Prospectus

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Revolutionary movements in modern Western society

Course
2014-2015

Admission requirements

-

Description

The use of violence for political ends should not be necessary in a democratic society. There are nevertheless many organisations in such societies that try to obtain their objectives in that manner. Within Europe one could think of nationalist movements striving for local independence such as the Basque ETA and the Irish IRA, but also of social-revolutionary groups like the Red Brigades or the Baader-Meinhof Group and lately religiously motivated terrorists.
This Research Seminar will start off with an attempt to formulate hypotheses on the phenomenon of revolution on basis of some theoretical literature regarding questions such as: Under which conditions do people begin to use force as a means to obtain political objectives? How do revolutionary organizations manage to obtain support? How do governments react to their actions? Etc. After this general introduction each student will have to test some of the hypotheses by applying them to one or more revolutionary organisations with the use of primary source material.

To start the course students will have to sit an entry test on the following book:

Charles Tilly, European Revolutions, 1492-1992 (Oxford 1995) ISBN: 978-0-631-19903-8

Course objectives

  • The ability to independently identify and select sources

  • The ability to independently formulate a clear and well-argued research question

  • The ability to analyze and evaluate literature and sources for the purpose of producing an original scholarly argument

  • The ability to interpret a corpus of sources

  • Knowledge and comprehension of the specialisation Political Culture and National Identities and its historiography specifically of
    political practices, symbols and perceptions, nationalism, and national identities in a cultural and societal context from 1870;

  • Knowledge and comprehension of the theoretical, conceptual and methodological aspects of the specialisation, more specifically of
    international comparison and transfer; the analysis of the specific perspectives of secondary studies;

Extra course objectives for Res Master Students:

  • The ability to interpret a potentially complex corpus of sources

  • The ability to identify new approaches within existing academic debates

  • Knowledge of the interdisciplinary aspects of the specialisation

Course specific objectives:

  • Basic knowledge and understanding of the theoretical thinking on revolutionary movements and political violence

  • Some specialized knowledge on a revolutionary movement

Timetable

View Timetable History

Mode of instruction

  • Seminar

Course Load

A brief calculation of the course load, broken down by:
280.

  • Hours spent on attending lectures and seminars: 30

  • Time for studying the compulsory literature: 70 hours

  • Time to write a paper (including reading / research): 180 hours

Assessment method

  • A paper demonstrating the following skills:

    • The ability to independently identify and select literature and sources and interprete and analyse them
    • The ability to give a clear written report on the research results in English
    • The ability to engage with constructive academic feedback
    • The ability to independently formulate a clear and well-argued research question – Knowledge and comprehension of the specialisation and its historiography
    • Knowledge and comprehension of the theoretical, conceptual and methodological aspects of the specialisation
  • presentations and participiation in class discussions, demonstrating the following skills:

    • The ability to give a clear oral report on the research results in English
    • The ability to provide constructive academic feedback
    • Knowledge and comprehension of the specialisation and its historiography
    • Knowledge and comprehension of the theoretical, conceptual and methodological aspects of the specialisation

The first two additional objectives for Research Master students are assessed through the essay. The third one is assessed through their participation in class and presentations.

The first course specific objective is assessed through the entry test, participation in class and presentations.The second course specific objective is assessed through the research paper.

Assessment and grading method (in percentages):.

  • essay 70%

  • participation 10%

  • presentations 20%

To complete the final mark, please take notice of the following:

  • the final grade for the course is established by determining the weighted average

Should the overall mark be unsatisfactory, the paper is to be revised after consultation with the teacher.

Blackboard

Blackboard is used for: - dissemination of information

  • sharing research results.

Reading list

Charles Tilly, European Revolutions, 1492-1992 (Oxford 1995) ISBN: 978-0-631-19903-8
To be obtained via van Stockum bookshop

Registration

via uSis

Contact

dhr. Dr. J. Augusteijn