Module:                                  PS301 – World Political History

Credit value:                         12

Programme:                          B.A. PS

General objective:

This module aims to define world politics, starting at the late Middle Ages, until the end of cold War. In the first part of the course, students will learn about Europe’s transition from feudalism to capitalism and the implications this had on the rest of the world. The course makes the link between the emergence of capitalism, imperialistic policies of European nations, and the nation-state system in Europe and aims to analyze the influence between national and international forces in explaining the creation, growth and dominance of the capitalistic, liberal world order.

The second part of the course talks about the decline of this system of international relations, starting with the movement towards World War I, the independence struggles in Asia and the Americas (and later also in Africa). It explains the consequences of the loss of colonies on the economies of European nations, the interwar period and build up to World War II. Further it explains the Cold War and post Cold war Era.

Learning outcomes:

On the successful completion of the module the students will be able to:

•     Demonstrate a basic understanding of world political history, starting from the

Middle Ages until World War II

•     Understand the causes and consequences of WWI and WWII.

•     Analyze the causes of the end of cold war and fall of USSR and emergence of many new nation states.

•     Understand the economic, military, and political factors influencing the world politics.

•     Have a clear grasp over the major crisis in the cold war period with its causes, nature, implications and results.

•     Have a basic knowledge about the phenomenon of colonialism and neo-colonialism.

•     Comprehend the always changing dynamics of New World Order with its meaning, nature and components.

Learning and teaching approach:

Lectures (60 hours) Tutorials (20 hours)

Assignments (40 hours)

This module counts for 120 credits, divided over a period of 15 weeks. With a maximum of 8 hours per week, the number of teaching hours is four per week. There will be a one-hour tutorial, once per week, and three hours are being reserved for self-study and research.

Assessment:

Examination (40%)

Mid Term Examination (15%) Written assignments (25%) Class presentation (20%)

Subject matter:

Part 1: Europe from Middle/Medieval Ages to Modernity

1. Origin and decline of the Feudal system

2. Renaissance and the city-state system

2. Emerge of capitalism and the nation-state system

3. The increasing imperialism of European nations

Part 2: The World after the Industrial Revolution

1. Colonisation: Policies and impact

2. Decline of the imperialistic world order

3. World War I: Causes, Events, aftermath, importance

4. The interwar period

5. World War II: Causes, events aftermath, Importance.

Part 3: The Cold War

 1. Decolonisation and emergence of new States

2. US-USSR rivalry

3. Disarmament treaties: Nuclear non Proliferation Treaty, Biological weapons convention, SALT I and II, ABM treaty, START I, Intermediate Nuclear forces treaty, CTBT.

4. Crises: Korean Crisis, Cuban missile crisis, Vietnam and Afghanistan.

Part 4: End of Cold War and New World Order

1. Causes of end of Cold War

2. Break-up of USSR and Yugoslavia.

3. New World Order

Reading list:

Text Books

 Calvocoressi, Peter(2000) World politics since 1945, Longman, London.

Duiker, W.J. Spielvogels, J.J.,(2006)  World History, Volume II: Since 1500. Wodsworth

Publishing.

Mann, M (1990) The Rise and Decline of the Nation State. Blackwell Publishers, New york.

Norman Lowe (2001) Mastering Modern World History, Palgrave Macmillan, London.

Reference Books and Articles

Akita,  S.  (2002)   Gentlemanly  Capitalism,  Imperialism  and  Global  History,  Pagrave

Macmillan, London.

Cain,  P.J.,  (1993)   British  Imperialism:  Innovation  and  Expansion,  1688-1914,  Orient

Longman, London.

Cain, P.J., Hopkins, A.G.,(1993) British Imperialsim: Crisis and Deconstruction, 1914-1990.

Orient Longman, london.

Finley, M.I(1991), Politics in Ancient World, Cambridge University Press.

Mever, G.J.,(2007) A World Undone: The Story of the Great War, 1914 to 1918. Delacorte

Press.

Partha,  S.G.,(2002)  Power,  Politics  and  the  People:  Stdueis  in  British  Imperialism  and

Indian Nationalism. Orient Longman.

Stephenson, C., (1969)Mediaeval Feudalism , Cornell University Press.

Stokesbury, J.L.,(1980) A Short History of World War II. Harper Paperbacks.

Waltz K(2000) “Globalization and American Power”, The National Interest, 59, spring.