Tags
WP
Admissions requirements
NA
Description
This reading-intensive course seeks to give students an understanding of how war, including the technology and tactics of war, and the journalistic coverage of wars, has changed and developed during the 19th and 20th centuries. Six wars – different in nature, but all significant in varying ways – will be studied: the Crimean War of 1853-56 – the first war reported in the “modern era” through the use of the telegraph; the First World War of 1914-18 and the Second World War of 1939-45 – the two “great” wars of the 20th century that fundamentally changed the world we live in today; the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39 and the War in Bosnia of 1992-95 – two civil wars in which foreign powers did (at least partially) intervene ; and the Vietnam War of 1955-75 – essentially a guerrilla war of decolonization. Students will thus gain a clear insight into the differences of wars between nations, civil wars and one guerrilla war, and of the effects they have.
Students will also gain an insight into how war as a policy option has changed during this century and a half – above all from a European perspective – and the effect that has had in the international political arena.
Course objectives
After successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
critically describe how war (also as a political choice) has changed over the past 150 years
explain and compare the causes and the conduct of the six particular wars covered in this course – wars between nations, civil wars and guerrilla war
describe what war journalism entails and of what it can achieve – in both positive and negative respects
demonstrate insight into the different techniques of reporting, interviewing and writing that journalists have used and developed over the past 150 years
critically read 7 outstanding works of literature and refine their ability to write short, readily understandable and well-argued essays
Timetable
Once available, timetables will be published here.
Mode of instruction
Apart from during the first week, when there will be two lectures, the weekly classes will be split between lectures and student-led discussions (which should include small presentations by those leading the discussion). There are one or more books linked to every lecture and discussion, and every week students will be expected to write a short essay on the war covered and the book that went with it. Students will be graded on the quality of their essays (including their command of the English language), their presentations and their leading of class discussions, and on their general participation in discussions.
Assessment
In class participation: 10%
Leading class discussion/presentation: 15%
6 weekly essays (600 words): 10% each
Final essay (1000 words): 15%
Blackboard
There will be a Blackboard site available for this course. Students will be enrolled at least one week before the start of classes.
Reading list
The First Casualty – Philip Knightley (general overview of war journalism)
The Invention of Peace – Michael Howard (general reflection on war from a western perspective)
The Face of War – Martha Gellhorn (collection of articles from 1930s until 1960s)
Special Correspondent of the Times – William Howard Russell (Crimean War)
Storm of Steel – Ernst Junger (First World War)
Homage to Catalonia – George Orwell (Spanish Civil War)
A Writer at War – Vasily Grossman (Second World War)
Slightly Out Of Focus – Robert Capa (Second World War)
If This Is A Man – Primo Levi (Holocaust)
Dispatches – Michael Herr (Vietnam)
My War Gone By, I Miss It So – Anthony Loyd (Bosnia)
Registration
This course is open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Registration is coordinated by the Curriculum Coordinator. Interested non-LUC students should contact course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.
Contact
Aernout van Lynden
aernoutvanlynden@gmail.com
c.d.a.van.lynden@luc.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
Students should have read Michael Howard’s The Invention of Peace before the start of the course.