Total war and social change: Europe 1914-1955
On this page
|
|
|
|
|
| 6 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| Examination | No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown.
Summary
This course explores the connections between war and the significant transformation of society that took place during the first half of the twentieth century. It examines relationships between total war and social, cultural and geopolitical change – including revolution – and covers topics such as: European governments; societies and armies in 1914; the nature of warfare and differences in the conduct of the two world wars; social developments in western democracies; the holocaust and genocide; the division of Europe after 1945; the effect of war on the lives and status of women; film and propaganda; and the relationship between war, literature and the arts.
Course content
There are four course books that deal with the issues in a largely chronological order, with a fifth that draws together the discussions of the main topics.
Book 1, Europe in 1914, sets out the aims of the course, introduces methodological issues and gives guidance on historiographical problems, analysis of primary sources and writing history essays. It provides sufficient information about Europe in 1914 to enable you to assess what effects World War I had on European politics and society and introduces you to the debate on the origins of the First World War.
Book 2, World War I and its Consequences, examines how far World War I was a total war, exploring the great historical debate over its consequences, and recognising the argument that continuities are more important than discontinuities. There is a comparative study of the Russian and German revolutions and the collapse of the Habsburg Empire. What constitutes a revolution? How far were the upheavals in Central and Eastern Europe direct outcomes of the war? How far were they products of autonomous forces?
Book 3, Between Two Total Wars, discusses the interwar social and cultural, economic and political developments (including the rise of fascism and Nazism), with reference to possible connections with World War I and the causes of World War II.
Book 4, World War II and its consequences asks in what ways World War II differed from previous wars. Were genocide, strategic bombing and resistance movements peculiar to it? At the heart of the book is an extended discussion of the main historical debates over the consequences of that war and a comparison between World Wars I and II. Was post-war social and economic reform related integrally to the war? How far were women affected by this war as compared with World War I? How do the two world wars compare as ‘watersheds’, or in the way they affected the arts, literature and intellectual and social attitudes? The book ends with a discussion of the geopolitical consequences of the war and social and political developments up to 1955.
Book 5, Total War and Change in Twentieth-Century Europe looks back over the course as a whole. It asks you to examine the causes and nature of total war and how total war differs from other kinds of war: you will analyse the processes of long-term trends, such as social developments, and their relationship to war. Finally, the book analyses the debates over exactly what the effects have been on geopolitical and social developments in the twentieth century.
You will be expected to cover one unit per week, with two ‘free’ weeks, one at Easter and one in August.
The course will enable you to:
- argue in an informed way about the nature, extent and causes of social change within and across select European states (Russia, Austria-Hungary until the aftermath of World War I only, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom) between 1914 and 1955. Turkey, the Balkans and Central European countries are also discussed when they are relevant and there are references to Scandinavian and other European countries, as appropriate
- understand the nature of total war and discuss in an informed way the relationship between war and revolution in the twentieth century
- discuss the causes of the two total wars, evaluating ‘structural’ forces (to do with economic and demographic imperatives) against factors such as geopolitics, ideology, nationalism and contingency
- argue in an informed way about the role of war with respect to social change, and in particular to evaluate the significance of the two total wars in relation to structural, political and ideological forces and to discuss the relationship of the wars to the main geopolitical changes
- develop skills learnt at Level 1 and Level 2 in critical analysis and interpretation of primary source materials, including written documents, literary and artistic materials, film, radio and manifestations of popular culture
- understand some of the different approaches to historical study, ranging from the theoretical (in some forms of Marxism, for example) to the empirical (as in the approach to history introduced in the discontinued arts Level 1 course A103), and also quantitative and qualitative approaches
- write history essays of honours-degree standard
- take further your understanding of the nature of historiographical controversy, and arrive at informed judgements over the issues and debates presented in the course.
