131-155 The World Since World War Two: 1973-2002

Formerly available as 131-008. Students who have completed 131-008 are not eligible to enrol in this subject. Formerly available as 131-115. Students who have completed 131-115 prior to 1999 are not eligible to enrol in this subject. Students enrolling in this subject who have not completed 131-154 The World Since World War Two: 1945-1972 are advised to read are advised to read David Reynolds, One World Divisible, Chapter 1- 9, before lectures commence.

This subject is a study of world history from the oil crisis in 1973 to the war against terrorism in 2002. It traces political and economic change through the Second Cold War to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of ethnic nationalism in a globalising world. The principal theme of the subject is human rights. The rise of human rights as a factor in international diplomacy is examined with reference to conflicts ranging from the Iranian and Nicaraguan Revolutions through to the Tiananmen Incident, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the fall of the Taliban régime in Afghanistan. Attention is paid to other global developments: the growth of new social movements, the development of regional trading blocs, and refugee crises. On completion of this subject, students should have a solid understanding of major themes in the recent history of the world.

Class participation, written work and a short exam totalling 4000 words.

A subject reader will be available.

• David Reynolds, One World Divisible: A Global History Since 1945. W W Norton, 2001.