131-155 The Modern World 2: People Power

Formerly available as 131-008. Students who have completed 131-008 are not eligible to enrol in this subject. Students enrolling in this subject who have not completed 131-154 The Modern World 1: The Nuclear Shadow are advised to read David Reynolds, One World Divisible, Chapter 1- 9, before lectures commence.

The Iranian revolution of 1979 was the first great world revolution that did not primarily grow out of western European thinking. Although it was an Iranian revolution it had an effect not only on other Muslim countries, but upon many other African and Asian states. It demonstrated that the simple division of the world by the Cold War superpowers was running down and that powerful despotic regimes could be overthrown by rapid mass political action. The demand for human rights was an international issue as well, not only in international diplomacy but in the creation of huge movements of refugees. The world became more complicated after 1979, as the Cold War entered its final stages and the Soviet Union and its allies collapsed. Although the USA ended as the only superpower, more states acquired nuclear weapons - or sought to do so and conventional war became more technologically sophisticated. Although some states were ruined as a result, others, particularly in southeast and east Asia became much richer, but adopting capitalist forms of economic development. Some saw this as a "clash of civilisations," but this subject will examine how these broad political and ideological themes affected the social and economic development of the world.

• demonstrate critical thinking and analysis through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by determining the strength of an argument;

• develop research skills through competent use of the library and other information sources;

• be able to present their findings orally to a class, and produce effective written prose for assessment.

An essay outline of 500 words 10% (due two weeks before the research essay), a research essay of 2000 words 40% (due mid-semester); and a 2-hour written examination 50% (in the examination period).

A subject reader will be available

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