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Perspectives on imperialism and colonialism

Course

Imperialism and Colonialism, Gender and Intercultural Perspective

7.5 credits

Autumn / Spring

100%

Campus

This course examines and discusses imperialism and colonialism as concepts and historical phenomena. They are analysed from different perspectives, such as gender, class, and ethnicity, and different historical explanations are compared and examined. One theme is the Swedish colonisation of Sápmi, which is critically examined.

This course is only open for exchange students.

Want to know why you should study at Södertörn University? Find out here.

Societal analysis, then and now After studying History, you will have the ability to see and analyse complex sequences of events from overall and long-term perspectives. Many people who have studied History choose to work as teachers or researchers, or in museums or in the heritage sector. The subject is also suitable if you want to work as a journalist, external analyst or in public administration. History provides a general education that is useful for numerous professions, and knowledge that will be beneficial in your private life too. Read about research in this subject
Different perspectives and how they influence our interpretation of the past On this course, you will discuss and compare imperialism och colonialism in different time periods and parts of the world, juxtaposing different explanations for them, both as concepts and historical phenomena. Imperialism and colonialism are analysed from the perspectives of gender, class, and ethnicity, and you will reflect on the importance of these different perspectives for historical research on imperialism and colonialism. One theme of the course is the Swedish colonisation of Sápmi, which is the subject of critical discussion. You will also become familiar with and critically analyse examples of postcolonial history-writing, as well as applying methods of historical scholarship on a primary source material pertaining to imperialism and colonialism. You will gain deeper understanding of how different choices of perspective influence our interpretation of the past, and therefore also our interpretation of contemporary times and the future. Course design The course consists of lectures, seminars, and archival or field studies. Examination is conducted through active participation in seminars and individual written assignments.
General education and understanding of contemporary society Knowledge of history is important for understanding the world we live in. Contemporary society and the human condition are the result of historical processes. Investigating and explaining historical processes, events and decisions help us understand contemporary society and major societal issues. For example, an historical perspective on gender, class and ethnicity can show us the changes that have taken place and led us to where we are today. If you study history, you will have the tools and skills to conduct these analyses. History is a broad subject that is part of the humanities, so you will study humans as cultural beings through different periods of history. The subject deals with developments and changes in human societies over time. As a subject, History has many different perspectives on, and approaches to, human history. Source criticism, gender theory and the management of historical source material are just a few examples of issues you will discuss during your studies. History at Södertörn University focuses on describing, understanding and explaining different types of historical events and processes using a factual and reflective approach.