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School of History

HST6741 – The War on Terror

Module code: HST6741

Credits: 60
Semester: YEAR

Module Convenor: Dr James Ellison and Dr Martyn Frampton

The War on Terror and the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq remain the most controversial issues of our time. International public debate about their cause, course and effect remains acute yet it is often political, partisan and rarely balanced or complex. This QMUL Model module seeks to put 9/11 and its consequences in historical context by asking historically-informed questions about Western intervention in the Middle East and using an array of recently released primary sources to try to answer them. The aim is to approach the most contentious events of the contemporary era with the historian's informed, detached understanding. That process begins with analysis of the origins of the modern Middle East and the post-Cold War conflicts which led to regional and international instability and the rise of terrorist organisations, principally Al-Qaeda. It goes on to consider the alliance developed by Tony Blair and George Bush after 9/11, the fight against the Taliban, regime change in Iraq and the disintegration of that country with all of its often tragic consequences for its peoples, the region and global security. Students will critically appraise a vast array of congressional and parliamentary material, and develop the skills needed to draw-up political briefs. 

Assessment: Learning Log 10%, Essay 12.5%, Source Analysis 12.5%, Take Home Exam 15%, Dissertation 50%
Level: 6

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