POL2045 : British Politics: State and Society
- Offered for Year: 2023/24
- Module Leader(s): Dr Nick Randall
- Owning School: Geography, Politics & Sociology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
Aims
The module aims to explore the interplay of the UK state and society by analysing key features of the context within which British politics is situated. It will examine key economic, social and ideational institutions and relationships, analyse major trends in relation to these and relate them to both government policies and central bodies of contemporary social theory.
Outline Of Syllabus
Topics likely to be covered include:
1. Theories of British Politics: The Westminster Model and Beyond
2. The Changing Character of the British State
3. Parties, State and Society: The Rise and Fall of the ‘Postwar Consensus’
4. Parties, State and Society: The Rise and Fall(?) of Neoliberalism
5. The UK State and the Power of Business
6. Class and UK Politics
7. Gender and UK Politics
8. The Politics of ‘Race’ and Ethnicity in the UK
9. The ‘Troubles’ and ‘Peace’ in Northern Ireland
10. Nationalist challenges to the UK State
11. The Media and UK Politics
12. Britain’s World Role: Losing an Empire? Finding a Role?
13. Britain’s World Role: The Anglo-American Relationship
14. Britain’s World Role: Europe and Brexit – The Return or the End of UK Politics?
15. Leading the UK State
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 10 | 1:30 | 15:00 | Present in person lectures |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 2 | 2:00 | 4:00 | Present in person lectures |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | Lectures advising on essay and take home exam respectively |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | Pre-recorded video materials |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | Present in person seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 166:00 | 166:00 | Seminar preparation; assessment preparation and completion. |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The lectures introduce students to the key features of the economic, social, ideational and international contexts of British politics. In addition, they serve to outline and illustrate the principal concepts and theories available in understanding these contexts.
The present in person seminars provide an environment in which students can explore their understanding of, and offer critical evaluation of these empirical, conceptual, and theoretical issues.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 2880 | 1 | A | 50 | Take home exam (48 hour), 2000 words., expected time to complete is 4hrs. |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | M | 50 | 2000 words |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The 2000 word essay will provide an opportunity for students to explore one of the topics in the first half of the module greater depth. It will assess the student’s ability to place and synthesise the material gained from recorded lecture material, seminars and independent reading in appropriate contexts and their ability to critically and succinctly evaluate the ideas, concepts and theories introduced in lectures and explored in seminars. To encourage students to fully engage with seminar material the essay questions will not be released at the outset of the module but instead three weeks before the submission deadline.
The 48 hour take home examination will assess the students understanding of, and ability to critically evaluate, in time limited conditions, the key ideas, concepts and theories and empirical material of the second part of the module. The time limited character of this assessment fosters and evaluates the skills that students may be expected to possess in the graduate workplace.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- POL2045's Timetable