Advanced Area Studies

Course Content:

This module consolidates skills that students have been introduced to at Level 5 in terms
of awareness of debate, inter-disciplinarity, the use of quantitative and qualitative
sources, and comparative methods. Students? skills are further developed in drawing on
research, in combining research from a range of sources in their own investigation in
order to make a synthetic, evaluative study.

AUTUMN SEMESTER: Contemporary European Protest Movements

The module addresses theories of collective action and introduces students to the history
of post-1945 European main protest cycles and movements. Particular attention will be
paid to France, Germany, Great Britain and Italy. US influences on European protest
movements such as the 1960s student movement or feminism will also be discussed.
? Protest and collective action: concepts and definitions
? Why do people protest? Contexts and Conditions of Collective Action
? How do people protest? Protest tactics and repertoires of contention
? The Labour movement
? Feminism and the Women?s Movement
? Student protest
? The environmental movement
? Anti-war and peace movements
? The Global Justice Movement/Occupy Movement
? Riots and violence

SPRING SEMESTER: The Contemporary Balkans

The module addresses key issues in the history, politics and international relations of the
Balkan countries, which for the purposes of this module is broadly defined to include the
following: Albania, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Kosovo,
Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey. The module provides a
historical background of Balkan history since 1800, and particularly since World War II,
before focusing on the Balkans in the present day. It will explore in particular issues of
national identity and nationalism; of democracy and dictatorship; of war and conflict
resolution; and of relations between the Balkan states and between them and the
outside world. The module encourages students to draw some general conclusions about
the most important historical and political trends in the Balkans, and about what it is that
defines the region as both distinctive and as part of the wider European story.
? The contemporary Balkans: An introduction
? The emergence of the modern Balkans
? Yugoslavia: The road to the break-up
? The wars in Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina
? Albania, Kosovo and the fall of Milosevic
? The Macedonian question and Kosovo?s independence
? Turkey: Nationalism, Islam and the military
? Greece: Nationalism, dictatorship and democracy
? Cyprus: Independence, civil war and partition
? Romania and Bulgaria up to the fall of Communism
? Between the West and Russia: The Balkans and Euro-Atlantic integration

Teaching: Lectures, seminars and independent research

Assessment:
STUDY OPTION 1:
? Essay/portfolio (Autumn semester)
? 2,500-3,000 word essay (Spring semester)
STUDY OPTION 2:
Essay/portfolio
STUDY OPTION 3: 2,500-3,000 word essay

Study Option 1 = Whole Year
Study Option 2 = Autumn
Study Option 3 = Spring/summer