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HIS42480

Academic Year 2026/2027

War, Peace, and Globalisation (HIS42480)

Subject:
History
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
History
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Professor William Mulligan
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Does globalisation sustain international peace? Or does globalisation contribute to escalating international tensions, leading to conflict? This issue, of major contemporary importance, has a long history. That history is the subject of this module, which examines the relationship between commercial integration of states and societies and international politics between the 18th century and the end of the Cold War. We will analyse the ebb and flow of economic interdependence, political perspectives, the impact on grand strategy, and intellectual engagement with this question.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
1) understand the varied relationships between economic interdependence, war, and peace in an historical context;
2) interpret relevant primary sources and data;
3) assess relevant historiographical debates and writings from cognate disciplines.

Indicative Module Content:

This module will address the following topics: 1) Globalisation, war, and peace in contemporary debate; 2) Montesquieu, Kant, and commercial peace in 18th century; 3) Cobden, free trade, and international politics, 1840-1870; 4) Commercial rivalries and interdependence in the late 19th century; 5) The two world wars and the collapse of globalisation; 6) The Cold War and interdependence.

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Proficient

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Expert

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Expert

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Proficient

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

100
Autonomous Student Learning

100
Seminar (or Webinar)

22
Total

222

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This is a small-group, seminar-based module. It is taught a weekly two-hour seminar. The seminar will involve a combination of close readings of sources and important secondary texts and student presentations on particular topics. Students will write one general essay on the questions raised by the module and a research paper, on a topic agreed with the module supervisor.
Generative AI may be used to support study in this module, subject to the instructions of the module coordinator and in accordance with the Academic Integrity Policy. The Module Coordinator will provide further information during the module.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): students will write a 1,500 word essay. The essay should respond to one of the questions listed in the weekly description of the seminars. This is due on Friday, 13 March Week 8 Graded No
30
 No
Individual Project: Students will submit a research paper of 3,500 words, including footnotes, but excluding the bibliography. This is due on Friday, 15 May. Week 15 Graded No
50
 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Student participation in weekly seminars is assessed and requires students to demonstrate a knowledge of the weekly readings and sources. Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
20
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

The module coordinator will provide written feedback on the essay and project. The student can also meet the module coordinator to discuss written feedback.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 14:00 - 15:50
Spring Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 25 Thurs 14:00 - 15:50
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