HR294-5-SP-CO:
South Africa: The Road to Apartheid
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
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 5
Inactive
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
15
01 March 2021
Requisites for this module
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Apartheid became notorious in the latter half of the twentieth century as a byword for racial discrimination and oppression. Although it was particularly associated with state policy in South Africa from the mid-twentieth century onwards, it built upon foundations laid earlier and was, in many ways, a repressive response to a movement for black rights led by people such as Nelson Mandela.
This module explains how South Africa took the 'apartheid turn' but it also demonstrates how the country had long been on a road of increasing racial discrimination. The core of this module is the historical experience of South Africa from the late-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century, when the National Party came to power on its apartheid platform.
The aim of the course is to give students a thorough understanding of the historical forces and struggles which gave rise to the segregationist 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.
The topics traversed include: the role of British imperialism in the founding of the South African state; the particularities of the country's economic development; Afrikaner and African nationalism; the development of racial segregation; the experience of peasants and workers, and the role of labour and agrarian movements. Key protest movements are also analysed.
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.
For introductory reading, see:
W. Beinart, Twentieth-Century South Africa
Nelson Mandela, Long Walk To Freedom
N. Worden, The Making of Modern South Africa
In all cases, please focus on material covering the late-nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century.
One-hour lecture and one-hour seminar per week.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
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Additional coursework information
Anticipated coursework assessment for 2020/21:
A 1500-word document analysis (30%); and a 3000-word essay (70%).
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 20 hours, 20 (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).
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