This course aims to provide both a historical and a sociocultural understanding of the origins, development and impact of the Korean War (1950-1953). Often dubbed “the Forgotten War,” the Korean War was an integral part of the global Cold War. The Korean peninsula became one of the most volatile zones in global politics. In addition to reading standard accounts of the war from the perspective of diplomatic and military history, students will also learn about other aspects of the war through its portrayal in literature, films and photography to come to a fuller understanding of the complexity, nuance and legacy of the Korean War. The course examines the deep historical roots that led to the War, the various states, militaries, media and international organisations that became involved in the conflict and the human experiences that are not often included in political or historical narratives.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Comprehend the overall historical development of the Korean War.
- Demonstrate and understand the lasting impact of the Korean War as part of a continuum of a long historical development that links the past and the present.
- Apply analytical skills to develop a deeper understanding of the broader regional and global political developments, especially the Cold War.
- Analyse the War from multiple perspectives, ranging from political and economic to personal and psychological.
- Acquire the relevant background for a better understanding of contemporary conflicts and tensions between North and South Korea and between North Korea and the US and neighbouring Asian states, especially China and Japan.
- Develop advanced research, critical thinking and communication skills using primary sources.
Other Information
The course will start on 26 June when the materials will be accessible by students.
The intensive portion runs on weekdays between 3-14 July.
There will be 3.5-4 hours of class time per day, running 10-12pm, then 1-2.30/3pm.
The course will end on 17 July when the final assessment is due.
Indicative Assessment
- Bi-weekly analysis (35) [LO 1,2,3,4,6]
- In-class slide presentation (5) [LO 1,2,3,5,6]
- Participation in class and on Wattle (10) [LO 1,2,3,4,6]
- Mid-term Essay (2,500 words) (20) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]
- Final Essay (3,000 words) (30) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours workload over the whole semester including in class time and independent study.Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Course materials will be available on Wattle.Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $4080 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $6000 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.