From the French Revolution of 1789 to the Arab Spring in 2011, this course will introduce you to the most important revolutions in human history. This course explains the introduction of new ideologies, such as Liberalism, Marxism and Political Islam, through the histories of the Revolution in China, the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, the Meiji Restoration in Japan, and the 1978 Revolution in Iran. Course Content The American Revolution 1775 – 1783 Ideology behind the Revolution: L... [More]

This course is an introduction to the history, government, economy, people, religion and culture of Saudi Arabia. It will take you on a colourful journey through this enigmatic and closed Islamic society. The complications of the oil diplomacy, rentier economy, and the US-Saudi axis will be discussed in relation to the domestic politics of Saudi Arabia and the wider context of the Arab Spring. Course Content Arabia and its pre-Islamic history The birth of Islam The Mamluks, the Otto... [More]

This course explores the American preoccupation with the enemy from within, real and imagined. Fear of communism, especially from within, was endemic throughout the Cold War and names like McCarthy and Nixon quickly come to mind as successful exploiters of this fear. We will look at the historical background of this bizarre American pre-occupation and see how it has been carried forward to the present by the Tea Party movement. Course Outline From entertainers to scientists The fear... [More]

The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America. Also known as the American War of Independence, this period lasted from 1775 to 1783 and brought about major changes to the European sphere of influence around the world. Join us on a 1700km journey through the heart of the American Revolution, v... [More]

The names of Gandhi, Nehru and Jinnah have world renown disproportionate to their role in the independence movement in India. This course aims to offer an in-depth look at the true roles each played in the lead up to 1947 and will assess the accuracy of their portrayal by film, historians and by many Indians themselves. Course Content Overview of the beginnings of the Indian independence movement Gandhi emerges on the India stage – his background and philosophy Jinnah emerges – his ... [More]

The Middle East conflict today is a complex and dangerous situation, involving nations inside and outside of the region. It is, in many ways, the centre of East-West tensions and modern terrorism Understanding the conflict requires detailed knowledge of which players are involved, their histories and their ambitions in the region. In this course participants will look at the Arab and Muslim groups who have an input into the conflict and at the same time will look at the state of and... [More]

No other pair of countries offers such frequent comparison and yet share so little in common. This course is an introduction into the cultural, socio-economic and political comparisons of the world’s major growing world powers of India and China. Will India catch up with China’s growth and become the world’s fastest-growing big economy? Major controversies over Kashmir, troubles in the South China Sea, the nuclear arms race, changing population trends, and foreign policies are analy... [More]

The campaign for the presidency and the election (re-election) of a President. President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden (?) vs _______ and ________. We will follow the campaigns of the candidates up through the election on 6 November and the likely impact on the rest of the world. The session outline is subject to change as determined by events. Course Outline Week 1 How are the candidates positioned at the mid-point of the campaign? Campaigns officially start at the beginning o... [More]

More than ten years after he came to power, Vladimir Putin remains one of the world’s most enigmatic leaders. This course sheds light on Putin’s fascinating career, not only as a political leader but as a sportsman, a spy and a crusader for Russian national ideals. From his troubled childhood in a post-war Leningrad to his controversial patriotic beliefs, and from his early days as a KGB officer to later international celebrity, each chapter of Putin’s life is as gripping as Russia’... [More]

This course examines the dynamics of the Middle East and the impact of the region on the broader framework of international politics, and provides a comparative analysis on the Arab revolt complications in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia and the rest of the region. It will look at the impact of oil on regional and global security, the origins and motives for terrorism in the Middle East, the role of organisations such as Hezbollah and Hamas, and the impact of the policies of the United States... [More]