Associated residential school course
AA312 has an associated, but non-compulsory, residential course: Residential school. Total war and social change: Europe 1914-1955 (AXR312). It complements and enhances AA312, and should be taken in the same year. Attendance at the school is recommended for all students registering on AA312. If you decide to attend, you must register for AXR312 separately (an additional fee is payable). You are advised to register at the earliest opportunity as places are limited.
Entry
This is a Level 3 course. Level 3 courses build on study skills and subject knowledge acquired from studies at Levels 1 and 2. They are intended only for students who have recent experience of higher education in a related subject, preferably at the OU. You should already have some of the skills appropriate to study of history at this level. If you intend to study for the BA (Honours) History (B01), you should have successfully completed Exploring history: medieval to modern 1400-1900 (A200) before studying AA312. However, entry is not restricted to those studying towards the BA (Hons) History. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Preparatory work
You may find it helpful to do some background reading of the set book, Europe 1880–1945.
Qualifications
AA312 is an optional course in our
- BA (Honours) History (B01)
- BA (Honours) Humanities (B03)
- BA (Honours) Humanities (B03) (with History)
- BA/BSc (Honours) European Studies (B10)
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is suitable for a BA. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
Excluded combinations
Sometimes you will not be able to count a course towards a qualification if you have already taken another course with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this course, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The written course material is available in comb-bound format. Written transcripts are available for the audio-visual material. The course units and supplementary material are available on CD-ROM in ‘ReadOut’ format with navigational facilities. The text is provided and, where available, a real voice recording. (The set books are not included.) You will need your usual interface to access the material, e.g. a screen reader with synthetic speech output, screen enlargement software or Braille facilities. The video and audio materials are integrated into the main text and there is also a full-colour art pack and a map booklet. Other alternative formats of the course materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
In order to complete the double-length TMA, it will be necessary for students to consult selected books and articles in addition to the course material. We will be able to provide all appropriate help with this, so that students with additional requirements will be able to meet the learning outcomes of the course.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting Your Needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Course books, other printed materials, audio CDs, DVD, course website.
You will need
DVD and audio CD players.
You will probably need to buy one additional set text (approx. £20) and to be able to refer (either through buying, borrowing from a library, or via the Open University’s electronic journal provisions) to three to five other books or articles, for preparing for your double assignment. You will be advised of the cheapest and most effective way to access these by your tutor during the course of your study.
You may also want to access the online student-led discussion forum for this course. This will enable you to interact with other students.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Materials to buy
Set books
- Marwick, A, Emsley, C & Simpson, W (eds) Total War and Historical Change, Open University Press £25.99 - ISBN 9780335207930
- Roberts, J Europe, 1880-1945 (3rd edn), Longman £28.99 - ISBN 9780582357457
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the course material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We may also be able to offer group tutorials or day schools that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You can choose whether to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper or online through the eTMA system. You may want to use the eTMA system for some of your assignments but submit on paper for others. This is entirely your choice.
One of the TMAs (the last) is double-weighted in the overall assessment. The TMAs account for half the marks of the course, and an examination accounts for the other half.
Assessment is an essential part of the teaching, so you are expected to complete it all. But if you unavoidably miss or do badly in an assignment, some courses allow you a ‘substitution score’. In AA312 this rule can apply to one of the first four assignments only. You will be given more detailed information when you begin the course.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in February 2011. We expect it to be available at the same time once a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Arts and Humanities.
Study explained
- Course
- - a module of study that can count towards a qualification.
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Level
- - indicates how difficult a course is. Undergraduate study starts at Level 1.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Student Reviews
This is an excellent course as demonstrated by the results of the student survey. It is demanding of intellect and ...
Read more
In terms of content, the course was generally well-written and a reasonably good coverage of the period being examined (although, ...
Read more
Course satisfaction survey
See the satisfaction survey results for this course.
Got a question?
Contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service
Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90
Browse the prospectus
Request a print prospectus
Share
This PageThe University wishes to emphasise that, while every effort is made to regularly update this site, the material on it is subject to alteration or amendment in the light of changes in regulations or in policy or of financial or other necessity.