Course Catalogue

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This course provides an introduction to issues of solidarity and internationalism from a geographical perspective. It positions solidarity as a political relation forged through struggle and contestation. It uses this to position internationalism from below. The course will develop this through a focus on different struggles in the past and present, such as the Spanish Civil War, the international opposition to Pinochet's coup and apartheid, and contemporary opposition to austerity.

There will be one two hour lecture session per week - plus occasional seminars.

Admission to Geography 3

None

None

Literature review of key debates on geographies of solidarity internationalism (40%)

Course essay applying key perspectives to a case study of an internationalist social and/ or political movement (60%)

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

■ To introduce debates on geographies of solidarity and internationalism.

■ To provide a process-based overview of the diverse modalities of internationalism and solidarity;

■ To introduce examples of internationalist social and political movements;

■ To assess the political significance and agency of different internationalist social and political movements.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Assess different approaches to the geographies of solidarity and internationalism;

■ Explain how solidarity can be understood as a political relation;

■ Discuss the activity of forms of internationalism forged 'from below';

■ Discuss the significance of different internationalist social and political movements.

■ Critically assess the literature on internationalism and solidarity with reference to particular examples;

■ Describe the use of a range of sources for researching internationalism and solidarity;

■ Discuss the tensions and possibilities involved in the use of different sources.

■ Use primary sources to reconstruct key practices of solidarity building;

■ Explain the role of different place-based political cultures in shaping internationalist practices.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.