British Foreign Policy and the Origins of the World Wars, 1895-1939
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| HIST2017 | History | 2 | 20 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- HIST2017
- School
- History
- Level
- 2
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
Discover British foreign policy, from the last years of the Victorian Era to the German invasion of Poland in 1939.
We focus on the policy of British governments, giving an historical analysis of the main developments in their relationship with the wider world. This includes:
• The making of the ententes
• Entry into the two world wars
• Appeasement and relations with other great powers
• We also discuss the wider background factors which influenced British policy, touching on Imperial defence, financial limitations and the influence of public opinion.
Target Students
Studentsmust have taken HIST1001orHIST1002. Also available to exchange students hosted by the Department of History and Liberal Arts students.
Classes
- One 1-hour seminar each week for 10 weeks
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 10 weeks
Assessment
- 50% Coursework 1: Piece of individually assessed coursework
- 50% Coursework 2: Piece of individually assessed coursework
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
The module aims to provide students with a thorough knowledge of important developments in British foreign policy in the period under examination, particularly as regards the origins of the world wars. Students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the key historical debates, including the relative impact of domestic, imperial, regional, economic, bureaucratic and international forces. They will be encouraged to think critically and comparatively about the subject matter, thus developing the intellectual and transferable skills outlined below.Learning Outcomes
a. Knowledge and understanding.
By the end of the module, in their assessed work, students should be able to:
• explain and interpret the main underlying forces that shaped British foreign policy in the period under discussion
• show an understanding of major events in this process.
b. Intellectual skills.
By the end of the module students should be able to:
• think critically and imaginatively about the subject matter
• identify and address key problems relevant to it
• interpret secondary sources upon it
• be aware of differing historical interpretations of the subject matter
• be able to construct coherent and independent historical arguments of their own
c. Professional/practical skills.
The module will develop students’ ability to:
• select, sift and synthesise information from a range of secondary sources
• identify and compare key arguments in those materials
• demonstrate appropriate footnoting and bibliographical skills
• use the University intranet to access the library catalogue.
d. Transferable skills.
The module will also develop students’ ability to:
• manage a body of information
• express themselves clearly, coherently and fluently in writing essays
• learn actively with others
• take responsibility for their own learning
• present their assessed essay in an appropriate manner.