2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HIST3723 Apartheid in South Africa: Origins, Impact and Legacy

20 Credits Class Size: 30

Module manager: Dr Will Jackson
Email: w.jackson@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

'partheid was one of the most severe systems of racial oppression in modern history. This module will examine whether the origins of Apartheid lay in South Africa's unique industrial experience, or in South Africa's long history of racial oppression - slavery, the Dutch republics and segregation. It will also analyse the impact of Apartheid, consider the reasons for Apartheid's collapse, and examine the legacy of Apartheid for South Africa.

Objectives

The objectives of this module are:
1. To explore the nature of racial politics in South Africa over the past two centuries.
2. To analyse the historiographical debates relating to the origins and collapse of Apartheid.
3. To understand how Apartheid affected other aspects of South African life: culture, family structures, gender and generation.
4. To critically analyse a range of primary sources, both written and visual, relating to these issues.
5. To formulate sophisticated and nuanced arguments in relation to these issues, in written and verbal form.
6. To further develop generic, transferable and subject specific skills.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, students should:
a) have developed an understanding of the origins and impact of racial oppression in modern South Africa
b) have a sophisticated knowledge of the relevant historiography, including the most recent developments in the field
c) be able to analyse a range of source materials, from oral histories to court records
d) be capable of developing coherent arguments, derived from primary and secondary sources.

Syllabus

Indicative themes include: Slavery, the Great Trek, diamonds and gold, nationalism, mass protest, the Sophiatown renaissance, the nature of Apartheid, exile, youth, gender, violence and the end of Apartheid.

Teaching Methods

Delivery type Number Length hours Student hours
Seminar 11 2 22
Private study hours 178
Total Contact hours 22
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) 200

Private study

Students will read extensively each week in order to prepare for class discussion.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Through ensuring all students participate in class discussion, by evaluating performance in oral presentations, by assessment of essay and exam scripts.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework
Assessment type Notes % of formal assessment
Assignment 3 x 500 word VLE posts 40
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) 40

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams
Exam type Exam duration % of formal assessment
Online Time-Limited assessment 48.0 Hrs 0 Mins 60
Total percentage (Assessment Exams) 60

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading List

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 10/18/2024

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team