Partition in the Middle East: Palestine & Cyprus
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
This course has now started
Course Code: HWH94
Duration: 4 sessions (over 4 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Center for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
The end of the Second World War coincided with a decolonizing moment which saw the retreat of the empire in the Near East, Africa and South Asia. The creation of new nations was seldom pacific and often involved protracted ethnic and political struggles and the partition of territories and peoples who used to cohabit the same territories for centuries. The course sheds light to this period by examining the making of two nation-states; Cyprus and Israel. It examines the origins of Israeli, Palestinian, Greek and Turkish-Cypriot, nationalisms, the role of the great power and the decision process which led to the partition of the imperial domains and the consequent creation of new nation states in the area.
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
- What factors contributed to the rise of modern nationalisms in the Near East?
- What was the role of the great imperial powers in these processes?
- How and why the local populations came to identify with nationalist projects?
- What factors led to ethnic violence and partition in these areas?
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Recognise important turning points in the making of nation-states in the Near East.
- Understand the origins of ethnic violence and partition.
- Asses the role of key local and national political actors.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an introductory course and does not assume any previous study or reading although you will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the topics. As with most of our history and current affairs courses, intellectual curiosity and an open mind are more important than specific previous knowledge.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught by tutor presentation with images, maps and video clips. There will be opportunities for group discussion and some tutor-guided analysis of documents. You are encouraged to look at materials for each session on Google Classroom before each class.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You will find a notebook (or electronic device) useful if you wish to make notes. A ring binder or other folder could be useful for storing handouts.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
HPC105 The Iranian revolution
HPC106 Postcolonial nation building and Islam in South and Southeast Asia post-1945
HWH75 Histories and memories of empire.
Martin Ottovay Jorgensen is a historian by education (BA, MA and PhD in Denmark and Belgium). Overall, his research focuses on how forms of international cooperation were new international undertakings but also reflected deeper imperial practices that lingered on long after decolonization in various ways. As a university teacher, he has taught courses on world and global history; imperial and colonial history; the history of international organisations; peace and conflict; global issues and international relations as well as how memory is an active dimension in community-building, society, politics, international relations, conflict as well as corporate branding. Perhaps more importantly, Martin sees the active promotion of robust historical thinking as both a democratic practice of vital importance to the maintenance and continued strengthening of democracy and thus society as a whole. At City Lit, Martin combines these interests with his learner-centric approach that aims to both promote history as a socially relevant way of thinking and give each class and course a horizon beyond itself.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
