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Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title Political, Social & Cultural Change in Twentieth-Century Britain
Module Code HY232 (ITS) / HIS1024 (Banner)
Faculty Humanities & Social Sciences School History & Geography
Module Co-ordinatorDaithí Ó Corráin
Module Teachers-
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 10
Pre-requisite Not Available
Co-requisite Not Available
Compatibles Not Available
Incompatibles Not Available
Repeat examination
Description

This module explores the central political, social, economic, diplomatic and cultural developments that transformed Britain from global power to a regional and disunited kingdom during the twentieth century. Key themes include changes in social relations based on ethnicity, class and gender, the legacies of the two World Wars, the decline of Britain as a financial power, the loss of empire, ambivalence towards European integration, the struggle between the major political parties and their ideological positions.

Learning Outcomes

1. Display a specialised knowledge of the major developments in the political, social, cultural and economic history of Britain in the twentieth century and how they interact
2. Identify the main historiographical interpretations of change in Britain
3. Engage critically with prescribed readings and texts
4. Construct an objective and well-presented written argument based on historical evidence
5. Engage in self-directed learning by specialising in areas of personal interest
6. Deepen critical and independent thinking, analysis, perception and judgement



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Seminars44Two 2-hour seminars per week
Independent Study60Seminar preparation; independent learning: Assigned weekly documents and readings
Assignment Completion146preparation and writing
Total Workload: 250

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Section 1: A declining great power, 1900-1924
1 Edwardian Britain: the political landscape, 1901-1914

Section 1: A declining great power, 1900-1924
2 The rise of Labour and the decline of Liberalism, 1906-1918

Section 1: A declining great power, 1900-1924
3 Britain and the First World War

Section 1: A declining great power, 1900-1924
4 The difficulties of post-war reconstruction, 1918-24

Section 2: Difficult times, 1924-1951
5 Britain in the 1920s: conflict, realignment and change

Section 2: Difficult times, 1924-1951
6 National government, 1931-9

Section 2: Difficult times, 1924-1951
7 Imperial and foreign affairs between the wars

Section 2: Difficult times, 1924-1951
8 Britain and the Second World War

Section 2: Difficult times, 1924-1951
9 Post-war Britain: Labour in power, 1945-51

Section 2: Difficult times, 1924-1951
10 The end of Empire

Section 3: The reshaping of Britain, 1950s-2000s
11 An affluent society: Britain in the 1950s and 1960s

Section 3: The reshaping of Britain, 1950s-2000s
12 Winters of discontent: Britain in the 1970s

Section 3: The reshaping of Britain, 1950s - 2000s
13 Thatcherism and the new right

Section 3: The reshaping of Britain, 1950s-2000s
14 New Labour and the Blair era

Section 3: The reshaping of Britain, 1950s-2000s
15 Foreign policy from Suez to Iraq

Section 3: The reshaping of Britain, 1950s-2000s
16 Britain and Europe

Section 4: Themes over a century
17 Class and gender

Section 4: Themes over a century
18 Education and youth

Section 4: Themes over a century
19 Religion and secularisation

Section 4: Themes over a century
20 Immigration and multiculturalism

Section 4: Themes over a century
21 Recreation and sport

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment60% Examination Weight40%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Group presentationPresentation on a prescribed event or personality20%Week 22
Reflective journalAssigned readings40%Week 24
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories:
Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module.
Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1
Indicative Reading List

  • Callum G. Brown & W. Hamish Fraser: 0, Britain since 1707 (London, 2010) [e-book],
  • Francesca Carnevali and Julie-Marie Strange: 0, 20th century Britain: economic, cultural and social change (London, 2007),
  • David Childs: 0, Britain since 1945 (7th ed., London, 2012) [e-book],
  • Peter Clarke: 0, Hope and glory: Britain 1900-2000 (2nd ed., London, 2004),
  • Andrew Mair: 0, A history of modern Britain (London, 2007),
  • Kenneth Morgan: 0, Britain since 1945: the people’s peace (3rd ed., Oxford, 2001) [e-book],
  • Malcolm Pearce: 0, British political history, 1867-2001 (3rd ed., New York, 2002),
  • Martin Pugh: 0, State and society: British political and social History 1870-1997 (2nd ed. London, 1999),
  • David Reynolds: 0, Britannia overruled (2nd ed., London, 2000) [e-book],
  • Alan Sked and Chris Cook: 0, Post-war Britain: a political history (4th ed., London, 1993),
  • James Vernon: 0, , Modern Britain: 1750 to the present (Cambridge, 2017),
Other Resources

64613, Reading list, 0, A detailed reading list by topic will be provided,

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