The early twentieth century witnessed the breakdown of the international political and economic order. Great power rivalries, an arms race, competition for colonies and markets, and domestic turmoil contributed to the explosion in 1914. The First World War destroyed much of European civilisation by bringing an end to four empires, and greatly weakening the power of several others. Countries like the United States and Japan became key players in the new order. New ideologies and new forms of government developed as a result of the changes, giving rise to even more instability and conflict: evidenced in the rise of Mussolini, Stalin, and Hitler. The global economic crisis in the 1930s brought additional pressures that eventually erupted in another world war between 1939 and 1945. How and why did this happen? Why did Europe self-destruct? What about other countries? This course will explain the enormity of changes that occurred with First World War and the subsequent attempts to re-establish a stable international order in the 1920s and 1930s. We will also examine how and why these attempts failed, and why the Second World War occurred. A wide array of topics and events will be addressed, such as imperialism; nationalism; militarism; technological advancements; pressures for war; the Paris Peace Conference and dismantling of empires; ideological extremism and the rise of Hitler and Stalin; Japan’s conquests in Asia; the Great Depression; American isolationism; appeasement policy; the coming of WWII; the Holocaust; the atomic bomb; “total war”; and the development of a new “cold war” between the United States and the Soviet Union after 1945. In the process, we will examine the historical roots, structures, and problems that shape the international order today.

The full course outline for HIS 594 can be found here:

HIS 594 World Conflict Fall 2014

History can be helpful in making sense of the present, but it can also be dangerous. It is often misunderstood, distorted, or even entirely fabricated. The abuse of history is sometimes dramatic and violent. Some have created false histories to justify the exclusion and even extermination of others. Less obvious are the ways we use particular interpretations of history to explain and respond to events. In fact many people invoke “history” without fully understanding what that history is, let alone how easy it is to take from it almost any “lesson” one wants.This course looks at the development of written history, the idea of the “archive,” and the use of written history in the service of ideology, politics, and governance by nation states, empires, social reformers/activists, and corporations. We also look at how history is used to understand ourselves, our families, and societies within the context of the complicated, constantly changing world in which we live. By examining the often precarious nature of history, we can see how it has – and is – used or abused to shape collective memory, identity, and perspective. We will make extensive use of “case studies” to detail the usually contentious complexities of events, and demonstrate how various interpretations of history affect the contemporary world.

The early twentieth century witnessed the breakdown of the international political and economic order. Great power rivalries, an arms race, competition for colonies and markets, and domestic turmoil contributed to the explosion in 1914. The First World War destroyed much of European civilisation by bringing an end to four empires, and greatly weakening the power of several others. Countries like the United States and Japan became key players in the new order. New ideologies and new forms of government developed as a result of the changes, giving rise to even more instability and conflict: evidenced in the rise of Mussolini, Stalin, and Hitler. The global economic crisis in the 1930s brought additional pressures that eventually erupted in another world war between 1939 and 1945. How and why did this happen? Why did Europe self-destruct? What about other countries? This course will explain the enormity of changes that occurred with First World War and the subsequent attempts to re-establish a stable international order in the 1920s and 1930s. We will also examine how and why these attempts failed, and why the Second World War occurred. A wide array of topics and events will be addressed, such as imperialism; nationalism; militarism; technological advancements; pressures for war; the Paris Peace Conference and dismantling of empires; ideological extremism and the rise of Hitler and Stalin; Japan’s conquests in Asia; the Great Depression; American isolationism; appeasement policy; the coming of WWII; the Holocaust; the atomic bomb; “total war”; and the development of a new “cold war” between the United States and the Soviet Union after 1945. In the process, we will examine the historical roots, structures, and problems that shape the international order today.

ACS 402 Description

This is the core introductory course in the Global Studies stream of the Arts and Contemporary Studies programme. The course examines the historical evolution of political, cultural, economic, and environmental inter-relationships between peoples and nations. It covers a diverse array of issues, including the creation and collapse of empires, the emergence of international law and organisations, geo-strategic competition, and the origins and consequences of war. Nationalisms, radical ideologies, ethnic and religious conflicts, terrorism and a host of other dynamics are studied within these contexts. Please see the outline below for a full description of the course. It is usually offered in the day- time winter term.

HST 604 Description

This is an upper level elective course examining international relations during the Cold War between 1945 and 1991. Please see the outline below for a full description of the course. It is usually offered in the day- time winter term, but the Faculty of Continuing Education also offers it at night and in the spring and summer terms with different instructors.

HST 500 Description

This is a professionally-related course designed to help explain the current state of world affairs through the examination of recent historical developments during the Cold War period between 1945 and 1991. Please see the outline below for a full description of the course. It is usually offered in the day- time fall term, but the Faculty of Continuing Education also offers it at night and in the spring and summer terms with different instructors.