Students

MHIS2011 – Making War Modern: From Revolutionary Soldier to Peacekeeper

2020 – Session 2, Fully online/virtual

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Leigh Boucher
Annalise Humphris
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above OR (10cp in HIST or MHIS or POL or POIR or MHIX or POIX units)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit is an intellectual and cultural history of modern war and peace making. It explores the historical emergence of the categories and practices through which modern wars have been waged and peace has been forged, in particular, we examine how ideas about race, gender and nation have underpinned modern war-making and been challenged by them. The unit examines a major conflict each week, and then explores how peace has been differently made in its' wake. We begin with the French Revolutionary Wars and move through the 19th and 20th centuries, including the World Wars, the Cold War, and wars of decolonization. This will reveal when many of the ideas and practices that seem like common sense to our eyes took historical shape – such as the protection of civilians, real-time war reporting, the use of mass conscription, the widespread memorialisation of war-time loss as a nation-making project, and the use of propaganda. The story of modern war-making is often told through a focus on European nations and their conflicts with each other. However, this unit has a particular focus on how Europeans began to employ to a different set of rules and norms when waging wars with non-European peoples. The unit asks whether conventional stories about modern military strategy, practices and restraints are challenged when we put the experiences of non-Europeans in the frame?

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Demonstrate schematic knowledge of major conflicts and efforts to make peace in modern history.
  • ULO2: Analyse how empirical research and methodological debate has expanded and challenged existing historiography.
  • ULO3: Critically appraise the arguments of other historians (both theoretically and empirically).
  • ULO4: Locate, identify, read and analyse existing historical research with some guidance.
  • ULO5: Clearly communicate a point of view about the past using the terminology and techniques accepted in the historical profession in written form.
  • ULO6: Consider how war and peace are experienced differently (according to gender, race, class, sexuality and historical location).
  • ULO7: Examine and critically appraise popular histories and narratives of war and peace.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Research Essay 45% No 9/11/2020
Reading Report 20% No 21/9/2020
Weekly Quiz 30% No In 3 batches through semester
Essay progress report 5% No 9/10/2020

Research Essay

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 56 hours
Due: 9/11/2020
Weighting: 45%

Research essay topics will be made available on ilearn by week 3 and will relate to the weekly topics covered in the unit. Students will conduct independent research to develop an historical interpretation and place this in an historiographic field. Workshops will be held in seminars to guide students through this major task. This assessment focuses on a deep knowledge of one topic covered in the unit.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate schematic knowledge of major conflicts and efforts to make peace in modern history.
  • Analyse how empirical research and methodological debate has expanded and challenged existing historiography.
  • Critically appraise the arguments of other historians (both theoretically and empirically).
  • Locate, identify, read and analyse existing historical research with some guidance.
  • Clearly communicate a point of view about the past using the terminology and techniques accepted in the historical profession in written form.

Reading Report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 21/9/2020
Weighting: 20%

A short report about selected scholarship from the early weeks of the unit.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse how empirical research and methodological debate has expanded and challenged existing historiography.
  • Critically appraise the arguments of other historians (both theoretically and empirically).
  • Clearly communicate a point of view about the past using the terminology and techniques accepted in the historical profession in written form.

Weekly Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 2 hours
Due: In 3 batches through semester
Weighting: 30%

A quiz about the weekly readings and lectures, multiple choice and short answer.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate schematic knowledge of major conflicts and efforts to make peace in modern history.
  • Critically appraise the arguments of other historians (both theoretically and empirically).
  • Clearly communicate a point of view about the past using the terminology and techniques accepted in the historical profession in written form.
  • Consider how war and peace are experienced differently (according to gender, race, class, sexuality and historical location).
  • Examine and critically appraise popular histories and narratives of war and peace.

Essay progress report

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 9/10/2020
Weighting: 5%

A short report on progress towards the completion of the research essay.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse how empirical research and methodological debate has expanded and challenged existing historiography.
  • Critically appraise the arguments of other historians (both theoretically and empirically).
  • Locate, identify, read and analyse existing historical research with some guidance.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Students will be required to listen to 1.5-2 hours of lectures per week and contribute to online discussion fora.  All lectures will be made available via the echo system and readings will be available via leganto

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.