Browse Hierarchy HIST4008: Superpowers: an International History of the Cold War

This module offers an introduction to modern international history within the context of the rise and fall of the two principal world powers, the United States and the Soviet Union, during the Cold War. On completing the module you will be able to evaluate the principal debates that surround the origins of the Cold War, understand why it lasted for over fifty years, and explain why it ended. You will be able to identify key themes, particularly diplomatic, political, military and economic competition during the conflict; assess the role of individuals along with broader economic and political factors in shaping the course of events; and appreciate how the internal dynamics of each respective superpower worked and shaped their respective policies.This module is an introduction to Western history 1945 - 1991, and complements the three other level four survey modules: Early Modern World, The Age of Revolution and Popular Protest and The Rise of the Modern World. It also puts into practice the practical and theoretical learning acquired in the skills module Making History. It prepares you for several level five modules, including The Making of the American Giant, Politics, Society and Culture in Modern Britain and A History of Modern Ideas.