Course Catalogue

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Efforts to construct a new international order in the aftermath of the Great War remains among the most important yet also most controversial issues in modern history. Although the peace settlements agreed in 1919 are often considered to have made a second global war all but inevitable, they have also been praised for providing the basis for an enduring peace that was squandered recklessly by poor international leadership during the 1930s. This course will examine the political dynamics of peace-making after the Great War. It will pay particular attention to contending conceptions of global order articulate in the aftermath of the most widespread and destructive conflict in history.

2 hours seminars per week for 10 weeks.

Standard entry to Masters at College level.

None

None.

The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Essay (3,500 words) - 60%

■ Presentation (10 minutes) & Report (1,500 words) - 40%

■ The presentation of the report will be assessed along with overall contribution to seminar discussions.

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, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

■ Recorded presentation or 1-1 presentation with staff as alternative to oral presentation.

■ Written responses to seminar material in advance or after seminar or they can write a self-evaluation reflecting on seminar contribution as alternative to seminar contribution.

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

This course aims to:

■ Introduce students to the very extensive historiography of peace-making and international relations after the First World War.

■ Discuss and debate core questions structuring this literature with a particular emphasis on the impact of the First World War on the politics of peace-making.

■ Introduce students to the wide variety of conceptions of international order articulated world-wide during the Paris Peace Conference and after.

■ Consider the role of the Paris Peace Conference on the evolution of International Public Law.

■ Introduce students to the methods and approaches of the 'new international history'.

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

■ Have a sound grasp of the core issues and debates structuring the literature on Peace-Making after the Great War.

■ Understand the profound impact of the experience of the First World War on the political, social and cultural dynamics of peace-making after 1918.

■ Discuss the importance of international law to peace-making as well as the impact of peace-making after 1918 on the evolution of international public law.

■ Understand and use the concepts and methodologies deployed by the 'new international history'.