Module manager: Dr Eline Van Ommen
Email: e.vanommen@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module introduces you to the history of social justice and protest movements in the twentieth century through a transnational lens. Histories of protest have traditionally been written from local or national perspectives, centralizing actors in Europe and North America. Yet, as we will find out, activists and other non-state actors often looked across borders and made connections – both real and imagined – to like-minded people across the globe. These connections, in turn, transformed the nature of protest, as transnational activists shared ideas, debated strategies, and mobilized resources. Crucially, actors from the Global South played key roles in transnational protest movements. More than spontaneous outbursts of humanitarianism or solidarity in the West, then, transnational protest movements often find their origins in the Global South. Armed revolutionary movements seeking international legitimacy, for example, reached out to audiences abroad, amplifying their message through the coordination of transnational networks of solidarity activists. To be sure, transnational histories of protest are not only about collaboration and connections, and this module will also look at tensions, breakdowns, and the power hierarchies that activists worked within. <p>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. </p>
Drawing on secondary and primary sources in English, the objective of this module is to provide you with an understanding of the history of 20th century protest and to engage you in a lively debate on the benefits and flaws of transnational history as a method to study social justice and protest movements.
On successful completion of the module you will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Demonstrated a deeper understanding of transnational history as a method to write the history of protest movements in the twentieth century;
2. Presented arguments, ideas, and interpretations of the history of protest movements in the 20th century and beyond, both verbally and in written form;
3. Applied their understanding of transnational protest movements with concrete historical examples and case studies;
4. Developed the ability to apply fundamental standards and practices of historical study for research, discussion, and assessed work.
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 |
| Seminar | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| Private study hours | 179.6 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20.4 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
You will be given the opportunity to discuss preparation for both assignments in a one-to-one meeting with the module tutor.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay | 60 |
| Coursework | Presentation | 40 |
| 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: 28/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team