Module HIST2741: Protest, Terrorism and Revolution 1953-1989/90

Department: History

HIST2741: Protest, Terrorism and Revolution 1953-1989/90

Prerequisites

• A pass mark in at least ONE level one module in History.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To offer students the opportunity to study the history of European politics, revolutions and civil unrest, 1953 to 1989/90.
• To enable students to apply different theories and approaches to the study of European politics and social movement in this period.
• To fulfil the generic aims for level-2 history.

Content

• This module will trace the contemporary history of European politics, social movement and related issues from the 1950s to the end of the Cold War.
• Particular attention will be dedicated to the opportunities and constraints faced by social and revolutionary movements in European states on both sides of the Iron Curtain.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module students will have acquired or developed the following: an in-depth knowledge of European politics, especially the social movements and revolutionary moments that marked European politics on both sides of the Iron Curtain, from the 1950s to the 1980s;
• an understanding of the variety of ways in which historical and theoretical literature deals with post-war European politics and the rise of 'new' social movements and related phenomena.

• Subject specific skills for this module can be viewed at: http://www.dur.ac.uk/history.internal/local/ModuleProformaMap/

• Key skills for this module can be viewed at: http://www.dur.ac.uk/history.internal/local/ModuleProformaMap/

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Major themes and conceptual issues of the module will be explained to students during lectures.
• Study of secondary literature will enable students to apply theoretical and interpretative concepts to the content of the module.
• Seminar teaching provides a forum for exchanging and refining student thinking about relevant themes and issues by way of students' presentations and discussion.
• During tutorials guidance on progress will be provided, and students' analytical and critical skills will be developed through formative feedback on seminar presentations, book reviews and summative essays.
• Summative exam assessment will enable students to demonstrate their understanding of historical and theoretical literature relating to the module, and their attainment of the generic learning outcomes for level-2 history.
• Summative essays remain a central component of assessment in history, due to the integrative high-order skills they develop. Essays allow students the opportunity to recognise, represent and critically reflect upon ideas, concepts and problems; students can demonstrate awareness of, and the ability to use and evaluate, a diverse range of resources and identify, represent and debate a range of subject-specific issues and opinions. Through the essay, students can synthesise information, adopt critical appraisals and develop reasoned argument based on individual research; they should be able to communicate ideas in writing, with clarity and coherence; and to show the ability to integrate and critically assess material from a wide range of sources.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

A formative essay plan will be submitted by each student during Term 2 and commented on by the tutor.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University