Module Identifier HY38530  
Module Title FIGHTING THE FIVE GIANTS: WELFARE & SOCIETY IN MODERN BRITAI  
Academic Year 2001/2002  
Co-ordinator S Thompson  
Semester Semester 1  
Course delivery Lecture   18 Hours  
  Seminar   10 Hours  
Assessment Essay   2 essays (1 x 4,000 words & 1 x 2,500 words)   40%  
  Exam   3 Hours   60%  

Brief description


This course will survey the history of the welfare state in early twentieth century Britain and will consider efforts to eradicate the five `giant evils? of Want, Ignorance, Disease, Squalor and Idleness. It will focus on these developments in their social, economic, political and demographic contexts. The extension of central government into various aspects of people?s lives was one of the central features of the twentieth century and the significance of social policies on the everyday lives of ordinary people will be considered. The extent to which transformations in standards of living can be attributed to government policies and actions will be evaluated but the course will also consider the costs of such large-scale government intervention. An important aspect of the course will be the examination of primary sources including official papers, social surveys and social policy tracts.