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UCHUMHIS287.5 ECTSEnglishBachelor

Decolonizing Security in the ‘Third World’ during the Global Cold War

Faculteit—
NiveauBachelor
Studiejaar2026-2027

Beschrijving

Course goals

After completing the course students are able to:


1. Describe the main developments and processes in the Global Cold War. 
2. Evaluate the main scholarly debates concerning the Global Cold War. 
3. Interpret and evaluate primary sources related to the Global Cold War. 
4. Set up and carry out a research project, involving the design of a research question as well as the selection, critical analysis and evaluation of historical sources, to be used to construct an essay that presents an answer to this question. 
5. Develop and give a presentation on a topic related to the Global Cold War based on academic publications. 
6. Approach complex historical issues related to the Global Cold War from a wide range of perspectives.



Relationship between tests and course goals:  

Description of assignmentAssesses which learning goals?
  1. Class participation
  2. Oral presentation
  3. Essay 
  4. Take-home exam

1-4, 6
5
1-4, 6
1-4, 6
 

Content

This course builds on new scholarship to expand the study of the Cold War from a primarily bipolar, Western, superpower perspective to a truly global perspective not only geographically, but also thematically, also giving voice to hitherto underrepresented actors and perspectives. By combining diplomatic, military, economic and cultural history with elements of intelligence studies and International Relations theory, this course will approach the bipolar conflict in the broadest sense possible, by investigating how it impacted actors, processes and movements in all corners of the world.
As such it will also build on skills and knowledge developed during the first year introductory history courses, particularly the one on Modern History, which now also contains an emphatically global and multidimensional perspective. It will also help students further develop their analytical and essay-writing skills as well as the analysis of primary sources from a wide range of perspectives.
This course complements The Transatlantic Cold War, which approaches the bipolar conflict mainly from an East-West perspective. It can be taken in conjunction with that course, since it covers an altogether new set of themes and regions, or by itself, since students will be made familiar with the relevant skills and contents during the course.
 
Format
Each week, students will take part in two highly interactive seminars, in which they will be expected to participate in class debates and group activities based on relevant readings. Where appropriate, the weekly theme will be illustrated with case studies for an in-depth approach, using a collection of primary sources for analysis (please see attached syllabus).
The mandatory readings will also be complemented by audio-visual material, and especially by movies and documentaries that can develop the cultural dimension of the course.

Planning and enrollment
One group is scheduled in timeslot C2; with an additional group in timeslot C1 in case of high demand from the UU Security minor.
UCU students use the regular pre-enrolment procedure. UU minor students must contact the course coordinator before 10 November to indicate their wish to enroll. Final enrolment will only happen mid January. Late expressions of interest are subject to availability.

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