British Political History (L2010E)

15 credits, Level 4

Autumn teaching

What is the historical context in which our politics takes place?
How do interpretations of the past influence political identities, divisions and alliances in the present?
And which myths and memories have proved particularly powerful and enduring?

This module will give you an overview of the key questions, concepts and controversies in modern British political history. There is a particular emphasis on the period since 1945. We will also consider how the political nation is defined: which voices are heard, which are excluded, and how this has changed over time.
These topics will be studied not only as subjects of academic analysis, but also of ongoing political discussion and contention. We will trace their impact on later political debates and examine the ways in which politicians throughout this period have presented their own interpretations of British political history.

 

Teaching

50%: Lecture
50%: Seminar

Assessment

30%: Coursework (Project)
70%: Written assessment (Essay)

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 20 hours of contact time and about 130 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2024/25. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

Courses

This module is offered on the following courses: