Unit information: Ideology, Poverty and Famines in 2021/22

Unit name	Ideology, Poverty and Famines
Unit code	HISTM2017
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Sheldon
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	none
Co-requisites	none
School/department	Department of History (Historical Studies)
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit studies the phenomenon of famines and famine relief in modern history through comparative case studies, and by paying particular attention to their ideological representation in mainstream discourses of economics and development, Its main focus is upon intellectuual and cultural battles over the framing of hunger in the modern period. Students will be introduced to a range of theoretical perspectives from the classical economists, especially Adam Smith and T R Malthus, through to the contemporary work on exchange entitlements of Amartya Sen and M Ravallion. Distinctively modern ideas about the prevalence of famine in the underdeveloped world emerged with enlightenment economics. Public opinion was shaped by media representations of mass starvation following the emergence of affordable photographic technologies and later by the moving images of newsreel and television. Historical case studeis will include: Ancien Regime France; Madras in the 1780s; Ireland 1845-49; Bengal 1943 and Ethiopia in the 1980s.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit, students will be expected to:

• have developed an understanding of famines and famine relief in modern history, with a focus on particular case-studies, and the ways in which these have been represented
• be able to evaluate a range of historical and methodological interpretations within key debates relating to the interpretation and explanation of famines
• be able to interpret and critique a range of primary sources from this period
• be able to construct their own arguments and interpretations relating to this subject, and to express these with the sophistication appropriate to M-level.

Teaching Information

Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions, including interactive lecture-style sessions and self-directed exercises.

Assessment Information

1 Essay (5000 words)

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. HISTM2017).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.