Магистратура
2026/2027
Идеологии войны и мира в ХХ веке
ID 1165333
Статус:
Курс по выбору (Глобальная и региональная история / Global and Regional History)
Кто читает:
Департамент истории
Где читается:
Санкт-Петербургская школа гуманитарных наук и искусств
Когда читается:
1-й курс, 2 модуль
Охват аудитории:
для своего кампуса
Преподаватели:
Янг Перри Иви
Язык:
английский
Кредиты:
3
Контактные часы:
30
Course Syllabus
Abstract
Carl von Clausewitz famously defined war as the continuation of politics by violent means. The twentieth century witnessed not only the most destructive wars in human history, but also the rise and global spread of modern political ideologies. This course explores how competing ideologies of war and peace in the twentieth century shaped both the politics and practice of war, as well as national and international efforts to overcome it.
Militaristic and pacifistic ideologies emerged on both the political Left and Right and in a wide range of national and regional contexts. These ideologies did not develop in isolation; they interacted, clashed, and synthesized across the political spectrum and across borders to profoundly impact the trajectory of twentieth-century history.
Positioned at the intersection of philosophy, political history, and military history, this course begins with an introduction to the concept of ideology in historical studies, then examines the philosophical roots of modern ideologies of war and peace in the works of Kant, Hegel, and Herder. Building on this foundation, we will proceed to analyze left- and right-wing, militaristic and pacifistic ideologies in Germany, Russia, Sweden, the United States, Great Britain, Africa, and Latin America – placing them in dialogue to illuminate the reciprocal relation between ideology, politics, and military practice.
Learning Objectives
- - To deepen students’ understanding of the origins, development, and interaction of ideologies of war and peace across the political spectrum and in diverse global contexts.
- - To acquaint students with a variety of historiographical perspectives and methodological approaches for analyzing ideology in historical context.
- - To develop students’ ability to apply analytical and theoretical frameworks to understand and interpret the ideas that shaped real-word conflicts and peace movements.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- - To trace the philosophical roots of modern debates on war and peace, evaluate their transformation over time, and compare ideologies across political camps and global regions.
- - To familiarize students with philosophical, historical, and methodological approaches to the study of ideologies of war and peace.
- - To equip students to conduct independent research on critical questions of war, peace, and ideology that continue to shape modern history.
Course Contents
- Introduction to Ideology and Ideology of War
- Kantian Ideology of Peace
- Hegelian Ideologies of War
- Herder’s National Ideology of Peace
- Ideologies of War and Peace in Germany
- Ideologies of War and Peace in Russia
- Ideologies of War and Peace in Sweden
- Ideologies of War and Peace in the United States and Great Britain
- Ideology of War and Peace in the Global South
- The Cold War
Assessment Elements
- EssayEach student will have the opportunity to conduct an independent investigation of ideologies of war and peace within a regional and chronological context of his choosing. The essay should investigate an aspect of ideologies of war and peace in the 20th century, on a topic approved in advance by the instructor. The paper should be 5-8 pages (12-point font, double-spaced) and may take one of two forms: a historiographical essay or an analysis of primary sources. For a historiographical essay, the student must cite at least 5 secondary sources and give a comprehensive view of the state of the field on a particular issue in the historiography of nationalism. For a primary source analysis, the student should cite at least 2 secondary sources and 2 primary sources. Each reference must be accompanied by a screenshot or photograph of the page on which the quote or information was obtained.
- Final ExamThe final exam will be administered in class during the final scheduled session (120 minutes). It will consist of short essay questions (one or more paragraphs each) addressing key themes discussed throughout the course. Students are expected to reference course literature by title and author and demonstrate a clear understanding of key arguments, concepts, debates, and comparisons discussed in the course. Page numbers are not required. Exams must be taken in person; no online or remote options are available.
- Participation in SeminarsAssigned readings for each seminar must be completed in advance. Students are expected to take active part in the discussion and demonstrate knowledge of the content of lectures and readings. Participation is assessed based on preparation, engagement, and the quality of contributions to collective analysis and debate.
Interim Assessment
- 2026/2027 2nd module0.4 * Final Exam + 0.3 * Participation in Seminars + 0.3 * Essay
