Module objectives / Learning outcomes
a) describe and evaluate the key economic, social and political processes shaping the geographies of contemporary Britain
b) appreciate and appraise a range of theoretical interpretations that account for the processes of change
c) be critically aware of a range of data sources and methods that may be used for studying economic, social and political change
d) show evidence of the depth of their reading, interpretation and evaluation of current academic and policy practice through the marshalling of an argument in written form.

Brief description
Change has characterised the economic, social and political landscape in the late twentieth century producing a distinctive and uneven geography in most nations. Understanding of the processes driving these changes and recognition of the importance of locality and region has led to new conceptual and theoretical insights in the social sciences to which geographers are major contributors. This module explores the interconnection of economic, social and political processes in the shaping of region and locality in Britain within the context of a globalising space economy. The themes to be addressed include:

Economy

1. Perspectives on post-war change: globalisation and national response
2. Geographies of production 1: deindustrialisation and reindustrialisation
3. Geographies of production 2: new industrial spaces
4. Labour market geographies

Society

1. Geographies of life style and class
2. Spatial divisions of welfare 1: from central state to market
3. Spatial divisions of welfare 2: from local government to local government to local governance
4. Localities and communities

Polity

1. Changing political geographies of Britain
2. Citizenship and participation
3. Britain and Europe
4. Britain and the World

Module Aims
Against a background of global change, this module aims to examine and interpret the key changes taking place in Britain's contemporary capitalist space economy and its associated social and political order.