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PIR-10046 - Module Specification
School of Social Sciences
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2024/25 Last Updated: 13 May 2024

PIR-10046 - British Politics Since 1945
Coordinator: Philip Catney Room: CBA2.028 Tel: +44 1782 7 33346
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None


Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

This module introduces students to the study of domestic and international dimensions of British politics. It presents an overview of the key debates that have shaped politics in Britain, such as the formation of the welfare state in Britain, Britain's post-war relationship with the United States of America, the Commonwealth and Europe, debates over Britain's economic decline, interpreting Thatcherism and the newness of New Labour. It also examines the impact of austerity on British politics.

Aims
-To introduce students to the study of domestic and international dimensions of British politics;
-To introduce students to the key debates in British politics since 1945, such as de-colonisation, the nuclear issue, the management of the economy, and so forth;
-To provoke initial reflection on the complexity of political life and the approaches necessary for its comprehension;
- And to develop a range of basic skills such as contributing to seminar discussions, using library resources, reading and annotating texts, and formulating clear essay arguments.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/pir-10046/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

Apply relevant basic concepts from political analysis to provoke initial reflection on the complexity of political life and the approaches necessary for its comprehension: 1,2
Correctly apply the Harvard referencing system for acknowledging sources used and develop a range of basic skills such as contributing to seminar discussions, using library resources, reading and annotating texts, and formulating clear essay arguments: 1,2
Develop an argument and assemble a coherent analysis that is communicated clearly in written form, applying good standards of grammar, punctuation and spelling: 1,2
Introduce students to the key debates in British politics since 1945, such as de-colonisation, the nuclear issue, the management of the economy, and so forth: 1,2

Study hours

12 hours lectures
8 hours tutorials
40 hours preparation for ten tutorials
30 hours preparation and writing of literature review
60 hours preparation and writing for essay

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Literature Review weighted 30%
A 1000 word literature review
The book review will require students to fully read an academic text (from an approved list), engage with its central argument(s) and to present a critical analysis of these.

2: Essay weighted 70%
A 1,500 word essay
A 1,500 word essay on the question taken from the list of essays in the relevant module space in the KLE, employing the Harvard referencing system.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 13 May 2024