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Aaron Donaghy is a ��ɫ��Ƶ professor with a passion for history—teaching, researching, and writing. His academic career has taken him to the United States and Great Britain, and he now serves as Director of the MA in Irish and Global Conflict History ��ɫ��Ƶ. Aaron’s research focuses on U.S. foreign relations history and modern international history. He has received major academic awards from the European Union and the Irish Government, among others, and was elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in recognition of his contribution to historical scholarship.

As Director of the MA in Irish and Global Conflict History, Aaron sheds light on questions or concerns that students have in this Q & A.

How does the MA in Irish & Global Conflict History compare to other MA History programmes?

The MA programme is unique in that it allows students to delve into this subject area from both an Irish and international perspective, and then work on a research project of their own choice. It is also the only History Masters programme ��ɫ��Ƶ with a major focus on international relations, diplomacy, and the study of war and peace. Our modules are specially designed for students who are interested in these areas of history. The MA is therefore ideal for students who wish to research subjects such as the Cold War, the First and Second World Wars, the Irish War of Independence, and the Northern Ireland “Troubles.” The other History Masters programmes ��ɫ��Ƶ will not specialize or offer modules in these areas.

The MA programme also includes a module titled “Exploring Legacies of Conflict,” which takes the form of a field-trip. We will visit key sites of historical conflict, specialized museums, archives, and memorials, for an immersive process of field research and informed reflection.

What is important about the study of war and peace in history?

The study of the human past is a large and diverse field. But few subjects are as consequential as war, which has regularly changed the course of history. A quick glance at the twentieth century makes this clear. Empires collapsed or were remodeled. Subjects became citizens. Dozens of new nations emerged in the Global South, as peoples across Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean gained independence from European colonial rule. During wartime, the daily lives of citizens changed, as nations mobilized their civilian populations for battle. The enormous contribution made by women to the “��ɫ��Ƶ Front” during the First World War, for example, galvanized the suffrage movement in many nations and helped to initiate change. After the Second World War, major institutions were established to help bring peace, security, and international order, such as the United Nations, NATO, and the European Union—all of which remain critically important today.

The importance of studying conflict—understanding its causes, features, and consequences—is perhaps best illustrated by the scale of destruction and loss of human life. Here again the twentieth century in instructive: Two World Wars which led to the deaths of tens of millions of people; a forty-year Cold War struggle that saw proxy conflicts rage across the Global South; decolonization and wars of national liberation; state-sponsored mass murder in China and the Soviet Union. And cases of genocide spanned the century—from the Armenians, to the Holocaust, through to Cambodia, Bosnia, and Rwanda.

But war also remains a feature of modern-day international life, as the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East demonstrate. As such, the study of conflict resolution—diplomacy and negotiation among states—is of vital importance to historians. We want to glean lessons from the past, and see how they can inform or shed perspective on contemporary affairs.

How is the MA programme structured?

This is a full-time MA programme (12 months). There are three modules in the Autumn and Spring semesters. In addition, students will audit and participate in the Limerick History Research Seminar series, to see how historical research is practised by professional scholars. In the Autumn semester, students will take part in an archival training workshop at Special Collections in the Glucksman Library, to help prepare them for archival research.

During the year, students will work on a research topic of their choice. This will culminate in a dissertation (to be submitted near the end of the summer semester), which will be supervised by dedicated faculty members here at the History Department.
 

Here’s some additional information about selected modules from the programme

HI6793 The Global Cold War

This module is aimed toward challenging students to think critically about global conflict in the post-1945 era. It focuses on the Cold War, which dominated international life in the second half of the twentieth century. While an uneasy peace hung over much of Europe, proxy conflicts and wars of national liberation raged across the Global South, notably in Asia (Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan). There will be a large emphasis on tackling the different ways that historians have interpreted the conflict, the role played by nuclear weapons, and how the Cold War intersected with decolonization. However, students will have the opportunity to explore primary sources, too, in order to form their own assessments and arguments. Part of the course will be devoted to the study of conflict resolution, examining the history of diplomacy, and negotiation between states. Case studies will include the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, the Vietnam War, and the peaceful resolution of the Cold War in the late 1980s.

