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2021/22 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

HIST5065M 'The continuation of war by other means’ : Case Studies in Wartime Diplomacy 1931-1945

30 creditsClass Size: 14

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

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2021/22

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

In 1954 Zhou Enlai, Foreign Minister of the PRC, declared that diplomacy was the ‘continuation of war by other means’. This module involves a detailed examination, through the use of both secondary and primary sources, of the pursuit of wartime goals through diplomatic means. The conflicts studied vary greatly in nature and character, ranging from the Spanish Civil War through the largely European war of 1939-41 to the global conflict of 1941-5. Specific issues for investigation include: agreement or discord on war aims; the formulation of the latter; the relationship between diplomacy and military / other wartime strategies; the limitation, escalation and extension of conflict; the construction and disintegration of alliances and partnerships; the management of coalitions; the interplay between belligerents and non-belligerents; the impact of personality and other factors on diplomatic intercourse during wartime

Objectives

This module aims:
- to facilitate the acquisition of a broad and detailed knowledge of wartime diplomacy across a series of different and varied civil / international conflicts between 1931 and 1945
- to examine the nature and course of relations between allies / potential allies / major powers and their satellites / potential enemies in time of war
- to assess why and with that consequences states opt for varying positions short of active participation in war, e.g. neutrality / non-belligerence
- to engage in detail with the salient issues through examination and discussion of the relevant historiography and selected contemporary sources
- to draw comparisons between the diplomatic methods practised by authoritarian / totalitarian and other types of regime in time of international conflict

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students should be able to
- demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of the diplomatic aspects of a series of civil and international conflicts
- demonstrate understanding of the historiographical debates about the nature of alliances and other multilateral / bilateral associations and international organisations
- think critically about the issues raised by the conduct of diplomacy in time of war
- formulate and communicate their own ideas and analyses to a range of audiences and through a variety of means
- demonstrate a heightened capacity to reflect on the past and its interpretation
- demonstrate enhanced powers of oral and written communication
- display advanced historical skills of interpretation and argument

Syllabus

1) Introduction.
2) The Sino-Japanese War, 1931-3 and 1937-41.
3) The Italo-Abyssinian War, 1935-6.
4) The Spanish Civil War, 1936-9.
5) The ‘Phoney War’, 1939-40.
6) The Soviet-German Rapprochement, 1939-41.
7) The Tripartite Pact, 1940.
8) The Axis at War, 1941-3.
9) German-Japanese Relations 1941-5.
10) The Grand Alliance 1941-3.
11) The Grand Alliance 1943-5.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Seminar	11	2.00	22.00
Private study hours			278.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Private study

Students will be expected to engage with secondary literature and primary sources in preparation for their contribution to seminars, non-assessed and assessed presentations, and essays. The two-hour seminar will provide scope for in-depth analysis of the issues raised by the subject matter.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Detailed formative feedback will be supplied on all non-assessed and assessed work. Students will have the opportunity to discuss feedback on their non-assessed and assessments and their general performance / progress in the tutor’s office hours or by appointment.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	3,000 word	50.00
Essay	2,000 word	30.00
Oral Presentation	With 1000 word summary	20.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Students will be expected to engage with secondary literature and primary sources in preparation for their contribution to seminars, non-assessed and assessed presentations, and essays. The two-hour seminar will provide scope for in-depth analysis of the issues raised by the subject matter.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 15/09/2021 15:44:39

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