Scottish National Identities Since 1807 module (HY51039)

The module starts in the year that marks the centenary of the 1707 parliamentary union between Scotland and England. The continued existence of that union has meant that Scotland’s political identities, and then nationalism, had no alternative but to evolve within the shadow of Great Britain. Whatever ‘Being Scottish’ meant, it included ‘being British’, and involved creating and re-imagining national identity in new and interesting ways.

By examining a range of themes and topics, this module will follow the path that contemporaries took to create and to project their national identity and their nationalism.

What you will learn

In this module you will:

• grasp a major theme in Scottish history
• examine the ways in which historians conduct research into national identity, nationalism and wider manifestations of political identity
• evaluate some of the primary sources scholars use when researching this topic
• analyse the social, political and cultural development of Scotland by close use of the concepts of ‘identity’ and ‘nationalism’
• advance your understanding of Scotland’s changing relationship with the other nations of the British Isles
• develop the specialist research skills needed to complete a module in modern Scottish history

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• show understanding of the competing carriers of national identity and nationalism in modern Scotland
• analyse and explain the inter-relationship of Scottish and British identities
• use knowledge of the transition from national identity to nationalism in the contemporary period
• understand the role of charismatic leaders in shaping Scottish national identity and nationalism
• contrast Scottish national identity within Empire, the diaspora and within the nation

Assignments / assessment

• research essay 4,000 words (50%)
• 2 assessed tasks 1,000 words (40%)
• discussion board participation (10%)

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

This module is taught entirely online and asynchronously. There will also be informal online gatherings.

Weekly work is based around discussions rooted in the readings and material posted on the MyDundee site.