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2018/19 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

SPPO3710 Nationalism and National Identity in Spain, 1833 to the Present

20 creditsClass Size: 20

Module manager: Dr Angel Smith
Email: a.k.a.smith@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2018/19

Pre-requisites

SPPO2010Practical Lang Skill Spanish 2
SPPO2011Pract Lang Skills in Spanish 2
SPPO2220
SPPO2221

Module replaces

SPPO3240

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module analyses the "national question" in Spain through to the modern day. It begins with a theoretical introduction, analysing concepts such as nationalism, and national and regional identity. We will then discuss the application of such concepts to modern Spain. Key themes are Spanish nation building, the rise of nationalist movements in Cuba, Catalonia and the Basque Country, and complementary and conflicting national identities in present-day Spain. Students will need level 2 Spanish language or equivalent to take this module.

Objectives

The module's objectives are
i) To give students a theoretically-informed understanding of the "national question" in modern Spain
ii) To develop students research and writing skills
iii) To develop reading skills in the Spanish (and in some cases Catalan) languages. Most of the reading is in Spanish

Learning outcomes
On completing the module students
i. will have developed a greater understanding of the concepts of national and regional identity and nationalism. They will also be able to apply such concepts to the Spanish case
ii. will have developed an empirical knowledge of nationalist and regionalist movements in Spain in historical perspective
iii. will have a grasp of the "national question" in contemporary Spain
iv. will have developed their knowledge and understanding of the Spanish language (and in some cases the Catalan language), with particular reference to the fields of history and the social sciences.

Skills outcomes
Developing Spanish (and in some cases Catalan) reading skills
Developing research skills in the area of history, culture, society and politics
Developing presentational skills
Developing writing skills


Syllabus

This module will centre on a number of key areas. First, we will look at how academics seek to understand nationalism and national identity in the modern world. Second, we will study Spanish nation building and the construction of national identity in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Third, we will analyse the relationship between national and regional identity. Fourth, we will deal with the rise of alternative nationalisms from the late nineteenth century, especially in the Basque Country and Cuba. A fifth area of study will be the late nineteenth century will be the Cuban independence movement. Sixth, we will analyse the rise of a vociferous right-wing Spanish nationalism in the early twentieth century, culminating in the Franco Regime. Seventh, we will look at Catalan and Basque nationalist opposition to Franco. The final two sections will look at Spain after the fall of the Franco regime through to the present day. Key themes will be the reasons why a system of government was put in place by the new regime following the death of the Spanish dictator, Francisco Franco, and why it has become increasingly questioned in recent years.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Lecture101.0010.00
Seminar101.0010.00
Private study hours180.00
Total Contact hours20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

i) The bibliography begins with background reading, more theoretical reading on historiographical approaches to nationalism and national identity, and more general works on the key themes covered in the course. Students are encouraged to read in these areas in the first weeks of the course.
ii) Each seminar is accompanied by a key text. Students are asked to read this text before each seminar. There are also suggestions for additional reading for each seminar.
iii) Students undertake a seminar presentation, normally in pairs. Two weeks before each seminar I go through the reading with the students.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

i) The role of office hours. Office hours are an opportunity for students to discuss all the issues relating to your course.
ii) Seminar presentations. These are important in that students do additional reading on a specific topic and they help them develop presentational skills. Staff help students prepare the presentation in a meeting at the end of the previous seminar (if not possible in an office hour)
ii) Assessed Essay(s). Students get feedback on their assessed essays on the essay marksheet. This will include an overall assessment of their performance: the areas in which they performed well and those in which they could perform better.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay3,000 words50.00
Essay3,000 words50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

Students also do a 15/20 minute seminar presentation, normally in pairs. It is not assessed but is a compulsory component of the course.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 24/04/2018

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