Module Content and Indicative Topics

On this interdisciplinary module, you will consider some important ways in which Europe has shaped the world and has in turn been – and continues to be – shaped by it. You will approach this interplay via an examination of key aspects of European history, notably dominant ideas, ideologies or values that influenced the global policies of European nations and beyond, and a reflection on their legacies today. The latter part of the course will focus more on contemporary issues that often challenge Europe’s shifting sense of identity, but which are also rooted in Europe’s past. The focus will move between various European nations and Europe as a whole, allowing for some in-depth case studies and more general discussions. Topics covered include the birth of nationalism and nation-states, the development of race as a concept, colonialism’s impact in the colonies and in Europe, and the complex process of decolonisation. The module will also allow you to address contemporary concerns such as neo-colonialism, immigration, the memory of empires, and the refugee crisis. Finally, it will provide you with opportunities to consider the perspectives of non-Europeans as well as Europeans.

The module will cover the following topics, which may be subject to variation depending on developments in academic research and the interests of the class:


	The birth of nationalism, national identity and nation-states
	
	
	Historicising race
	
	
	Colonialism in Africa and Asia
	

	Empire’s impact on the metropole
	
	
	Historical population movements: European emigration and immigrants in Europe
	
	
	Decolonisation: the example of the British and French empires
	
	
	Post-colonial population movements: immigration to Europe
	
	
	Neo-colonialism and the legacies of European domination
	

	Contemporary European crises: identity, humanitarianism, and refugees
	
 

 

Teaching Delivery

The module will be taught via weekly two-hour seminars in which we will discuss the reading and related ideas/themes at length. Preparation for the seminars will involve engaging with the set texts, especially the pre-circulated questions.

By the end of the module, you should be able to:


	Demonstrate an understanding of key aspects of Europe’s impact on the wider world, and the wider world’s impact on Europe, since the eighteenth century and up to today.
	

	Discuss, question, and appraise key theories regarding nationalism, race, empire, and migration – and apply them, if relevant, to contemporary debates.
	

	Draw on a number of different disciplines to help articulate coherent, persuasive arguments.
	

	Engage critically with the key themes of the course, offering your own assessments, opposing perspectives when necessary, and display independent but informed thought.
	

	Show an ability to understand and summarise complex texts and ideas in a relatively short time period.
	

	Communicate the above in an academic manner via both verbal discussion and written work.
	
Recommended Reading

In preparation for the module, you may wish to read the following core texts, but this is not compulsory. These can be found in the UCL Library:


	Wolfgang Reinhard, A Short History of Colonialism (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2011).
	

	C. A. Bayley, The Birth of the Modern World: Global Connections and Comparisons (Oxford: Blackwell, 2004).
	
	
	Muriel Evelyn Chamberlain, Decolonization: the Fall of the European Empires (Oxford: Blackwell, 1999).
	
	
	Eric Hobsbawm, Nations and Nationalism since 1780: Programme, Myth, Reality (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990).
	
	
	Stefan Berger (ed.), A Companion to Nineteenth-century Europe, 1789-1914 (Malden, MA: Blackwell, 2006).
	
This interdisciplinary module will consider some important ways in which Europe has shaped the world and has in turn been – and continues to be – shaped by it. This interplay will be approached via an examination of key aspects of European history, notably dominant ideas, ideologies or values that influenced the global policies of European nations and beyond, and a reflection on their legacies today. The latter part of the course will focus more on contemporary issues that often challenge Europe’s shifting sense of identity, but which are also rooted in Europe’s past. The focus will move between various European nations and Europe as a whole, allowing for some in-depth case studies and more general discussions. Topics covered include the birth of nationalism and nation-states, the development of race as a concept, colonialism’s impact in the colonies and in Europe, and the complex process of decolonisation. The module will also address contemporary concerns such as neo-colonialism, immigration, the memory of empires, and the refugee crisis