Learning outcomes

The student recognizes one of the main features of the 20th century which is end of the colonial empires. The student understands what is the link between those empires and today’s international post-colonial power structures in the era of globalization.

Contents

- The history of European colonial empires is a story of conquest, domination, exploitation, war and conflicts. The 20th century was characterized by the collapse of those empires and by the independence of their former colonies with lot of hopes for better future in developing world.
- The last quarter of the 20th century witnessed disillusions of those hopes when the Western world strengthened its domination of globalized economic relations. Today only the so called emerging countries, the BRICS are able to challenge this domination.
- This longue durée evolution is approached from the point of view of peace and conflict research, because the era of colonial empires and their collapse is full of different kind of latent and violent conflicts. The main purpose is to understand the meanings of those conflicts for today. What kind of new conflicts they probably generate as well as what kind of mediation and resolutions might be appropriate in order to strenghten a sustainable peace?

Evaluation

Study materials

Reading list will be announced at the beginning of the course.

Further information

Some room in the course for exchange students and other students, please contact the teacher before the course.

Belongs to following study modules

2014–2015

Teaching

Archived Teaching Schedule. Please refer to current Teaching Shedule.

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