Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module explores different ways in which competing historical narratives, strategic uses of the past, heritage and education policies, commemorative practices and cultural artefacts are linked to conflict and cooperation, nationalism, integration and disintegration processes, and identity contestation across the world.

The key aims of this module are:

1)       To introduce and discuss key concepts related to the politics of memory and uses of the past.
2)       To acquaint students with key debates on the politics of memory in relevant literatures.
3)       To support students in gaining advanced knowledge and critical understanding of political processes linked to the contestation of memory.
4)       To equip students with research skills that will allow them to undertake independent analysis of memory politics in future.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module will discuss the following topics:

•       Key concepts and debates in the study of politics of memory;
•       Key actors and sites of memory;
•       Heritage policies and commemorative practices;
•       Memory politics and domestic political processes;
•       Memory politics and international political processes;
•       Case studies: memory politics across the world.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

1)       Critically evaluate competing explanations and accounts of the politics of memory;
2)       Analyse political and cultural processes lined to the politics of memory;
3)       Apply relevant concepts to case studies across the world;
4)       Conduct an independent study in the area of the politics of memory.

Intended Skill Outcomes

1)       Students will enhance their oral and written communication skills;
2)       Students will improve their ability to develop a robust argument and support it with appropriate evidence;
3)       Students will enhance their research skills.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Seminars will support students in learning the key concepts and debates related to the politics of memory, and in applying their knowledge to the analysis of various case studies across the world.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The case study will allow students to advance their knowledge of the politics of memory, and to enhance and demonstrate their skills in formulating a research question, reviewing relevant literature and developing a robust argument in relation to an aspect of memory politics of their choice.

General Notes

N/A