Politics and History BA (Hons)

This module builds on the Year 1 module Research and Presenting the Past, helping you to develop your research skills even further. You will do this by conducting project work in groups and engaging in independent research which will prepare you for the Dissertation module in your final year.  We we will discuss the importance of primary sources for understanding an event, period or theme, as well as exploring various schools of historical theory and methodology. The module may also include opportunities to work with local archives.

On this module you will have the chance to take part in work related learning and explore the possibilities your degree will offer for your career. We will help you to transfer the skills and knowledge you acquire throughout the course to the workplace. You can choose to complete a minimum of 10 days work experience, or focus on a work related project. It is your responsibility to find your placement, with advice on how to do this included within the module.

*You must either study History, Community and Culture in Semester 1, OR Practical Politics in semester 2.

On this module you will learn about early modern English society, from the beginning of the Reformation in the 1540s to the Restoration in the 1660s. We will explore how people negotiated their everyday lives in a world that was becoming ever more watchful of their political loyalties and personal morality. You will investigate this period through a range of primary sources, engaging with them in creative ways to understand the everyday lived experiences of the time. These could include:

• State papers
• Court records
• Petitions
• Documents relating to parish life

On this module you will take a cultural and gender-focused approach to 16th century British history. This is a fascinating period in which to study the changes in power, autonomy and image of women. You will find new perspectives on a much discussed period in history, exploring how political and religious movements affected the lived experiences of women from across society. Through this we will consider how these women presented themselves, and how they have been represented since.

On this module you will study the history of the Soviet Union, from the October Revolution in 1917 to the collapse of the Soviet experiment in 1991. In doing so you will identify the underlying reasons for both the rise and the fall of the Soviet state, as well as assessing its impact on the rest of the world. This will involve examining Soviet communism from various different perspectives, taking in political, economic, social, military and cultural history.

On this module you will study the Victorian period from a social and cultural historical angle, exploring food and eating from various overlapping perspectives. You will consider how food and eating were shaped by broad historical changes such as:

• Colonialism
• Industrialisation
• Science and technology
• Medical advancements
• Print culture

You will also examine cookbooks as historical documents, along with other primary sources relating to food production and consumption in Britain, France and their empires. Through case studies you will engage with debates about the connections between food and everyday life, class, gender, race and civilisation.

On this module you will learn about the social and political history of Britain from the union of Scotland and England in 1707 until the crowning of Queen Victoria. This was a period of enormous political, social and economic change, which also saw Britain rapidly assuming a leading position amongst the world’s major powers. Topics you cover may include:

• The Hanoverian succession
• The Jacobite rebellion
• Imperial expansion
• Industrialisation
• Trade, commerce and capitalism, including the slave trade
• The American Revolution
• The Napoleonic Wars.

The 1960s were a turbulent time for the USA. President Lyndon Johnson was embarking on a series of reforms aiming to create “the Great Society” at the same time as the seemingly endless war in Vietnam. It was also a time of great achievements, with America leading the first moon landings. Topics you will cover on this module include:

• The image and domestic policies of the Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon presidencies
• Radicalism and dissent, including counterculture, urban riots and student protests
• The domestic impact of the Vietnam War.

On this module you will examine the traumatic history of China throughout the lifetime of Mao Zedong. You will confront and evaluate the historical debates surrounding China’s transition from the world’s oldest imperial power to a revolutionary Communist state. In doing so you will consider the political, ideological, economic, military, social and cultural forces that shaped these events. Given China's modern status as a major world power, learning about its turbulent past and Mao's legacy will help you to understand wider global developments.

This module will focus on the Roman Empire in the first century AD, exploring what life was really like under imperial rule across society and across the empire. This will mean looking in depth at famous figures like Tiberius, Caligula and Nero, known for their violence and cruelty, as well as those like Vespasian whose legacy is more favourable. You will engage closely with different kinds of primary materials, including  archaeology, art, coins and inscriptions as well as written sources.

