C/EC/52. Dissertation. Impact of marketisation upon the UK s current education system

The dissertation investigates the marketing of education in the UK from the perspective of social science providing a review of literature on the concepts of market system, education system, the system of social policy in the UK, the concept of 'marketisation', the social history of the British education after WW2, etc. The methods of qualitative research are used on the basis of secondary data analysis comparing two periods of the UK social history, i.e. 1944-56 and 2000-2008. Conclusions are made about the changes in the education system across these periods and the driving forces behind these changes.

S/P/128. DISSERTATION. ANGLO-AMERICAN INITIATIVE IN SEARCH OF AN ARAB-ISRAELI PEACE SETTLEMENT 1954-56: PROJECT ALPHA AND WHY IT ENDED IN FAILURE

The dissertation investigates Project Alpha, the initiative undertaken by the USA and UK to secure a peaceful settlement of the Arab-Israeli crisis in the 1950s. The objectives of the British and American policy in the Middle East are outlined; international military agreements and treaties of the period are reviewed including the Baghdad Pact, Egypt-Israel Armistice Agreement (EIAA), the Czech Arms Deal, etc. The escalation of Anglo-American tensions is discussed including Operation Gamma, etc. Conclusions are made about the failure of the western powers to secure peace in the region.

P/P/353. Dissertation. Role of US Secretary of State Dean Rusk in Vietnam War policy

The dissertation investigates the role of Dean Rusk, the US Secretary of State, in the Vietnam War reviewing the policy of the Johnson administration during the different phases of the war, i.e. escalation, negotiations, the Tet offensive and the Paris peace talks. RuskÌs influences at every stage are analysed in the context of the international situation around Vietnam.

S/H/46. Dissertation. Comintern and China 1920-27

This dissertation re-examines the causes of the Soviet failure to stimulate a communist revolution in China in the 1920s. It challenges the widely held view that Stalin's distortion of Lenin's united front tactics was culpable, arguing that the policy of both leaders would have delivered the same outcome and that hitherto accounts fail to emphasise sufficiently the role of Chiang Kai-shek. The paper scrutinizes the theoretical differences between the approaches of Lenin, Stalin and Trotsky; the manifestations of the policies of Lenin and Stalin and the perspective of both the Guomindang and the CCP using a wealth of primary evidence to support the thesis.

P/H/90. Dissertation. Impact of American defeat in Vietnam on US foreign policy

The dissertation investigates the impact of the Vietnam War on the history of the USA discussing the key aspects of the US foreign policy and arguing that its development is influenced by the defeat in Vietnam. Literature is reviewed on the concept of ‘American exceptionalism’, the political situation in Vietnam in the 1950s, the role of the media in shaping public opinion towards the Vietnam War, the economic and moral damage of the USA, the events of the Gulf War in 1991, the political involvement in Haiti, Sarajevo, Kosovo, the US war against terror after 9/11, the current war with Iraq, etc. Conclusions are made about the influence of the Vietnam War on the American national conscience.

P/H/82. Biography and Appeasement policy of ‘The Times’ editor Geoffrey Dawson

The dissertation investigates the role of Geoffrey Dawson, the editor of The Times newspaper, in supporting Nazi Germany as a stronghold against Communism and promoting the policy of Appeasement which led to the Munich agreement in 1938. A review of academic opinions on the political and social influence of Dawson is presented discussing his biography, character, political activities, relations with Halifax, Chamberlain, Churchill, etc. European socio-political context of 1936-1940 is described commenting on Dawson’s attitudes towards the development of the events.

S/P/72. Dissertation. Situation in the Middle East over the last century

The dissertation analyses the situation in the Middle East (ME) over the last century reviewing related literature are providing commentary on the issues of the ME history and development, the crisis of education in the Arab world, the strengthening of radical Islam, the caliphate system, the current Islamic movements, the clash between Islam and Christianity, the notion of pan-Arabism, the post-war policy of the Arab and Israeli leaders, the roots of Arab-Israeli conflict, the Suez war, the radical Palestinian movements, the effects of oil reserves exploration, the problems of immigration, the conflicts over water, etc.

P/H/76. Manichaeism and Priscillianism: historical and philosophical insight

The paper examines the history and cosmogony of Manichaeism, its role during the rise of Christianity, the emergence of Priscillianism as a heresy of asceticism and a movement from the orthodox Spanish clergy, the attacks of Leo the Great (5th century AD) on the Manicheans and Priscillianists, and the visions of Mani, Pricsillian, St. Augustine, etc.

P/P/252. Dissertation. American independence movement: roots and influences of Thomas Paine’s political philosophy

The dissertation aims to investigate the contribution of the 18th century philosopher and political figure Thomas Paine to the American War of Independence examining the roots of his political ideology and its influence on the historical development of Europe and the USA. The review of literature touches upon the independence movement in the American colonies, Thomas Paine’s life and political views, philosophic ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, John Milton, John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, etc. Conclusions are made about the influence of the Enlightenment on the political and liberal mentality of the period.

P/H/65. Dissertation. Relationship between the US airmen and their British hosts during WW2

The dissertation aims to investigate the relationship between the airmen of the Second Air Division of the US Air Force (USAAF) deployed in the UK during the Second World War, and their British hosts. Historical and documentary literature is reviewed including controversial personal accounts of the encounters between the two cultures and the change from the first impressions of dissimilarities to the lasting impressions and cultural bond.

P/H/57. Dissertation. British voyagers about 17th century India

The dissertation investigates the history of the voyages to India from Great Britain discussing the importance of Eastern trade for the British, the seventeenth century economic and political background and the accounts of Sir William Hawkins, Sir Thomas Roe and William Finch of their embassy in India. Their impressions of Indian ways, beliefs and traditions are related.

P/H/47. Dissertation. Was there genocide during Indias partition?

The dissertation aims to define the nature of the violence between Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims that accompanied the division of India in 1947. The socio-political situation around the countrys partition is described presenting a review of the scholarly opinions on violence, genocide, human rights and forced migration. The reasons behind political tension in India are outlined establishing the links between violence, partition, and the displacement of peoples. The forms of violence are discussed including massacre, rape, abduction, etc. and showing it as a case of genocide.

P/H/45. Dissertation. Religious and civil opposition to reforms of Peter the Great

The dissertation studies the reaction of the Russian Orthodox Church and civilians to the reforms of Peter the Great in XVII – XVIII century Russia. The review of literature covers the issues of the tsars functions in Russia, Orthodox traditionalism, Russian national consciousness, the current law code, etc. The analysis of Peters Church reform is provided highlighting restrictions imposed on monasteries and the widespread opposition in defence of religious traditions and customs, known as the Old Belief. Cases of anti-tsar rebels and revolts are related including the affair of Peters son Alexis. Conclusions are made about the impact of Peters reforms on the transformation of Russian life.

P/H/24. Dissertation. American Civil War and its psychological damages

The aim of the dissertation is to reconstruct the events of the American Civil War. The evidence for the research is drawn from an extensive review of literature, i.e. memoirs, letters and diaries of the war participants and non-military witnesses. The authors objective is to study the traumatic experiences of the warfare and battle that caused stress disorder in Federal and Union soldiers. The psychological and physical syndromes of combat traumas are described highlighting the problems that accompanied the research of the documents. The paper contains numerous quotes testifying to the soldiers suffering and its behavioural outcomes. The conclusion is made about the experience of soldiering in the twentieth century wars.