History

The course provides students with an introduction to the history of Latin America from the late 19th century to the present day. Its focus is predominantly on Latin Americans and what happened within the region. However, the course also explores Latin Americans’ interaction with the wider world, including their pivotal and expanding relationship with the United States during the 20th century. Major themes covered on the course include identity, citizenship and nationalism; neo-colonialism and anti-imperialism; state-building and concepts of “development”; revolution and resistance; dictatorship and violence; democratization; and the struggle for social justice. In addressing these themes, students are paying particular attention to histories of race, class, and gender with students encouraged to consider how different Latin Americans experienced and influenced the course of history in the region.

This course offers an in-depth exploration of the history of U.S. foreign relations, tracing the nation’s trajectory from its emergence as an imperial power in the late 19th century to its contemporary role on the global stage. Beginning with the concept of the "end of the Frontier" and the ideology of American Exceptionalism, the course examines the evolving role of the United States in the world, analyzing how it has shaped—and been shaped by—key political, geopolitical, cultural and economic transformations of the 20th and 21st centuries. Key themes include the increasing projection of American hard and soft power, the interplay between domestic politics and foreign policy, and the ideological and discursive practices underpinning U.S. global engagement. Special attention is given to how internal political changes, from evolving partisan dynamics to shifting public opinion and economic priorities, have influenced America’s global strategies. The course critically investigates pivotal moments such as the two World Wars, the Cold War, and the post-9/11 "War on Terror," providing a nuanced understanding of how a former colony transitioned from a regional actor to a superpower—and, for some, a global hegemon. Through lectures, discussions, and primary source analysis, students gain a comprehensive understanding of the forces that have shaped U.S. foreign relations and their implications for the broader international order.

The Zionist ideology and movement in its own terms, and in the context of modern Judaism. The course places Zionism in its historical and religious contexts, and examines its varieties. The Zionist movement is followed from its origins to the establishment of Israel. Related aspects of Israeli politics are then examined, with special reference to ideological and religious debates.

This course reflects on the impact of the environment on the economy, particulary the economic impacts of natural disasters in Japan. The course also discusses how Japanese society has mitigated and prepared against the effects of natural disasters since the mid-19th century.  

This course examines enlightenment and oppression, colonization and decolonization, the making and unmaking of nation states and the forging and unraveling of global relationships. It looks at social, cultural, political, environmental and economic histories in Asia, Europe, the Americas and Australia. 

This course examines the military situation of Singapore and how it is governed by its place in the Malay world and its fluctuating strategic value to great powers. Students learn the 700‐year approach to the island’s military history and examine the relative impact of its distant and recent past on its present situation. 

This course examines the relationship between the Enlightenment and the crisis of the Old Regime in 18th century France. During the decades from the mid-eighteenth century to the French Revolution, the Enlightenment reached its peak, and social, political and cultural changes became evident.  The course deals with not only the writings of several major philosophers but also their life and activities in order to understand the social and political problems with which they were faced at the time.  

This course examines Indigenous, Māori ways of understanding, doing, and creating history. It also examines how Māori historical frameworks engage with the legal and political processes of the Waitangi Tribunal. 

This course explores the major developments in Japanese history and culture from the Meiji period to the end of World War II. The course focuses on key issues and transformations in Japanese society, politics, foreign relations, and culture. The course addresses the following questions: What were the major transformations in modern Japanese history? What factors explain these changes? How have Japanese society and culture evolved? How has Japan interacted with the world? The course provides a broad understanding of the key events and dynamics that shaped modern Japan’s historical development.

This course explores the history of political and social movements in Spain and Catalonia from medieval times to present day. Topics include: the Reconquista; formation of the Spanish state; the Spanish Civil War; the Franco era; transition to democracy; dynamics of Catalonia and the quest for autonomy.