Unit information: Social Conflict and Political Upheaval in Spain 1833-1931 in 2014/15

Unit name	Social Conflict and Political Upheaval in Spain 1833-1931
Unit code	HISP20041
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Paco Romero Salvado
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit examines Spain's social and political evoution from the War of Independence against the Napoleonic occupation in 1808 to the collapse of the Bourbon Monarchy in 1931. It will analyse the almost permanent state of civil strife, social violence and praetorian intervention produced by the confrontation between the forces seeking modernisation and those anchored in the past. Particular attention will be paid to the emergence of new political forces, social movements, the nature of the violent class struggle and the impact of colonial adventurism.

The unit aims:

• To introduce students to a significant body of knowledge of a complexity appropriate to second year level. The content matter will normally include one or more of the following: literature; social, cultural or political history; linguistics; cultural studies; film, television or other media.
• To facilitate students’ engagement with a body of literature, including secondary literature, texts, including in non-print media, primary sources and ideas as a basis for their own analysis and development. Normally many or most of these sources will be in a language other than English and will enhance the development of their linguistic skills.
• To develop further skills of synthesis, analysis and independent research, building on the skills acquired in units at level C.
• Some options may prepare students for the experience of the Year Abroad.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Successful students will:

• be knowledgeable about a significant cultural, historical or linguistic subject related to the language they are studying;
• be skilled in the selection and synthesis of relevant material;
• be able to evaluate and analyse relevant material from a significant body of source materials, usually in a foreign language, at a high level;
• be able to respond to questions or problems by presenting their independent judgements in an appropriate style and at an high level of complexity;
• be able to transfer these skills to other working environments, including study at a foreign university and on work placements during the year abroad.

Teaching Information

Normally one lecture hour and one seminar hour per week across one teaching block (22 contact hours), often with student presentations. In units with a smaller number of students the lecture hour may be replaced by a second seminar or a workshop. Units involving film may require students to view films outside the timetabled contact hours.

Assessment Information

essay 33.3%, exam 66.6%

Reading and References

• J. Alvarez Junco & A. Shubert (eds), Spanish History since 1808 (Arnold, 2000)
• R. Carr, Spain, 1808-1975 (Oxford University Press, 1982)
• C.J. Esdaile, Spain in the Liberal Age (Blackwell, 2000)
• J.M. Jover Zamora et al, España: Sociedad, Política y Civilización, Siglos XIX-XX (Debate, 2001)
• F.J. Romero Salvadó, Twentieth Century Spain (Macmillan, 1999)
• A. Shubert, A Social History of Modern Spain (Routledge, 1990)