2020/21 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HIST2875 From Versailles to Potsdam: Conferences, Crises and Conflicts, 1919-45

20 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Dr Geoff Waddington
Email: G.T.P.Waddington@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2020/21

Module replaces

HIST2845

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module examines the relations between the Great Powers in the period from 1919 to 1945, and places particular emphasis on the nature and magnitude of the challenge posed to international stability by the forces of nationalism, revisionism and ideology. It also examines the response of the so-called 'status quo' powers to external threats to their security and evaluates the role played in the international system by alliances and international organisations.The module begins with an assessment of the peace settlement that concluded the Great War; it proceeds to examine the relative international stability of the 1920s, the impact of radical ideologies on international relations in the 1930s, the rise of aggressive forces in Europe and the Far East, the erosion and eventual collapse of the peace settlement, the failure of collective security, the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939 and the Far East in 1941; the merging of those conflicts into the Second World War; wartime developments and the onset of the Cold War.

Objectives

The objectives of this module are to:
- develop skills of historical enquiry, interpretation and synthesis;
- examine and understand the nature of relations between the Great Powers of Europe, Asia, the Far East and the American continent between 1919 and 1945;
- understand and appreciate the interaction of European and extra-European developments, and their effect upon the foreign policies of the Great Powers;
- develop knowledge and understanding of the nature and evolution of the international system between 1919 and 1945;
- develop knowledge and understanding of the forces that shaped and impacted upon that system during the interwar years and the Second World War;
- examine and understand the processes of diplomacy and statecraft;
- enhance understanding of the relationship between economic, military, strategic, ideological and political factors in the making of foreign policy;
- examine the purpose and effectiveness of alliances, regional/political/ideological groupings and international organisations in times of peace and inter-state conflict.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students should be able to:

a) identify and evaluate the key debates concerning the evolution of the international system between 1919 and 1945;
b) demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the international relations of the interwar years, of the long and short term origins of the Second World War and of the course of that conflict.
c) demonstrate the ability to handle problems of change and continuity over time;
d) display enhanced skills of written and oral presentation.

Syllabus

- Peacemaking in 1919-23
- The disintegration of the wartime alliance
- Revisionism, security and disarmament in the 1920s
- The international activities of the USA and the Soviet Union in the interwar years; the nature of the challenges posed to international stability
- The reactions produced by those challenges; appeasement in the interwar years
- The record of the League of Nations
- The international crises of the later 1930s
- The outbreak of war in Europe
- The transformation of the European war into a global conflict
- Wartime diplomacy and post-war planning, including the origins of the UNO
- The onset of the Cold War.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Tutorial	9	1.00	9.00
Private study hours			180.00
Total Contact hours			20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

- Pre-lecture reading; preparation for tutorials, assessed oral presentations and assessed written assignments;
- Preparation for the examination at the end of Semester 1;
- Liaison/communication with other students in preparation for non-assessed group tasks in tutorials and assessed oral presentations.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- Contribution to seminar discussion/non-assessed group work;
- Participation in assessed group oral presentation (individual feedback provided);
- 1 x 2,000 word assessed essay (individual feedback provided);
- One two-hour examination at the end of Semester 1;
- Advice, guidance and additional feedback as sought at student choice through attendance at weekly office hours.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Assignment	1x 15 minute individual oral presentation plus 1000 word VLE paper that includes a reflective report delivered across teaching weeks 2-11.	40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		40.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Online Time-Limited assessment	48 hr 00 mins	60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		60.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 10/08/2020 08:40:26

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