HIS32190 End of Empire

Academic Year 2019/2020

This module examines the 'end of empire' in a southern hemisphere context. The course explores the broad themes of identity, migration, the process of decolonisation after 1945, nationalism and democratisation. Students will look at the fracturing of a global British identity in the second half of the twentieth-century by examining the case of Australia. As the proportion of non-British immigrants to Australia increased during the 1960s, the country’s British identity began to shrivel. This will introduce students to the idea that decolonisation was not just the redrawing of imperial boundaries, but also the reworking of identities.
Another central theme, will be the political, military, intelligence and economic ties that bound Portugal (Angola and Mozambique), Rhodesia (before and after its Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965), and apartheid-era South Africa. These three southern-African powers co=operated to resist the 'wind of change': decolonisation and demands for equal political representation for men and women of all races.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the module, students will have:

- Examined the theme ‘end of empire’ in a southern hemisphere context.
- Explored the themes of identity, migration, nationalism and democratisation.
- Demonstrated a critical understanding of the process of decolonisation as it manifested itself in the twentieth-century.
- Explored the strategies deployed by Portugal, Rhodesia and South Africa to resist the ‘winds of change’.
- Shown an understanding of how these processes were impacted by the Cold War.
- Investigated the evolving links between Portugal, Rhodesia and South Africa and the impact of the April 1974 ‘Carnation Revolution’ in Portugal.
- Presented a reasoned argument based on strong, supporting historical evidence.
- Shown a capacity to critically assess scholarly works in both the written and oral form.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

11
Seminar (or Webinar)

22
Specified Learning Activities

95
Autonomous Student Learning

95
Total

223
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This is a small-group, seminar-based module. It is taught through a one-hour weekly lecture and a two-hour seminar. The weekly lecture provides an overview of the week’s topic, focusing upon key historical trends, debates and events. The weekly seminar is focused upon individual active / task-based learning by means of class debates, discussion and student presentations. Advanced research, writing and citation skills are developed through a combined individual student presentation on primary sources and written essay, and a semester-long 4,000 word research project. Autonomous learning is advanced through student-led debate and discussion of set primary sources and / or student presentations each week. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: Reading Journal Portfolio & Presentation Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

40
Assignment: End of semester 4,000 word research paper Week 12 n/a Graded No

40
Continuous Assessment: Student participation in weekly seminars Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

20

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on the Combined Presentation / Essay Assignment will be given in writing on the returned hard-copy. Written and oral feedback will be provided on an ongoing basis on preparatory plans and primary and secondary source bibliographies for end-of-semester Research Project Assignments. Feedback on the end-of-semester Research Project Assignment will be given by appointment in one-to-one meetings.