| CODE | HST1017 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Themes of Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Maltese Political History | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | History | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit examines a number of fundamental themes which comprise the mainframe of nineteenth and twentieth century Maltese political history. These include the peculiar circumstances and context in which the British came to Malta; the strategic development of Malta as a reflection of Britain’s increasing involvement and dominance in the Mediterranean; the huge impact of such strategic development on the economic and political life of the Maltese; the atypical relationship that developed between the Maltese and their British rulers and the ensuing, almost unique, expression of colonial rule; the shifting tripartite relationship between the British administration, the Catholic Church and the political class; issues of taxation and language; constitutional development and its limitations; politics after independence. The central focus of this course is the relationship between different Maltese socio-political sectors and the inevitable interdependence that developed between Malta and Britain, seen within the broader framework of Mediterranean and European history. Aims: • To combine the study of Maltese history with that of the Mediterranean, which constitutes the main external context within which this history unfolds; • To offer alternative in-depth approaches to, and evaluation of, knowledge which in part may have been previously acquired; • To provide a basis for further study-units on Maltese history at a higher level. Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • Take a more three-dimensional view of late modern Maltese history within its Mediterranean context; • Apply the knowledge acquired to a fuller understanding of issues of enduring relevance to contemporary Maltese politics. Skills By the end of the study-unit students will be able to: • Approach the study of history with a more critical outlook than they has been accustomed to at pre-university level; • Think critically and impartially about Maltese political development; • Detect broad historical trends. Reading List: • All readings are available in the University libraries. • Lecturer will guide the students on the use of the literature at the beginning of the lecture series. - Dominic Fenech, ‘The Strangeness of Anglo-Maltese Relations’, in Journal of Mediterranean Studies: Special Issue on Nationalism and Decolonisation in the Mediterranean, Cyprus and Malta Compared, 1918-1964, Malta University Press, Malta, 23:1, 2014. - Dominic Fenech, ‘Divorced from Political Reality: The New Limits of Ecclesiastical Power in Malta’, The Round Table, vol.101, number 3. 2012. Routledge. - Dominic Fenech, ‘Birgu during the British Period’, in Lino Bugeja et al. (eds.), Birgu: a Maltese Maritime City, vol.i, Malta 1993. - Dominic Fenech, Responsibility and Power in Inter-war Malta: Book One, Endemic Democracy, Malta 2005. - Dominic Fenech, 1921: Self-government in Malta, 1921-1933, Midsea, Malta, 2021. - Henry Frendo, Party Politics in a Fortress Colony, the Maltese Experience, Midsea, Malta 1979. - Hilda Lee, Malta 1813-1914: A Study in Constitutional and Strategic Development, Malta 1972. - Victor Mallia-Milanes (ed.), The British Colonial Experience, 1800-1964, Malta 1988. - Joseph M. Pirotta, Fortress Colony, Final Act, 1945-1964. Midsea, Malta, 1987-2018. - Edgar Mizzi, Malta in the Making, 1962-1987, an Eye-Witness Account, Malta, 1995. |
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| RULES/CONDITIONS | In TAKING THIS UNIT YOU CANNOT TAKE HST1117 OR TAKE HST1217 OR TAKE HST1055 | ||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Dominic Fenech |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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