BA History

This course examines the history of modern Europe through the lens of migration history. It begins with the First World War and traces how mobilities of different kinds have shaped Europe’s social, cultural, political and economic history over the course of the twentieth century. We will take a broad view of European history, ranging from Europe’s connections to colonial territories in North Africa and the Middle East to the Eastern and Southern edges of the Soviet Union. The course will address different forms of migration, from forced displacement during wartime to labour migration and cold war border crossings and examine the intersections between them. The experiences of ‘people on the move’ are at the heart of this course, but we will also consider the multiple ways that states and international organisations have sought to manage migration. Throughout the course students will be encouraged to consider the consequences of historical episodes of migration for contemporary society in Europe.

To challenge dominant, nationally-framed histories of modern Europe by adopting transnational perspectives To engage with the different ways that historians have approached the history of migration To demonstrate how different forms of mobility have shaped the cultural/social/political/economic history of modern Europe To reflect critically on how histories of migration continue to shape European society, culture and politics.

Indicative topics include: Concepts and theories in Migration History Prehistories: An Age of Migration? WWI: Mobilisation and Mobilities Inter-War: A Refugee Regime WW2 Expellees, Evacuees and DPs Defectors and Cold War Border Crossings Guestworkers and Labour Migration Homecomings? Decolonisation and the End of Empire Collapse and Post-Soviet Migration Fortress Europe? The EU, Brexit and People on the Move

1 x 1-hour introduction lecture per week 1 x 2-hour seminar per week incorporating whole class discussion and structured small group tasks. This will include analysis of primary sources (text, film, visual sources), discussion of articles read in advance by students and preparatory work for assessments. Course Unit Office Hours where students can discuss individual progress Seminar reading lists will be made available on Blackboard, as will links to digitised material and other online source/databases All Coursework will be submitted and returned via Turnitin

Understand the emergence of new state practices of displacement, resettlement and border-management in the twentieth century Understand the multiple ways that mobility and migration shaped experiences and identities across this region; from lives lived and communities connected across borders to experiences of forced displacement. Understand the aftermaths of migration/displacement and its consequences for memories, identities and social relations in the modern world.

Understand how recent historiography which adopts transnational perspectives/focuses on migration has challenged dominant frameworks for understanding Europe’s history Apply conceptual and theoretical perspectives from other disciplines (anthropologies of displacement, refugee studies) to this region and period. Engage with the question of understanding the experiences of or ‘hearing’ the voices of refugees, migrants and populations ‘on the margins’ in the historical record.

Plan and carry out research using online and library based resources Critical analysis of primary and secondary source material Construct and communicate arguments effectively Contribute to group discussions in an effective and constructive manner.

Developing fluent written communication skills Developing confidence in oral communication skills Working independently, managing time and meeting deadlines. Engaging with questions of migration in contemporary society in a nuanced, sophisticated manner.

Public Engagement:  Blog post or policy brief (Summative) 1000 words

Ongoing oral feedback in response to class discussion and small group tasks during seminars (Formative)Written feedback (‘feed-forward’ comments on how to develop future assessments) on coursework submissions, provided via turnitin (Summative)Additional one-to-one feedback on assessments or general progress in office hours (Formative)

Peter Gatrell, The Unsettling of Europe (2019) Erik Scott, Defectors (2023) Lewis Sigelbaum and Leslie Moch, Broad is my Native Land (2015) Pamela Ballinger, The World Refugees Made (2020) Matthew Frank and Jessica Reinisch (eds) Refugees in Europe 1919-59 (2017)