History. Contemporary MA

You will study two core modules which use some of the best recent historical writing to cover the period since 1914, while also giving examples of leading historians deploying theoretical ideas and developing historiographical debates.

You will study four core modules:

The module examines various aspects of the first half of the twentieth century, focussing particularly—but not only—on Europe and America. It examines the rise of mass society and modernity as social and cultural phenomena; the rise of mass politics in Europe, America, and beyond; the phenomenon of mass statelessness; the main strands of authoritarian ideology and liberal democracy; mass mobilisation in war and politics; economic and military conflict; and the growing ascendancy of the United States.
Assessment: 4,000-word essay

The module examines various aspects of global history in the second half of the 20th century. It takes its cue from a growing but often problematic literature which sees 'globalisation' as a key feature of global history over the last half century. It will begin by examining the key institutions of a 'new world order' built after the Second World War; in particular, those connected to the United Nations and Bretton Woods. It will then explore the interplay of key actors: inter-governmental organisations; nation states (especially, the USA, the USSR and the non-aligned); multinational corporations and non-governmental organisations.
Assessment: 4,000-word essay

This module introduces you to the major developments in historical approaches since the Second World War and to some of the major schools of, or tendencies in, historical research such as the Annales School, the English historians’ response to Marxism, cultural history, the linguistic turn, gender, history of science and critical social theory (Geertz and Foucault). The focus is on the application of the ideas to historical practice then and now.
Assessment: Written assignment

This module covers what the dissertation project will entail. You will be expected to produce a short dissertation proposal for submission and you will be allocated a tutor who will supervise your dissertation preparation work. You will have one-to-one meetings with your supervisor, but you will also attend available generic sessions on skills run on the Research Skills module and available across the University.
Assessment: 4,000-word essay

You will also choose two optional modules from a range which may include (subject to staff availability):

• A 'Holiday from Reality': A History of Drugs and Drug Use in the Modern Era
• From the OSS to Snowden: A History of American Intelligence Agencies since 1945
• George Orwell, England and the Modern World
• Global Histories: Comparisons and Connections
• Gross Indecency to Gay Marriage? Gender and Sexual Minorities 1885 to the Present
• Jewish Religious Responses to the Holocaust
• New Directions in Modern British History
• The Making of the World: Themes in Global History

Alternatively, you may wish to choose a double special subject module. Topics available in recent years have included:

• After Hitler: Politics and Society in West Germany during the Adenauer Era, 1945-1965
• British Women and Internationalism Since 1850
• People of the Aftermath: British Culture in the 1920s and 1930s
• The Revolting Right: Conservative Activism in Post-War Britain
• Where There Is Discord: Making Thatcher's Britain

It is also possible to select options from other programmes offered in the School of History and Cultures - in African Studies, Classics and Ancient History, Cultural Heritage and History - with the approval of the Programme Director. See an indicative list of options.

In addition to your taught modules, you will conduct a piece of independent research with the support of a supervisor, culminating in a 15,000-word dissertation. The dissertation is the culmination of the MA: the moment when you put into practice the skills and knowledge you have built up in the previous modules, and the moment when you take wing as an independent historian.

Please note that the optional module information listed on the website for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.