HR294-5-FY-CO:
South and Southern Africa in the Twentieth Century
PLEASE NOTE: This module is inactive. Visit the Module Directory to view modules and variants offered during the current academic year.
2023/24
Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies (School of)
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 5
Inactive
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 28 June 2024
30
01 March 2021
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
The core of this module is the historical experience of South Africa from the Boer War to the end of the twentieth century, when white rule of the country was finally ended. The aim of the module is to give students a thorough understanding of the processes that gave rise to segregation and to the forces that led to its demise.
Side-glances at other southern African countries will be made at certain points because developments within them - the national liberation wars of the 1960s through to the 1980s - had such momentous importance for South Africa itself.
The topics traversed include: the role of British imperialism in the founding of the South African state; Afrikaner and African nationalism; the development of segregation; the experience of peasants and workers; the apartheid programme; the high points of resistance to the racial order; the relationship between the economy and racial policies; the nature of the guerrilla wars on South Africa's borders; and the final crisis of white rule.
Although the module focuses on Southern (particularly South) Africa, it aims to advance students' general understanding of key phenomena – for example, racial segregation, nationalism, popular rebellion, guerrilla war – of the twentieth century.
The aim of the course is to give students a thorough understanding of the long term processes and struggles that gave rise to increasing racial discrimination and, ultimately, to the apartheid state in South Africa.
It aims to overturn common assumptions about South Africa such as those which attribute the country's institutionalisation of racism merely to the alleged peculiarities of its 'white tribe', the Afrikaners.
Another objective is to demonstrate the importance of key popular struggles, and the state's response to them, in shaping South African history.
The course also seeks to elucidate general theories - for example, those pertaining to nationalism or social transformation - through their application to, and illustration by, South African material.
Students will understand the complex forces that led to the development of the racial order in South Africa; they will be able to assess how a range of movements and struggles moulded South African history; students should also be able to apply what they have learned (for example, about the origins of a particular war, or the nature of nationalism, or the emergence of a working class) to other contexts.
General reading list:
Beinart, W., Twentieth-Century South Africa.
Mandela, Nelson., Long Walk To Freedom.
Worden, N., The Making of Modern South Africa.
In all cases, please focus on material covering the late-nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Exam |
Main exam: Remote, Open Book, 180 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
|
| Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: Remote, Open Book, 180 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)
|
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Jeremy Krikler, email: krikjm@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Jeremy Krikler
Belinda Waterman, Department of History, 01206 872313
Yes
Yes
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
Of 44 hours, 44 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Disclaimer: The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its Module Directory is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can
be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements,
industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to modules may for example consist
of variations to the content and method of delivery or assessment of modules and other services, to discontinue modules and other services and to merge or combine modules.
The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.