131-025 Empire, Race and Human Rights: 1900-2000

Usually 25 points of first year history, see Prerequisites.

This subject examines the development of policies and practices relating to issues of race, and the relations between white settlers and indigenous peoples, during the 20th century. The subject will focus on the themes of race, power, subordination and governance within four countries of the British Empire/Commonwealth: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada. It will include an analysis of Australian Federation and the Boer War; an examination of the defeat of apartheid in South Africa; and land rights struggles in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. On completion of the subject students should develop an understanding of the construction of ideas and race in former British colonies; the movements of resistance (political and otherwise) of indigenous peoples against their positions of subordination; the changing ideas of human rights and racial theories, especially after World War II, and their impact on developments in these postcolonial societies.