Admission requirements
This course is only available for students in the BA International Studies programme.
The number of participants is limited to 25.
Description
International politics in the second half of the 20th century were dominated by the Cold War: the political, economic, cultural, and military contest between the United States and the Soviet Union, between capitalist democracy and communist authoritarianism. The traditional Western perspective saw it as a struggle between the forces of freedom against those of tyranny, and the ultimate collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 triggered a strong sense of triumphalism for this reason. But the Cold War was more complex and more global than this suggests. Firstly, this course introduces students to the different interpretations of the Cold War. Secondly, it examines the history of the Cold War from a global perspective, beyond a simple East-West power struggle. Thirdly, it looks at the cultural dimension to the Cold War, which affected daily lives in East, West, South and North for several decades.
The course is therefore structured around the following elements:
Interpretative frameworks;
origins;
great powers and small states;
culture and everyday life.
The course will address the Cold War as a multinational phenomenon, involving different actors with different interests and motives, to provide the students with a many-sided view of the conflict.
Course materials will include primary documents and secondary literature. Part of the course will be focused on interpreting these primary documents and how they are ‘translated’ into history.
Additionally, the students will work through:
- W.C. Booth, G.G. Colomb, J.W. Williams, The Craft of Research, third edition, Chicago/London: University of Chicago Press, 2008.
Course objectives
The Thematic Seminars for International Studies are designed to teach students how to deal with state-of-the-art literature and research questions. They are chosen to enhance the students’ learning experience by building on the multidisciplinary perspectives they have developed so far, and to introduce them to the art of academic research. They are characterised by an international or comparative approach.
Academic skills that are trained include:
Oral and written presentation skills:
1. To explain clear and substantiated research results.
2. To provide an answer to questions concerning (a subject) in the field covered by the course:
in the form of a clear and well-structured oral presentation;
in agreement with the appropriate disciplinary criteria;
using up-to-date presentation techniques;
using relevant illustration or multimedia techniques;
aimed at a specific audience.
3. To actively participate in a discussion following the presentation.
Collaboration skills:
1. To be socio-communicative in collaborative situations.
2. To provide and receive constructive criticism, and incorporate justified criticism by revising one’s own position.
3. To adhere to agreed schedules and priorities.
Basic research skills, including heuristic skills:
1. To collect and select academic literature using traditional and digital methods and techniques.
2. To analyze and assess this literature with regard to quality and reliability.
3. To formulate on this basis a sound research question.
4. To design under supervision a research plan of limited scope, and implement it using the methods and techniques that are appropriate within the discipline involved.
5. To formulate a substantiated conclusion.
Timetable
The timetable is available on the BA International Studies website.
Mode of instruction
Seminars
Seminars are held every week, with the exception of the Midterm Exam week. This includes supervised research.
Course Load
Total course load for this course is 10 EC (1 EC = 28 hours), which equals 280 hours, broken down by:
Attending seminars (2 hours per week x 12): 24 hours
Reading literature: 48 hours
Completion of short assignments: 78 hours
Researching and writing the final research essay: 130 hours
Assessment method
Assessment and Weighing
| Partial Grade | Weighing |
|---|---|
| Participation (inc. small assignments) | 10% |
| Two Article Reviews | 15% |
| P2P Assignment (Online) | 15% |
| Research Paper Proposal | 10% |
| Final Research Paper (5000 words, inc. notes, exc. bibliography) | 50% |
End Grade
To successfully complete the course, please take note that the End Grade of the course is established by determining the weighted average of all assessment components.
Resit
Students who have been active participants in class and submitted the Final Essay on time, but scored an overall insufficient mark, are entitled to a resit. For the resit, students are given a chance to hand in a new version of the Final Essay.
In case of resubmission of the Final Essay (insufficient grade only) the final grade for the Essay will be lowered as a consequence of the longer process of completion. The deadline for resubmission is 10 working days after receiving the grade for the Final Essay.
Retaking a passing grade
Please consult the Course and Examination Regulations 2018 – 2019.
Exam review
How and when an exam review takes place will be determined by the examiner. This review will be within 30 days after official publication of exam results.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used for the seminars. Students are requested to enroll on Blackboard, but only after correct enrolment in uSis.
Reading list
Odd Arne Westad, The Cold War: A World History (NY: Basic Books, 2017)
Additional literature will be provided via Blackboard prior to the start of the course.
Additionally, the students will work through:
- W.C. Booth, G.G. Colomb, J.W. Williams, The Craft of Research, third edition, Chicago/London: University of Chicago Press, 2008.
Registration
Enrolment through uSis for Thematic Seminars is mandatory.
The Thematic Seminars make use of a waiting list for the enrolment in uSis. If you are on the waiting list for a Thematic Seminar, this does not guarantee you a spot in this Seminar.
Enrolment in only one Seminar is allowed. Students are more than welcome to remain on one or more waiting lists, as well as an actual enrolment.
If a Thematic Seminar and its corresponding waiting list is no longer available for enrolment in uSis, this means it is full. Do not try to obtain a spot through other means.
If you are unsure of your enrolment status for a Thematic Seminar, please contact the BAIS Administration Department.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable.
Contact
When contacting your lecturer, please include your full name, student number, and course title.
Remarks
The deadline for submission of the Final Essay is Friday 7 June 2019.