PO2GPH: Global Politics and History

Module code: PO2GPH

Module provider: Politics; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Kerry Goettlich, email: k.goettlich@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 28 October 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

From the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to Brexit, and from the rise of China to the ‘Clash of Civilizations’, contemporary debates in world politics, and often the practice of world politics itself, depend on particular understandings of history. Indeed, it is impossible to study politics without relying on knowledge about the past. But how accurate or convincing are the historical narratives and assumptions that underlie contemporary debates? Is it ‘natural’ for politics to be organised into nation-states? Is empire a thing of the past? Where did democracy come from? When did globalisation start? Was decolonization a success or failure? Students will come away from the module with both the historical knowledge and the analytical skills to be able to answer such questions. 

The module aims to give students a basic understanding of the uses of history in the study and practice of world politics, as well as to enable students to bring greater historical awareness to contemporary debates in world politics. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Outline the historical origins and trajectories of the major actors and phenomena in world politics
2. Evaluate prominent political narratives from a historian's perspective
3. Explain what history is and discuss arguments concerning its use and purpose
4. Evaluate the role and relative importance of different actors, events and processes of the 20th and 21st centuries
5. Advance their wider skills of critical analysis, and their ability to articulate their ideas orally and in writing

Module content

This course looks at the intersection of world politics and global history. It begins with debates on the philosophy of history, aiming to prepare students to form and defend ideas about the nature and purpose of history. It then progresses through some of the main events and processes in global history which impact on world politics, covering the history of each topic with an eye to contemporary relevance. The focus is on the 20th and 21st centuries, although attention will also be paid to longue duree trajectories where necessary. 

Topics likely to be covered: 

• State-building and ‘Westphalian’ Sovereignty 
• Globalisation (archaic and modern) 
• Imperialism and legacies of empire 
• Nationalism, from the 19th century to Brexit 
• Democracy and democracy promotion 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The course is taught through both lectures and seminars. Lectures introduce students to the relevance and key concepts of a topic as well as prominent debates in academic scholarship. Seminars then allow students to deepen their understanding and apply their knowledge of the topic through various tasks such as a presentation, group exercises, and case studies. 

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will receive formative feedback through seminar discussions and activities. Students will also receive feedback on a first draft of their research essay, which they will incorporate into the longer essay. 

Reassessment

Additional costs