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 |
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.
Programme
Although the main focus is on your chosen specialisation, the programme also includes a number of courses enabling students to acquire a better understanding of theories of historical processes, historical debates and the methodology of historical research. In the first semester, you will follow a course in historical methodology, in the second semester a course in historiography. Both courses are taught by first-rate instructors, and address problems and issues highly relevant throughout your study.
Once you have selected your specialisation, the remaining programme has the following structure:
Introduction
This section of the programme includes an intensive literature seminar, in which you will be given an outline of issues relevant to your specialisation. You will use secondary literature sources (10 ECTS).
In-depth study
The next stage of the programme consists of two research seminars, in which you will carry out research using original source materials or published documents. Each research seminar is worth 10 ECTS.
Tutorial
During the tutorial you will determine the subject of your thesis. This part of the programme is worth 10 ECTS.
Optional courses
You will also follow a number of optional courses, worth up to a total of 20 ECTS. These may comprise courses offered at any department of Leiden University or at another Dutch university. In many cases you will be advised to follow these courses abroad.
Thesis
The programme concludes with a final exam and a thesis. Together these are worth 40 ECTS. ± 250 woorden
