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Module Catalogue

HI2G4-15 Radical Politics in Europe I (1917-1929)

Department
History
Level
Undergraduate Level 2
Module leader
Joachim Haeberlen
Credit value
15
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

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Introductory description

This module introduces students to the tumultuous years of revolution and counter-revolution in Europe in the wake of World War I, and to the radical political movements that emerged out of these conflicts. The module will address (counter-)revolutionary development in Russia, Germany and Italy, and will study movements such as fascism, socialism, communism, and anti-colonialism.

Module web page

Module aims

This 15 CATS undergraduate second-year option module will discuss the political upheavals in Europe after World War One. The module addresses the impact of World War One on radical political movements, such as socialism, communism, fascism, and anti-globalization movements, and how the war (and, for some countries) defeat resulted in bloody revolutionary and counter-revolutionary upheavals. While the module will draw upon national case studies, it aims at understanding radical politics in the interwar period as a genuinely European phenomenon.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Winter Term

Week 1: Europe before and during World War One

Part 1: Post-War Revolutions and Counter-Revolutions
Week 2: The Russian Revolution
Week 3: Revolutions in Germany and Central Europe
Week 4: Counter-Revolutionary Movements and the Radical Right in Germany and Central Europe
Week 5: The Rise of Fascism in Italy
Week 6: Reading Week

Week 7: European Fascism
Week 8: From Revolution to Reform: Socialism
Week 9: International Communism
Week 10: Anti-Colonial Movements

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of historical and theoretical interpretations of modern Europe.
  • Communicate ideas and findings, adapting to a range of situations, audiences and degrees of complexity.
  • Generate ideas through the analysis of a broad range of primary source material for the study of modern Europe, including electronic resources.
  • Analyse and evaluate the contributions made by existing scholarship.
  • Act with limited supervision and direction within defined guidelines, accepting responsibility for achieving deadlines.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Subject specific skills

See learning outcomes.

Transferable skills

See learning outcomes.

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 9 sessions of 1 hour (6%)
Seminars 9 sessions of 1 hour (6%)
Tutorials 2 sessions of 1 hour (1%)
Private study 130 hours (87%)
Total 150 hours

Private study description

History modules require students to undertake extensive independent research and reading to prepare for seminars and assessments. As a rough guide, students will be expected to read and prepare to comment on three substantial texts (articles or book chapters) for each seminar taking approximately 3 hours. Each assessment requires independent research, reading around 6-10 texts and writing and presenting the outcomes of this preparation in an essay, review, presentation or other related task.

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group A
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
1500 word essay 40% Yes (extension)
Reassessment component is the same
Assessment component
Seminar contribution 10% No
Reassessment component
1000 Words Essay
Assessment component
3000 word essay 50% Yes (extension)
Reassessment component is the same
Feedback on assessment
  • written feedback on essay and exam cover sheets
  • student/tutor dialogues in one-to-one tutorials

Courses

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 2 of UENA-VQ32 Undergraduate English and History

This module is Option list A for:

  • Year 2 of UHIA-V1V5 Undergraduate History and Philosophy

This module is Option list B for:

  • Year 2 of UHIA-V100 Undergraduate History
  • Year 2 of UHIA-VM11 Undergraduate History and Politics

This module is Option list C for:

  • Year 2 of UHIA-V100 Undergraduate History
  • Year 2 of UHIA-VL13 Undergraduate History and Sociology