GH XIII Lecture Handout: Empire Wars: A New Era?

A great deal of human history is the history of empires. This course examines historical and contemporary empires within a comparative context wider than modern European imperialism. With a regional focus on Eurasia, the class explores key aspects of empire building: military expansion, indirect rule, unequal exchange, environmental impact, ideological hegemony, colonial policies, and ruling strategies towards heterogeneous regions, religions, races, and ethnic groups. Though most empires perished in the twentieth century, we will discuss how, where, and why their political, economic, and cultural legacies persist in the post-colonial period. This course also proposes empire as an important lens for understanding contemporary global powers-which inherit, incorporate, and invent imperial institutions, identities, and strategies. Empire is not a historical relic; it is alive somewhere or about to revive elsewhere. Throughout the course, we will track three contemporary powers that still exert enormous influence on global politics, security, and economy: America, Russia, and China. By revealing the logic behind their decisions and behaviors, and by situating them in comparison to their precedents, counterparts, or competitors-Britain, Japan, and Rome-this course offers students the analytic tools to engage in pressing debates in domestic and international politics. Assignment and Assessment 1. Class Attendance (10%) 2. Class Participation (10%) 3. Five Response Memos (10%) 4. Writing Assignments: Three Essays (70%) a) Essay I (15%): 4-page Topic Overview. b) Essay II (20%): 6-page Comparative Review.

Graduate seminar syllabus

International Affairs, 2019

MGN - Low Countries Historical Review, 2018

Bijdragen en Mededelingen betreffende de Geschiedenis der Nederlanden, 2018

2009

This is the syllabus for my MSc course in 2016-17. Note that places on this course are limited. To determine if you want to take the course, look at the seminar books on pp. 10-11 and ask yourself if you really want to read them. If you are absolutely sure you want to take the course, buy the seminar books before you come to London and email me. I will guarantee the first 15 who do this a place; after that you will be on a waiting list. Note that this course is more difficult and involves more reading and writing than other courses; it is taught at the level of US PhD coursework. Be warned.

LSE MSc Syllabus for 2014/15

The Empire is a wife without dowry, a resounding and majestic word that is neither of any use nor any advantage. Neither Ferdinand II nor any of his predecessors possessed any province, any fortress, or even a palace in the entire empire in his capacity as Emperor.