Admission requirements
Required course(s):
- Birth of the Modern World
Description
Colonial and postcolonial history used to focus on the impact European imperialism had on former colonies. In recent decades historians have pointed out that the colonial experience fundamentally altered Europe too. 21st century calls for decolonization have reverberated far beyond the borders of former empires as result of this European colonial experience. Cultural and political exchange between Europe and the colonies therefore took place in both directions. In this class we will explore the impact of the colonies on Europe, more specifically Britain and The Netherlands.
Besides colonial goods such as tea, coffee, sugar and cotton, ideas were also exchanged between colony and metropole in the 19th and 20th centuries. Both citizens of European countries as well as colonial subjects engaged with these ideas. We will research these interactions, by, firstly, looking at anti-colonial writings to show how these not only influenced the former colonies, but also European countries. Secondly, we will look at decolonization as a cultural and political phenomenon in both the colonies and Europe from the 19th century until now. Decolonization offered an opportunity to shape societies anew, often inspired by anti-colonial ideas previously developed. How did both colonial subject as well as British and Dutch citizens in the metropole engage in (anti-)colonial rhetoric both before and during decolonization? What shape did these (counter-) narratives take? What did calls for decolonization look like in the 19th and 20th centuries?
In searching for answers, we will analyze several 19th and 20th century colonial and anti-colonial narratives based on a wide variety of secondary and primary sources. (For instance: novels, essays or political treatises) We will try to draw parallels between 19th and 20th century (anti-)colonial rhetoric and their current-day afterlives. We will explore the complex processes of identity formation that lay at the root of many 21st century political debates surrounding our shared colonial histories. In studying the roots of Modern Imperialism and resistance against it we will be able to recognize and critique patterns and attitudes that still shape the relationship of Europe to the wider world. Insights in how the legacy of colonialism as well as resistance to it has developed over the past two hundred years allows us to better understand dynamics between different social groups in our current societies. As a part of that, we will take into account how colonial pasts have influenced history writing itself and explore both historical as well as current calls for decolonization of academia or other public spaces such as museums, and research the history of such current day calls for decolonization.
Course Objectives
Skills:
Critically engaging with primary sources, here: 19th and 20th century representations and critiques of the colonies in written text and image.
Identifying and critiquing patterns and attitudes that still shape the relationship of Europe to the wider world and dynamics between different social groups.
Writing a clearly reasoned historical essay, based on primary source and existing historiography.
Knowledge:
Understanding how colonialism affected European societies, specifically in Britain and the Netherlands.
Understanding how colonialism was criticized by colonial subjects
Relating representations of the colonies to processes of (national) identity formation.
Timetable
Timetables for courses offered at Leiden University College in 2021-2022 will be published on this page of the e-Prospectus.
Mode of instruction
In the first weeks the students will be introduced to the history of the British and Dutch (post-)empires and their critics. Secondary literature on specific case studies and a close reading of primary sources connected to these case studies will deepen the students’ understanding of the interaction between colonial representations and the debates surrounding them. Towards the end of the course, we will examine the impact of these historical debates and processes on current debates.
Students themselves play an important role in class a several seminars are predominantly student-led. These start with a group presentation of 15 to 20 minutes. The same students will then lead the group discussion that follows. Every student participates in two group presentations. As this is a history course, the final essays will have to include a major historical component.
Assessment Method
Actively engaging in class discussions (15%) (ongoing, weeks 1-7)
Contribution to two group presentations (35%) (ongoing weeks 1-7)
Write two 500-750 word critical analysis of the readings (20% (weeks 2 and 3)
Write a 3,000 word essay on a historical topic, based on primary sources and existing historiography (30%) (week 8)
Reading list
To be announced
Readings will be made available through Brightspace
Preliminary reading list of some of the recommended (but not required) works:
Priyamvada Gopal – Insurgent Empire. Anticolonialism and the Making of British Dissent. (2019)
Gloria Wekker – White Innocence: Paradoxes of Colonialism and Race (2016)
Adom Getachew – Worldmaking after Empire: The Rise and Fall of Self-Determination (2019)
Registration
Courses offered at Leiden University College (LUC) are usually only open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Leiden University students who participate in one of the university’s Honours tracks or programmes may register for one LUC course, if availability permits. Registration is coordinated by the Education Coordinator, course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.
Contact
Larissa Schulte Nordholt
l.r.c.schulte.nordholt@hum.leidenuniv.nl