ML1978: Political Contexts of British Society

School School of Modern Languages
Department Code MLANG
Module Code ML1978
External Subject Code 101233
Number of Credits 20
Level L5
Language of Delivery English
Module Leader Dr David Fowler
Semester Spring Semester
Academic Year 2022/3

Outline Description of Module

This module explores the issues that shape British Politics in the early 21st century; from Brexit to Rhodes Must Fall and Black Lives Matter. The course is thematic and introduces students to the political leaders, political parties, political crises and the political cultures that shape modern British politics. In essence, it looks at British politics through different frames: Westminster politics; Britain and Europe; Political leadership; Political Cultures beyond Westminster; and the impact social and cultural movements such as Rhodes Must Fall and Black Lives Matter are having on politics in Britain and internationally in the 21st century. The topics covered include: Britishness and Brexit; Political Leadership; the Far Right in British Politics; Political Crises; The Conservative Party since Thatcher; The Labour Party: From New Labour to Corbyn and Beyond; The Security State: Intelligence Communities in British Politics; and The State and Radicalisation in British Universities since 1968.  A wide range of primary sources, including digitised newspaper archives, the Margaret Thatcher Foundation Archive, the BBC, and Current Affairs Blogs, as well as secondary literature drawn from Political Science and Contemporary History will be explored. 

On completion of the module a student should be able to

  1. Describe and explain key political and institutional contexts in understanding contemporary British society.
  2. Describe and explain the causes and possible consequences of Brexit for British society. 
  3. Describe and explain the outcomes and consequences of the 2010, 2015 and 2017 General Election and the 2016 EU referendum
  4. Identify and utilise appropriate statistical resources to describe and explain aspects of voter engagement and voting behaviour in contemporary British society.
  5. Use appropriate ideas from recent debates in political sociology, political science and public administration to critically assess patterns and trends in published data.

How the module will be delivered

The module will be delivered through a range of interactive teaching sessions supplemented by online teaching and learning activities and materials – and may include, where relevant, asynchronous materials such as lecture recordings. Full details on the delivery mode of this module will be available on Learning Central at the start of the academic year – and may be, in part, determined by Welsh Government and Public Health Wales guidance.  

Lectures will include videos, infographics, relevant statistical resources and an overview of key ideas and debates.  Seminars will be more discursive and allow students to demonstrate their critical engagement with the material.  Recommended reading and links to additional resources will be provided through Learning Central.  

 

Skills that will be practised and developed

Subject specific skills.

An understanding of:

  • Contemporary British politics, the nature of recent political change and their consequences for social life. 
  • The 2016 EU Referendum result and the significance of Brexit for political institutions and, more broadly British society.
  • Patterns of voter engagement and behaviour.
  • The devolution of political power in the UK and the implications of this for policy change, the Union and, more broadly British society.
  • How British political parties are responding to changing social and political contexts; and to extra-parliamentary social movements such as Black Lives Matter and Rhodes Must Fall.

Academic skills

  • Research skills – using secondary data, accessing and reviewing peer reviewed journal articles
  • Essay writing skills – critical thinking, critical writing, developing an argument, marshalling evidence
  • Referencing sources
  • Using theories, applying theories

Employability skills

Efficacy:

  • Awareness of own beliefs, attitudes and those of others – importance of positionality and the social construction of ideas.
  • Empathy
  • Questioning the taken for granted
  • Reflecting on own role as consumers, citizens, students and voters etc.

Metacognition

  • Self-awareness – in relation to national and regional identity, gender, ethnicity, class, social, cultural and economic capital
  • Appreciation of different voices and experiences
  • Recognising how policy problems, social problems and academic debates are constructed and mediated (by politicians, celebrities, in social media, popular film, literature and music etc.).

How the module will be assessed

The method(s) of assessing the learning outcomes for this module are set out in the Assessment Table, which also contains the weightings of each assessment component.

Mapping of Assessments to Intended Learning Outcomes:

Assignment 1 assesses ILOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Assignment 2 assesses ILOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REASSESSMENT IN THIS MODULE:

You may be required to resit a 100% synoptic assessment if you fail the module. The Examination Board will advise you which assessments you need to resit during the August resit period. Resit assessments that are not supported by extenuating circumstances will be capped at the pass mark applicable to your programme.

Assessment Breakdown

Type % Title Duration(hrs)
Written Assessment 40 Essay 1 N/A
Written Assessment 60 Essay 2 N/A

Syllabus content

The topics covered include:

  •  Britishness and Brexit;
  •  Political Leadership;
  • The Far Right in British Politics;
  • Political Crises;
  • The Conservative Party since Thatcher;
  • The Labour Party: From New Labour to Corbyn and Beyond;
  • The Security State: Intelligence Communities in British Politics;
  • The State and Radicalisation in British Universities since 1968;
  • Black Lives Matter, Rhodes Must Fall and their Impact on British Politics.

A wide range of primary sources, including digitised newspaper archives, the Margaret Thatcher Foundation Archive, the BBC, and Current Affairs Blogs, as well as secondary literature drawn from Political Science and Contemporary History will be explored. 

 


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