Unit name | Ideology, Poverty and Famines |
---|---|
Unit code | HISTM2017 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Dr. Sheldon |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
none |
Co-requisites |
none |
School/department | Department of History (Historical Studies) |
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit studies the phenomenon of famines and famine relief in modern history through comparative case studies, and by paying particular attention to their ideological representation in mainstream discourses of economics and development, Its main focus is upon intellectuual and cultural battles over the framing of hunger in the modern period. Students will be introduced to a range of theoretical perspectives from the classical economists, especially Adam Smith and T R Malthus, through to the contemporary work on exchange entitlements of Amartya Sen and M Ravallion. Distinctively modern ideas about the prevalence of famine in the underdeveloped world emerged with enlightenment economics. Public opinion was shaped by media representations of mass starvation following the emergence of affordable photographic technologies and later by the moving images of newsreel and television. Historical case studeis will include: Ancien Regime France; Madras in the 1780s; Ireland 1845-49; Bengal 1943 and Ethiopia in the 1980s.
By the end of this unit, students will be expected to:
Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions, including interactive lecture-style sessions and self-directed exercises.
1 Essay (5000 words)
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. HISTM2017).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.