An undergraduate course in Arts and Humanities.

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.

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What you will study

There are four 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.

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 (Hons) History, 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.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Module Regulations and the Student Regulations which are available on our Essential documents website.

If you have a disability

Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of the printed study materials are available, although some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. The printed study material is available in comb-bound format. The printed study materials are also available as audio in the DAISY Digital Talking Book format. Transcripts are available for any audio-visual material. 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 study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about the availability of alternative formats.

In order to complete the double-length TMA, it will be necessary for students to consult selected books and articles in addition to the study 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.

Study materials

What's included

Study books, other printed materials, audio CDs, DVD, 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

You will need a computer with internet access to study this course as it includes online activities, which you can access using a web browser.

• If you have purchased a new desktop or laptop computer since 2007 you should have no problems completing the online activities.
• If you’ve got a netbook, tablet or other mobile computing device check our Technical requirements section.
• If you use an Apple Mac you will need OS X 10.6 or later.

You can also visit the Technical requirements section for further computing information including the details of the support we provide.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will help you with the study 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.

Assessment is an essential part of the teaching, so you are expected to complete it all. You will be given more detailed information when you begin the course.

Future availability

The details given here are for the course that starts in February 2013 when it will be available for the last time. It will be replaced by Europe 1914-1989: war, peace, modernity (A327) from October 2013.

Students also studied

Students who studied this course also studied at some time:

• Exploring history: medieval to modern 1400-1900 (A200)
• Empire: 1492-1975 (A326)
• The arts past and present (AA100)
• Exploring the classical world (A219)
• Medicine and society in Europe 1500-1930 (A218)

How to register

We regret that we are currently unable to accept registrations for this course. Where the course is to be presented again in the future, relevant registration information will be displayed on this page as soon as it becomes available.

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Distance learning

The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor or study adviser will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.

For more information read Distance learning explained.

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