Course Catalogue

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This course will examine the course of European international politics from the 1860s to the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. It will consider both relations between states and the rise of transnational civil society during this period.

As timetabled on MyCampus. This is one of the honours options in History and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into History, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes.

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The standard assessments for this course are: 

■ Coursework - class essay (2,000 words) (20%) 

■ Coursework - seminar presentation (6%) seminar contribution (4%) 

■ Examination - 120 minutes duration (70%) 

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available: 

■ There are no alternatives to the coursework, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

■ There are no alternatives to the exam, but extra time can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.  

It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.

[No exceptions]

The aims common to all History Honours 20 credit courses are as follows:

1. To prepare students for independent and original analysis of a complex range of evidence, including source materials, thereby developing intellectual skills that will be of benefit in a wide range of careers.

Students' research capacity will be enriched by their introduction to diverse source materials and their oral and written communication skills enhanced in ways designed to address employers' expectations for highly literate and highly articulate graduates who are fully cognisant of a range of research tools.

2. To show students how a professional historian works.

By supporting students in the production of their essay and seminar presentation, students will gain first hand experience of the scoping and shaping of research projects and the challenges faced by historians in the pursuit of advances in knowledge.

3. To familiarise students, through source-criticism, with a wide-range of problems of interpretation arising from different usages of language, underlying meanings and intentions, differing standards of objectivity, and the variety of purpose and intent associated with historical evidence (written, visual or other).

The critical interpretation of key historiographical and theoretical debates relating to this subject will inform the close reading of sources. Provenance, perspective, context, intent and audience will be core considerations in students' interpretation of sources.

4. To ensure, through student-led discussion, that the relative validity of alternative historical interpretations is fully recognised. The seminars aim to encourage student-led learning and the facilitation of rigorous and informed debate.

5. To encourage students to develop imagination, skills and self-discipline required to master a similarly demanding brief in the future, whether in historical research or in any sphere or employment where these qualities are valuable.

Students will be encouraged to reflect on the range of generic research and communication skills they are developing over the course of this course in order to align their academic and professional aspirations and competencies and encourage reflective practice.

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

■ Demonstrate an overall grasp of the course of international relations in Europe from 1860 through to the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.

■ Demonstrate an awareness of the importance of the primary source material, defined as consisting of both documentary sources and other cultural artefacts, and an ability to analyse it constructively in understanding the evolution of inter-state relations and the development of transnational civil society.

■ Demonstrate an understanding of key developments in thinking about international peace among both European civil society and state elites responsible for the formulation and execution of foreign and defence policy.

■ Demonstrate an understanding of the role of nationalism and the concept of self-determination in politics and international politics in Europe.

■ Demonstrate the ability to critique primary sources and also to assess the validity of researchers' opinions on the basis of the secondary literature.

■ Demonstrate the ability to present relevant analysis in unambiguous, concise and effective prose, incorporating a range of substantiating evidence in essays, seminar papers, and a written exam.

■ Demonstrate the ability to lead and participate in seminar discussions devoted to selected primary and secondary sources, and in delivering analysis clearly and effectively in oral presentations and in group discussion.