Political Culture and National Identities (research)

Specialisation of: History (research)
Degree: Master of Arts in History (research)
Mode of Study: Full-time
Duration: 2 years
Start date: September, February
Language of instruction: English. Classes for which reading knowledge of Dutch is required may be taught in Dutch.
Location: Leiden
Croho/isat code: 60139
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In the specialisation in Political Culture and National Identities you will study the political culture and national identity of a number of European countries (between c. 1800-2010), viewed from an international perspective. This means that not only will you look at the history of the political culture and national identities of specific countries, such as the Netherlands, Great Britain, Germany or Russia, but you will also analyse how these countries are influenced from outside through the process of cultural transfer — in other words, the adaptation of foreign examples or the inspiration emanating from them. Since the study of the way national politics and identities are conceived is a new research area, students taking this specialisation will be at the forefront of this new approach.

With effect from September 2012, the name of this specialisation will change to Political Culture and National Identities.

You will focus on the connections between the different national cases in Europe. The concept of ‘cultural transfer’ will be transferred to the political domain, for instance with regard to social movements, parties, parliaments and the use of symbols and material objects. In addition, Europe and international or supra-national organisations, such as those involved in post-War European unification, can also be studied as platforms of cultural and political transfer.
Questions concerning national identity, the EU, democracy and populism are frequently to be seen on the front pages of newspapers. They are also at the centre of many debates between historians and other groups in society. By studying these issues you will be well qualified to contribute to these debates.
The programme in the recent years offered research seminars on such topics as:

  • The influence of international debates on the Irish Revolution of 1916-23
  • The social, political and cultural impact of the First World War on Germany, the Netherlands and the UK
  • Tourism and the Creation of National Identity
  • The Power of Organising and the Rise of Democracy, 1870-1914

Prof. Henk te Velde

Henk te Velde

“Historians in Leiden use the riches of the University in order to give their students a good education.”

“Over a period of a few years, a whole new generation of professors has been appointed at the History Department in Leiden; the department is bustling with energy in a friendly and professional atmosphere. All sections of the department have their own attractions and strengths.

Our strong section of Ancient History, for instance, benefits from the presence in Leiden of the largest department of Classics in the Netherlands; Medieval History has a strong tradition of research in the later Middle Ages and is now joining forces with the specialists in the early modern period, who have a strong and promising research team working on public and private memory of the Dutch Revolt.

Historians of European expansion and globalisation are working together with specialists on non-European culture and history in other parts of the Faculty of Humanities, which has always been famous for its expertise in this field. They also co-operate with the specialists of the history of migration, which has rapidly developed into one of the new strengths of the department. One of the professors working in this area is based at the Campus The Hague of Leiden University.

In my own field of study, the history of political culture, we are working together with colleagues studying politics in such fields as political science and constitutional law. This combination also makes it easier to work together with government agencies, who are just around the corner, in The Hague. For classes on the history of political debate I myself benefit from the expertise of the colleagues of the Dutch department.

This again is just one example of the many ways historians in Leiden use the riches of Leiden University in order to give their students a good education and an exciting period of study.”