Module Identifier SP31320  
Module Title CONTEMPORARY SPAIN (1975 - DATE)  
Academic Year 2007/2008  
Co-ordinator Mr Matthew Richards  
Semester Intended for use in future years  
Next year offered N/A  
Next semester offered N/A  
Course delivery Lecture   2 per week (lectures/seminars/tutorials)  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam2 Hours  60%
Semester Assessment Continuous Assessment: 2 essays of 1500 - 2000 words Only the better of the two marks will be taken for the continuous assessment element. This is to allow some assessment to be formative as well as (or instead of) summative. If a student fails to submit one piece of the two required, and does not supply the tutor concerned with valid reasons/evidence in writing, the mark for the one piece of work submitted will be carried forward as a continuous assessment mark, but divided by two. If no assessed work is submitted, the mark for the continuous assessment element (which will be fed into the overall module assessment) will be zero. 40%
Supplementary Exam2 Hours 1 x 2 hour exam if continuous assessment submitted. 1 x 3 hour exam if no continuous assessment submitted.  100%

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this module, students will be able to understand fully the major shifts and developments in contemporary Spain. Students will gain an in-depth knowledge of current social, political, cultural and economic issues with some historical background and will practice displaying logical argument through essay writing.

Brief description

The areas covered in this module will include:
- the conflicting pressures of Catholic, liberal and secular Spain
- The transition to democracy and the role of Spain in the EU
- Elites in Spain and their influence on politics and society
- Spanish/Latin American relations and Spain in a global context
- The changing spanish Language
- Analysis of Spain's recent history including national and regional identity and ayutonomy, ETA and terrorism, the monarchy and political parties.

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
Farrell, M. (2001) Spain and the European Union
Gies, David (1999) The Cambridge Companion to Modern Spanish Culture CUP
Heywood, P. (1995) The Government and Politics of Spain Macmillan
Heywood, P. and Closa, C. (2003) Spain and the European Union Palgrave
Preston, Paul (1990) The Triumph of Democracy in Spain

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6