HI6302 The “Long War” in Ireland, 1968-98

This module will examine the essential dynamics of the longest and most serious insurgency in post-World War Two Western Europe. Account will be taken of the origins of the conflict and the perspectives of the primary antagonists. This will entail exploring such themes as the nature and development of the Republican Movement in Ireland and abroad; civil rights agitation in context; constitutional opportunities and challenges; counterinsurgency; Ireland and the Cold War and related matters. Irish, British and North American primary sources, both printed and archival, will be examined to gain insights into key events of the period not least the Burntollet march, Internment without trial, 'Bloody Sunday': Widgery and Saville reports, Sunningdale Agreement, Ulsterization', Hunger strikes, 'The American Connection', abstentionism and the rise of Sinn Fein, 'Armed Struggle', Collusion, Section 31 and the 'Broadcast Ban', Peace Processes and the Good Friday Agreement. Account will be taken of the perspectives of the Irish, British and American governments, as well as transnational parties such as the European Court of Human Rights.

HI6131 Concepts and Methods

This module introduces students to the varied and changing approaches to historical research. It will equip students with the intellectual and practical skills needed to conduct their own research, in particular: designing a dissertation topic; identifying key research questions; organizing and interpreting research material; negotiating primary source collections; and applying relevant conceptual frameworks in your analysis. The module will include an archival training workshop at the UL Special Collections in the Glucksman Library.

In order to approach these generic historical skills, the module focuses on the twentieth century, a period with a rich and deeply contested history. It examines different historical approaches to the study of international relations, the utility of primary sources, and will explore some of the major historiographical debates—such as the origins of the First and Second World Wars, the Treaty of Versailles, and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Topics for discussion will include the relationship between history and memory, objectivity and bias, causation, and how structural forces and human agency shape events. The objective is to understand different methodologies to study the past, to examine how historiographies have changed, and to think about the value of methodology in developing your own research agendas.

HI6794 Exploring Legacies of Conflict

The aim of the module is to provide an experiential, as well as focused, dimension to the MA in Irish and Global Conflict History. Students will be guided in accessing and assessing significant physical, graphic and interpretive representations of warfare in modern Irish and International history. We will visit key sites of conflict and specialized museums, archives, and memorials, for an immersive process of field research and informed reflection. This will enhance the ability of students to gain a deeper knowledge of complicated subject matter—a critical skill set of an advanced postgraduate scholar.

I am primarily interested in 18^th and 19^th Century. Can I write my dissertation on a topic from these eras?

Of course! The taught element of the MA programme focuses primarily on the twentieth century (in other words, the various modules). However, you can certainly work on a research project that focuses on an earlier era if you wish. For example, if you wanted to explore the American Civil War, or the Irish Rebellion of 1798, we would be delighted to hear from you and supervise your work.

What are the entry requirements? What skills or knowledge do applicants need to complete this programme?

In general, applicants should have a primary degree in which history is a constituent subject, awarded with first or second-class honours (Level 8 – NFQ or other internationally recognized equivalent). A degree in history is desirable but not essential. We welcome applications from students who possess equivalent academic qualifications from other subject areas. Some applicants may be invited for interview. More broadly, we welcome applications from those who share an interest in history and politics, the study of war, and who are keen to pursue archival research.

Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of a prior successful completion of a degree qualification taught through English, or evidence of an English language qualification.

What are the career prospects upon completion of the MA Irish & Global Conflict History Programme?

The programme will provide an attractive opportunity for graduates considering a career in higher education, teaching at secondary or primary level, archival and library sectors, foreign affairs, or international organizations—that requires or benefits from postgraduate research in conflict history. The MA programme will also serve as a valuable stepping stone for those who wish to pursue a PhD and a career as a professional historian.