On this module you will have the chance to get involved with some of the research taking place within our department. The content will be different every year, depending on the current research taking place in the academic team, the resources available, and what you and your course mates are interested in. This is an opportunity to be part of our ongoing contribution to historical knowledge, and to build your research skills before starting your Dissertation in the final year. 

Despite the horrors of the Black Death, devastation of famine, and the ravages of the Hundred Years War, 14th century England was also full of artistic and literary achievement. On this module you will explore the ideals and ideas existing alongside the trauma of conflict. This will also involve assessing developments in political culture, to better understand the challenges and achievements of the period.. 

On this module you will focus on the experience of African Americans both as enslaved people and in the years following the abolition of slavery. You will learn about the origins, development and abolition of slavery in the USA, assessing the impact and nature of the American slave system. We will discuss contemporary responses of both African Americans and white Americans to slavery, relationships between races after slavery ended, and the emergence of cultural expression among African Americans.

On this module you will examine, confront and evaluate the historical debates surrounding the American Civil War. You will learn about the campaigns and strategies of the war itself, as well as its social and political impact and its lasting cultural legacy. You will also consider the social and political forces that have shaped how this period has been retold in historical and pop culture representations. This will open wider discussion about how wars are remembered and commemorated.

On this module you will examine the history of the United States since the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001. You will explore a range of issues that have impacted American politics, culture and society in the years since these events. Your learning will be informed by the wider ideological, cultural and political history of the United States.

Topics may include:

• The War on Terror
• Fake news
• LGBTQ+ rights
• American conspiracies such as the birther movement and Q-Anon
• Response to crises such as 2008 recession and the Covid 19 pandemic

Explore the origins and evolution of the political ideologies that have shaped major social and political developments from the 18th century to the present day. On this module you will consider the ideological movements that have emerged as critical responses to the mainstream. The ideological traditions you study may include:

• Liberalism
• Conservatism
• Anarchism
• Nationalism
• Fascism
• Feminism
• Environmentalism
• Multiculturalism.

International Relations addresses the fundamental nature of power in the international system. The approaches used in this module are essential for understanding regional, international and global events. We will introduce you to some of the major theories in international relations, such as:

• Realism
• Liberalism
• Neoliberalism
• Marxism
• Critical theory
• Constructivism
• Feminism
• Postcolonialism

Using case studies and coverage of historical and contemporary events, you will consider how you can apply these theories to developments in state relations.

Democracy is the dominant form of political organisation around the world, and to study Politics it is essential to fully understand how it is put into practice. On this module you will explore the development and evolution of democracy. This includes discussions on the concept and various models of democracy, as well as the institutions (executives, legislatures, judiciaries) and processes (electoral and party systems) that rely on it. The module includes a comparative analysis of democratic states throughout the world, examining both established democracies and democracies in transition.

The European Union (EU) is one of the most significant intergovernmental organisations to have developed in the post-war period. This module examines the historical origins of European integration, using various theoretical and conceptual approaches. You will explore the institutions and policies of the EU, as well as discussing contemporary debates and issues such as the democratic deficit, enlargement and withdrawal, and the Euro.

Political participation and engagement are fundamental to the health of democracies around the world. Voting in elections and referendums, engaging directly with politicians and the political process, and taking direct action are key aspects of this. You will critically review approaches to explaining voter behaviour, as well as comparing voting trends across countries. There will be a focus on wider forms of participation, which may include:

• Community action
• Membership of and activity in political and non-governmental organisations,
• Demonstration and protest

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Our politics degree teaches you to understand not just political concepts, but also how politics is studied and researched. This module will give you an overview of the different theoretical and methodological approaches used to study the political world.

The Conservative Party was once called the “natural party of government” and has dominated British politics since its incorporation in the mid eighteenth century. This module explores the traditions and ideas within Conservative party thought, from the Tamworth Manifesto of 1834 to the present day.