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The Spanish Civil War: Context

Module description

In this module you will be introduced to the Spanish Civil War and its background. Concentrating on the period 1931-1939, you will look in depth at what is arguably one of the most divisive and bitter conflicts of the twentieth century. You will investigate political and military affairs as well as the important international, cultural and socio-economic aspects of this struggle. Key issues will include the establishment and failure of democracy in Spain, the nature of the war, the development of the two opposing sides, the reasons for Republican failure and Nationalist success, the impact of foreign powers and the internationalism of the conflict, and the rise of the Franco regime as the war's outcome.

This module will provide the historiographic context for the detailed study of the sources and material that you will examine in the co-requisite module, HIH3180 The Spanish Civil War: Sources.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module focuses on the Spanish Civil War, one of the most divisive and bitter conflicts of the twentieth century, that created passionate interest around the world. It will look in depth at the war and its social and political background, concentrating on the period 1913-39. Not only political and military affairs will be investigated, but also the important international, cultural and socio-economic aspects of this struggle. Key issues to be considered will be the establishment and failure of democracy in Spain, the nature of the war, the development of the two opposing sides, the reasons for Republican failure and Nationalist success, the impact of foreign powers and the internationalism of the conflict, and the rise of the Franco regime as the war's outcome.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Evaluate the different complex themes in the Spanish Civil War
• 2. Make close specialist evaluation of the key developments within Spain in the period, developed through independent study and seminar work

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Analyse the key developments within a particular historical environment
• 4. Focus on and comprehend complex issues
• 5. Understand and deploy historical and political terminology in a comprehensible manner
• 6. Follow the complex reasoning inherent in political discourse

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Carry out independent and autonomous study and group work, including presentation of material for group discussion
• 8. Digest, select and organise material to produce, to a deadline, a coherent and cogent argument, developed through the mode of assessment
• 9. Present complex arguments orally

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

The first term will provide students with an in-depth understanding of the war and its origins. It will consider the nature of Spanish society in the 1930s, the development of the democratic Republic of 1931-36, and the political and social polarisation that took place before 1936. The focus will then turn to looking at the war in detail from the initial military uprising to the defeat of the Republic by General Franco's Nationalist forces in 1939.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• J. Casanova, A Short History of the Spanish Civil War (I. B. Tauris, 2012).
• S. Payne, The Spanish Civil War (CUP, 2012).
• S. Payne, Spain’s First Democracy (Wisconsin U.P., 1993).
• P. Preston, The Spanish Civil War (Harper Perennial, 2006).

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=2141