacy of our societies? Through a number of carefully selected case studies that vary in terms of their themes and approaches, the module aims to provide the ground for students to strengthen their skills in critical analysis, discussion and debate. This module will be about the anarchy, cruelty and overwhelming confusion of modern warfare. In particular the module will analyse: what happens when morality vanishes from the battlefield; and why torture is endemic in modern warfare; how human rights, in times of war, lose its meaning as a set of principles; whether official propaganda and enemy demonization make barbaric behaviour easier; and how can we develop cultures opposed to torture that damage the legitimacy of our societies? Through a number of carefully selected case studies that vary in terms of their themes and approaches, the module aims to provide the ground for students to strengthen their skills in critical analysis, discussion and debate. This module will be about the anarchy, cruelty and overwhelming confusion of modern warfare. In particular the module will analyse: what happens when morality vanishes from the battlefield; and why torture is endemic in modern warfare; how human rights, in times of war, lose its meaning as a set of principles; whether official propaganda and enemy demonization make barbaric behaviour easier; and how can we develop cultures opposed to torture that damage the legitimacy of our societies? Through a number of carefully selected case studies that vary in terms of their themes and approaches, the module aims to provide the ground for students to strengthen their skills in critical analysis, discussion and debate.

This module examines the planning and prosecution of the D-Day landings in Normandy, the subsequent battles, and the impact of the fighting on the soldiers and local population. A key element is a fieldtrip to the Normandy battlesites, which will include tours and visits to relevant museums.

This module allows students to study the nature of combat in the First World War with a focus on the operations conducted by the forces of the British Empire. The module adopts a case study approach and critically analyses the key phases of the conflict, exploring how militaries adapted to the new challenges of modern warfare. The module uses a variety of academic theories to explore how armies sought technological and tactical advantages over their opponents.

This module examines the causes, course and consequences of the American Civil War. It will explore the nature of the war's military aspects, its political and diplomatic ramifications, the war's wide-ranging impact upon American society and particularly the effects of war upon the position of African Americans. A key element of the module will be to consider not only the war itself but contemporaneous ideas of its significance and how perceptions have changed in the century and a half since the end of the war.

The module draws upon successive generations of English-language scholarship and a wealth of contemporary sources in translation to explore the genesis, development and murderous outcome of policy towards the Jews and others targeted by the Nazi regime. It first examines the Nazi persecution of German Jews and other racial and social enemies in Germany in the inter-war years, then charts the transition to systematic mass murder across occupied Europe during World War Two. Throughout the module students will study the motives and actions of the perpetrators of these crimes, and attempt through extensive engagement with the source record to piece together the experience of the many who suffered at their hands.

The Project allows the student to explore in depth a relevant topic, theme or debate in War Studies which has generated particular academic and intellectual interest, and which is not covered in appropriate detail in a conventional course of lectures and seminars.

This module examines youth culture and popular music in twentieth century Britain. Sessions explore the emergence of youth as a social problem and the relationship between youth, music, gender, race and social class. Case studies include Teddy Boys, Mods, Rockers, Punk and Northern Soul. Special consideration is given to the representation of youth in post-war British cinema.