Admission requirements
This course is part of the (Res)MA History Programme. It is not accessible for BA students.
Description
This seminar focuses on important and fairly recent scholarly views and insights in the field of Politics, Culture and National Identities. The basic assumption behind this seminar is that the study of politics, culture and national identity gains in significance once these aspects are considered from an international comparative perspective.
In this respect, the concept of ‘political transfer’ plays an important role, implying the adoption of inspiring foreign examples (e.g. social movements, symbols, political parties).
The course begins with some theoretical reflections on this field of research. Thereafter, the seminar focuses on important studies of the history of the western world in the nineteenth and twentieth century from an international comparative perspective.
Course objectives
General learning objectives
The student has acquired:
1) The ability to analyse and evaluate literature with a view to addressing a particular historical problem;
2) The ability to give a clear and well-founded oral and written report on research results in correct English, when required, or Dutch, meeting the criteria of the discipline;
3) The ability to provide constructive feedback to and formulate criticism of the work of others and the ability to evaluate the value of such criticism and feedback on one’s own work and incorporate it;
4) The ability to participate in current debates in the specialisation;
5) (ResMA only:) The ability to participate in a discussion of the theoretical foundations of the discipline.
Learning objectives, pertaining to the specialisation
The student has acquired:
6) Thorough knowledge and comprehension of one of the specialisations or subspecialisations as well as of the historiography of the specialisation, focusing particularly on the following;
in the specialisation Politics, Culture and National Identities: political practices, symbols and perceptions, nationalism, and national identities in a cultural and societal context from 1800.
7) (ResMA only): Thorough knowledge and comprehension of the theoretical foundation of the discipline and of its position vis-à-vis other disciplines.
Learning objectives, pertaining to this Literature Seminar
The student:
- 8) has acquired thorough knowledge and comprehension of the approach of comparison and political transfer and their role in current historiography.
Timetable
The timetable is available on the MA History website
Mode of instruction
- Seminar (compulsory attendance)
This means that students have to attend every session of the course. If a student is not able to attend, he is required to notify the teacher beforehand. The teacher will determine if and how the missed session can be compensated by an additional assignment. If specific restrictions apply to a particular course, the teacher will notify the students at the beginning of the semester. If a student does not comply with the aforementioned requirements, he will be excluded from the seminar.
Course Load
Total course load 10 EC x 28 hours= 280 hours
Lectures: 14 hours
Study of compulsory literature: 160 hours
Assignment(s): 46 hours
Final Paper: 60 hours
Assessment method
Assessment
Essay (2000-2500 words; which should incorporate the knowledge and skills acquired while writing the small assignments)
Measured learning objectives: 1-76 Assignments (short written reflections on the required reading)
Measured learning objectives: 1-7Participation (in class discussions)
Measured learning objectives: 2-3For ResMa students only: extra assignment which demonstrates the ability to apply the knowledge and comprehension of the theoretical foundation of the discipline and of its position vis-à-vis other disciplines
Measured learning objectives: 1-7
Weighing
Written paper: 50 %
Participation: 20 %
Assignments: 30 %
The final grade for the course is established by determining the weighted average with the additional requirement that the written paper must always be sufficient.
Resit
Should the overall mark be unsatisfactory, the paper is to be revised after consultation with the instructor.
Inspection and feedback
How and when a review of the written paper will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the results, a review of the written paper will have to be organised.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used for:
posting assignments and papers
communication
Reading list
Stefan Berger, The Past as History: National Identity and Historical Consciousness in Modern Europe(Basingstoke 2015).
Piet de Rooy, Ons stipje op de wereldkaart (Amsterdam 2014) or Tiny Spot on the Earth: The Political Culture of the Netherlands in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Century (Amsterdam 2015, also online).
Catherine Hall, Civilising Subjects: Metropole and Colony in the English Imagination 1830-1867 (Cambridge 2002).
Eric Hobsbawm, The Age of Empire, 1875-1914 (London 1987).
Mark Mazower, Dark Continent. Europe’s Twentieth Century (London 1998).
Additional literature in the form of articles will be announced around the start of the course in class and on Blackboard.
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable.
Contact
Dr. M.J. Janse (semester I) Dr. H.J. Storm (semester I) Dr. D.E.J. Smit (semester II)
Remarks
None.