Module Identifier HY37830  
Module Title POLITICS AND SOCIETY IN 20TH-CENTURY BRITAIN  
Academic Year 2002/2003  
Co-ordinator Dr Sian H Nicholas  
Semester Intended for use in future years  
Next year offered N/A  
Next semester offered N/A  
Course delivery Lecture   18 Hours  
  Seminars / Tutorials   10 Hours  
Assessment Semester Exam   3 Hours   60%  
  Semester Assessment   Essay: 2 essays (1 x 4,000 words, 1 x 2,500 words)   40%  

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
a) Demonstrate familiarity with a substantial body of historical knowledge in the field of modern and contemporary British political, social and cultural history.
b) Engage in source criticism, discussion and understanding of the scope and variety of sources in modern British history.
c) Demonstrate familiarity with a wide range of historical techniques relevant to a comparative study of political and social developments.
d) Gather and sift appropriate items of historical evidence
e) Read, analyse and reflect critically on secondary and primary texts, in particular contemporary reportage and other media sources.
f) Develop the ability to evaluate strengths and weaknesses of particular historical arguments and where necessary challenge them.
g) Develop oral (not assessed) and written skills which will have been improved through seminar discussions and essays
h) Work both independently and collaboratively, and to participate in group discussions (not assessed).

Brief description

This option module considers British history from the turn of the twentieth century until the fairly recent past (the fall of Margaret Thatcher). It will focus primarily on political developments but will, in addition, incoroporate social, economic and cultural change. The main theme of the module is the changing character of British politics throughout the twentieth century - its structures, discourse, political culture - and how these developments reflect, and in turn influence, other aspects of British society. Central to this theme are such topics as the evolution of a mass democracy, the impact of the two World Wars, Britain's search for an international post-war role, the development and downfall of a politics of concensus.