Britain in the 20th Century
Code
711121052
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Línguas, Culturas e Literaturas Modernas, Secção de Estudos Ingleses e Norte-Americanos
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Iolanda de Freitas Ramos
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
a) To acquire a general knowledge of Britain in the 20th century, with particular reference to the period between World War II and the first Blairs government;
b) To become more learned in specific topics that are relevant to the study of Britain in the 20th century;
c) To identify Britain´s influence on the 20th century and the most significant post-millennium events;
d) To develop research and debating skills in the field of cultural studies, focusing on the social, economic and political areas;
e) To write a short essay on the course syllabus.
Prerequisites
None.
Subject matter
1. Historical and cultural introduction.
1.1. Britain in the first half of the 20th century.
1.2. Britain after World War II.
2. Society, economy and domestic affairs.
2.1. The making of the Welfare State.
2.2. Conservative governments from Churchill to Thatcher and Major.
2.3. Labour governments from Attlee to Blair.
3. Foreigh policy and international relations.
3.1. The Empire and the Commonwealth.
3.2. The special relation with the United States.
3.3. The cooperation with the European Union.
4. Britain after the Millennium.
4.1. General remarks.
4.2. Consensus, continuities and disruptions.
Bibliography
- Marwick, A. (2003). British Society since 1945 (New Edition). London: Penguin.
- More, C. [2007] (2014). Britain in the Twentieth Century. London and New York: Routledge.
- Morgan, K. O. [2000] (2005). Twentieth-Century Britain: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Oakland, J. (2011). British Civilization: An Introduction (7th ed.). London and New York: Routledge.
- Oakland, J. (2001). Contemporary Britain: A Survey with Texts. London and New York: Routledge.
Teaching method
Presentation of the topics of the course syllabus by the lecturer; interactive methodology, based on audiovisual resources and support texts, and contributions by the students based on the reading of primary sources and contemporary analyses for oral presentation and/or group discussion; tutorial supervision of the critical readings and the thematic and bibliographical research tasks; to do a test in the form of a short essay on the course syllabus.
Evaluation method
short critical readings and/or thematic and bibliographical research tasks for oral presentation in class (40%); a written test / critical essay (60%).