Undergraduate Course: The Politics of the End of Empire (PLIT10117)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The European Empires were a significant phenomenon in contemporary history. Their dissolution, especially from 1945 onwards, shaped the modern world and its politics. This course explores the end of empire's consequences for European politics and the shape and form of post-colonial states. By exploring the political impact of decolonization students will see its influence on the former colonial powers and the empires' political legacy in the wider world. |
| Course description |
This course will give students an introduction to the political dimension of the end of the European Empires and its impact on world politics. Brexit, race-relations, immigration, state-building and conflict have presented many political and international questions which have roots in empire. Students across disciplines are curious to know more about colonialism. This course would assess and analyse the UK and Europe's relations with their former colonies and give students a critical outline of recent political history regarding decolonization. It would provide an opportunity for students to see the political manifestations of European imperialism on contemporary politics and evaluate the legacy of Empire, particularly the British Empire, on the post-colonial world. While firmly based in the discipline of Politics there would be inter-disciplinary engagement with History within the course.
This seminar has two objectives:
Firstly for students to understand the political implications and contemporary history of the end of empire for post-war Europe;
Secondly by using examples from across the world to understand how the decolonization of the European Empires affected the post-colonial world politically.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2019/20, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 31 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
90 %,
Practical Exam
10 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Essay (3000 words) - 60%: From a choice of questions, which will relate to one or more of the weekly lecture topics.
Research Paper (1500) - 30%: A paper that will assess a contemporary issue relating to colonialism.
Seminar Presentation - 10%: This will require a 10-15 minute tutorial presentation
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| Feedback |
All essays will be returned with feedback within 15 working days of submission. Feedback will be provided about the research presentations. General feedback will also be provided.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Critically explore key debates about imperialism, decolonization and post-colonialism
- Identify and evaluate lessons of European colonialism and its impact on national and global politics
- Apply theoretical historical and political concepts to real-world issues
- Deploy research and project management skills successfully to enhance independent learning and group work
- Plan, prepare and present scholarly essays and papers in political science with attention to historical and contemporary issues.
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Reading List
Burbank, Jane and Frederick Cooper (2010), Empires in World History - Power and the Politics of Difference, Princeton: Princeton University Press
Chakrabarty, Dipesh (2000), Provincializing Europe - Postcolonial Though and Historical Difference, Princeton: Princeton University Press
Cooper, Frederick (2005) Colonialism in Question - Theory, Knowledge, History, Berkley and Los Angeles: University of California Press
Darwin, John (2009) The Empire Project - The Rise and Fall of the British World-System, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Heinlein, Frank (2002) British Government Policy and Decolonisation, London: Routledge
Hyam, Ronald (2006) Britain's Declining Empire - The Road to Decolonisation, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Mazower, Mark (2012) Governing the World - The History of an Idea, London: Allen Lane
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
By the end of the course students should have strengthened their skills in:
Communication and Research - analysing evidence and using this to develop and support a line of argument in oral and written work;
Critical Analysis - comparing, contrasting and evaluating different arguments in the work of other authors;
Project Management - working independently and as part of groups, prioritising objectives, and working to deadlines;
IT - locating material online, using blogs, LEARN and other online resources;
Social Responsibility - developing awareness how political systems work and how they may empower certain individuals and states at the expense of others.
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Harshan Kumarasingham
Tel: (0131 6)51 4750
Email: Harshan.Kumarasingham@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms April Workman
Tel: (0131 6)51 5197
Email: v1aworkm@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
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