PO1BRI-British Society

Module Provider: School of Politics, Economics and International Relations
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Dawn Clarke
Email: d.clarke@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

The module draws on theories and approaches from Politics, Sociology, Psychology, History and Philosophy to consider some of the main contours of contemporary British Society. The module will explore a number of images of Britain including: Britain as a Welfare State, Multicultural Britain and Britain as a Class Society. It will also explore crime and deviance in Britain, the role of the mass media and the increasing power of the food industry.Ìý

Aims:

• To acquire a critical understanding of some key changes in British society since the Second World War and the reasons for them.

• To understand and analyse the changing relationship between the state, social institutions and citizens and their behaviour.

• To understand how these changes are influenced by factors both at home and globally.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module students will be able to:

• Have a good knowledge and understanding of the key trends in Britain since 1945.

• Be able to make a critical analysis of secondary texts.

• Be able to effectively use empirical data such as official statistics, official documents, and research studies to develop theoretically informed, evidence-based arguments.

• Be able to conduct an analysis of media sources, such as new spapers, advertisements, film, and visual imagery.

• Be able to use these skills in seminar discussions, essays and examinations.Ìý

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:

The following module content is indicative and may be subject to change:

The module examines social and political changes in Britain from the end of the Second World War to the present day. It examines the historical background to these changes and sets them into a wider global perspective. The module begins by looking at the changing nature of British culture since 1945 and shows the significance of a number of cultural revolutions including the sexual revolution and the relation ship between law and social change, with reference to abortion and divorce. The module examines the power of the mass media in Britain and the relationship between censorship, freedom and control. Crime and deviance have played a large part in the development of modern Britain so we shall be looking at the relationship between crime, inequality and society and also how moral panics are constructed. The module concludes by looking at Britain in postmodernity, with an emphasis on the power of the food industry, and the increasingly important issues of consumerism, identity and risk.Ìý

Global context:
Compares Britain to Europe, USA and other countries where necessary.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module uses a combination of lectures and seminar discussions. In addition students are expected to read books and articles and participate in class discussions.Ìý