Module manager: Dr Sean Fear
Email: S.Fear@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is approved as a discovery module
This module is designed to develop knowledge and understanding of twentieth-century international history from roughly the end of the Second World War to the end of the Vietnam War. It uses a thematic approach to explore the development of international events and relations, engaging you in the study of ‘transnational’ history moving beyond a focus on traditional diplomatic relations. It examines the interplay of political, strategic, ideological, economic, and cultural factors in shaping international relations between countries involved in the global Cold War. Content note: in this module we are concerned with key themes including international relations, power dynamics, decolonization and anti-colonialism, war, state-building, and lived experiences of the Cold War. To discuss these themes effectively it is necessary for us to potentially read, look at, and discuss material which covers topics which may be challenging for you. These topics include: racism, sexism, and forms of individual and community discrimination; violence (systemic and militarized); and human rights abuses and humanitarian crises (including genocide). If you know that it will be unsettling for you to encounter such content, please make your tutor aware so that we can identify the best way to support you through these parts of the module. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
The aim of this module is to explore the Cold War as a global phenomenon that fundamentally reshaped national, regional, and international histories in the twentieth century. It will introduce you to key themes and different historical approaches for understanding the Cold War’s diverse impacts. Lectures introduce key topics, building up your understanding of the complex s political, strategic, ideological, economic, and cultural. Aspects of the Global Cold War. Seminars focus on using primary and secondary sources to develop deeper analysis.
On successful completion of the module you will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Critically assess the Cold War as a social, political, and cultural phenomenon with global impacts.
2. Analyse methodological and thematic overlaps between ‘international’ and ‘transnational’ history.
3. Analyse and evaluate different historiographical approaches to study of the global Cold War.
4. Evaluate change over time and different regions’ and people’s experiences of the Cold War.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module you will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
5. Critically analyse scholarly arguments and identify your contribution to historical debate.
6. Weigh up evidence to formulate arguments in the context of scholarship.
7. Effectively communicate arguments based on evidence.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 2 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| Lecture | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Seminar | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| Private study hours | 179.6 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20.4 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Before submitting your first book review, you will have an opportunity to submit a formative article review to practice your skills of analysing a historical argument and identifying its contribution to the scholarship. For this review you will receive written feedback in addition to oral feedback during class discussions or in a meeting with the tutor. Time will be set aside in class towards the end of the semester to discuss the assessed essay task and for in-class exercises (guided by the tutor) focused on finding sources and essay planning. You will also have the opportunity to meet individually with the tutor to discuss an essay plan/bibliography.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Book Review | 40 |
| Coursework | Essay | 60 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 29/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team