Course Catalogue

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Socialism was one of the most significant new intellectual ideas of the nineteenth century, arising as a result of powerful transnational networks of dialogue and exchange between Russian, French, British, American, and German intellectuals. Though predominantly a political discourse, it was powerfully influenced by the parallel emergence of modern political economy as pioneered by Adam Smith and David Ricardo, and later on by the Darwinian revolution in the natural sciences. This course reviews the emergence of this tradition via case studies.

Over ten weeks as scheduled in 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 who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

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The standard assessments for this course are: 

■ 1,700 word intellectual biography (essay). 

■ 1,500 word book review (a report) of a primary source by a different thinker. 

■ 800 word equivalent seminar presentation on a set question. 

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 Essay and Book Review, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

■ A recorded presentation as alternative to the presentation.

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

This course aims to:

■ Develop their intellectual interests and analytical skills through an interdisciplinary approach acquired by students during their first two years.

■  Develop awareness of previously unfamiliar methodological approaches, chronological periods and geographical areas by offering a wide and flexible choice of options and case studies.

■ Prepare for independent and original analysis of a complex range of evidence, thereby developing intellectual skills that will be of benefit in a wide range of careers. ·

■ Show how a professional historian works, particularly in the field of biography. ·

■ Familiarise, through source criticism and object analysis, with a wide range of problems of interpretation associated with historical evidence (written, visual or other).

■  Ensure, through student-led discussion, that the relative validity of alternative historical interpretations and methods is fully recognised.

■  Encourage students to develop the confidence, 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.

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

■ Present in written and oral exposition an understanding of the methodologies and theoretical frameworks employed by historians to understand and write about historical figures

■ Demonstrate their mastery of the subject as a whole by answering a range of questions requiring them to locate both primary and secondary sources in their historical context, and to reconstruct the identity of the period;

■  to make accurate comparison of two or more alternative interpretations or renditions of a particular historical figure;

■ To develop appropriate sets of skills related to the writing of historical biography in particular, via a supervised project

■ To develop appropriate sets of skills related to reviewing a primary source in terms of identifying and describing ideas, sources, context, and both contemporary and subsequent influences.