Module Identifier IP10120  
Module Title BRITAIN AND EUROPE: THE POLITICS OF POWER  
Academic Year 2005/2006  
Co-ordinator Dr Alistair J K Shepherd  
Semester Semester 2  
Other staff Ms Anwen M Elias, Ms Elin Royles  
Mutually Exclusive GW11120  
Course delivery Lecture   (18 x 1 hour)  
  Seminars / Tutorials   (8 x 1 hour)  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam2 Hours  70%
Semester Assessment 1 x 2,000 word essay  30%
Supplementary Exam Students may, subject to Faculty approval, have the opportunity to resit this module, normally during the supplementary examination period. For further clarification please contact the Teaching Programme Administrator in the Department of International Politics. 

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
- Identify and assess the key political structures of the United Kingdom and the European Union.
- Be able to demonstrate a critical awareness of the major theoretical and conceptual issues at the different levels of governance and the interaction between these levels.
- Describe the structure, processes and functions of the UK and EU political systems.
- Critically assess the central issues currently facing the UK and the EU.
- Examine and critically evaluate key policy areas in Britain and the EU.
- Think critically about the major political issues raised by the existence of the EU.
- Effectively deploy skills of: identification and location of appropriate sources; independent study; writing (essays and examinations); IT skills plus time-management.

10 credydau ECTS

Brief description

The module provides a general introduction to students of the history, key institutions, conceptual issues and the contemporary practice of politics Britain and the European Union.

Aims

The main aim of the module is to provide a general introduction of the history, institutions and practice of politics both in the United Kingdom and the European Union. In doing so, it aims to provide students with an introduction to the major conceptual and theoretical issues at stake, and to challenge students to think critically about the major political issues and questions at the heart of the UK state system and the European Union. It will equip students with a variety of analytical instruments that will enable them to examine the inter-relationships between the different branches of executive and legislature within the UK state and within the European Union, as well as examining the relationship between the UK and the European Union.

Content

The module will be divided into two parts. The first part will focus on evaluating the historical development, the institutional structure and the policy making activities of the UK system of government, including the challenges posed by devolution and constitutional change. The second part of the module will focus on the European Union. After an introduction to the historical development and the institutional structure of the European Union the module examines some of the key conceptual and policy issues within the European Union. Finally, the module will evaluate the relationship between politics in the UK and the politics of the European Union, discussing the implications of this relationship for the future of politics within the Uk and at the European level.

Transferable skills

Students will have the opportunity to develop, practice and test a wide range of transferable skills, which will help them to understand, conceptualize and evaluate examples and ideas. Throughout the course, students should practice and enhance their reading, comprehension and thinking skills, as well as self-management skills. In lectures students will develop listening and note taking skills, as well as analytical skills. In seminars students will enhance their analytical skills and will practice listening, explaining and debating skills, as well as team work and problem solving. Essay writing will encourage students to practice their independent research, writing and IT skills, and the examination will test these skills under time constraint conditions.

Reading Lists

Books
** Essential Reading
Bomberg & Stubbs (2003) The European Union : How Does It Work? Oxford, OUP
Coxall, Bill, Roberts, Lyton & Leach, Robert (2003) Contemporary British Politics Palgrave
McCormick, John (2005) Understanding the European Union Palgrave
Budge, I., Crane, I., Malloy, D. Newton, K. (2004) The New British Politics Pearson/Longman

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4