International relations

Empires, Nations, and the Making of Modern Citizenship

Module code: 012IR
Level 6
30 credits in autumn semester
Teaching method: Workshop
Assessment modes: Essay, Coursework

The emergence of nation-states is often associated with the processes that bring into being the modern world. They are also seen as displacing a system of empires associated with earlier historical periods. However, such an understanding fails to account for European colonial expansion overseas which occurs at the same time as the emergence of nation-states. This module questions the distinction between nation-states and empires and explores the differences between types of empire. It draws on historical examples including the Chinese, Ottoman, and Mughal empires as a contrast with European overseas empire

Module learning outcomes

• Share a systematic understanding of key conceptual aspects of nation-states and empires.
• Evaluate the differences between varieties of empires.
• Critically assess the relationship between nation-states and empires.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the conceptual configuration of nation-states and empires with reference to an historical example.