The Cold War was a political, ideological, military and cultural conflict between the USA, the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China. Yet it also involved proxy wars and crises throughout Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America, as well as a massive arms race, a great power rivalry that deeply affected domestic populations, complex diplomacy, and the eventual collapse of a great empire. This course combines historical and International Relations methods and theories to explore the onset, conduct and outcomes of the Cold War.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the history of the Cold War;
- analyse the role of key theories in IR in influencing the decisions made and policies adopted during the Cold War period;
- demonstrate strong research, writing and analytical skills;
- critically reflect on literature and arguments developed in key historical and theoretical materials; and,
- understand and demonstrate the significance of the Cold War for today's world.
Indicative Assessment
- 2,500 word essay (40) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- 500 word tutorial paper (15) [LO 2,3,4]
- Tutorial participation (10) [LO 1,2,4,5]
- Final examination (35%) (35) [LO 1,2,4,5]
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Workload
130 hours in total.
This includes
a) 36 contact hours, comprising a combination of lectures and group discussion, and
b) 94 hours of independent study.
Inherent Requirements
N/A
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Not applicable
Assumed Knowledge
N/A
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 |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $4320 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2025 | $5580 |
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.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8683 | 21 Jul 2025 | 28 Jul 2025 | 31 Aug 2025 | 24 Oct 2025 | In Person | N/A |