History and Politics: A Problem or a Solution

Code

HIST2037

School

History

Level

2

Credits

20

Semesters

Autumn UK

Summary

This unique and innovative module invites students to think for themselves about the relationship between two seemingly different disciplines, both theoretically and empirically, by encouraging them to reflect on broader conceptual and methodological issues and then apply these to their own understanding of the concept of consensus as it is often applied to post-war British history. The module has two principal functions. First, it provides students with an understanding of various methodological approaches that have been applied to the study of political phenomena. In doing so, it will encourage them to develop a more sophisticated critical engagement with the arguments that they encounter. Second, it enhances students understanding of some of the concepts that are central to the study of history and politics.

Approaches:   

• Marxist analysis    
• Feminist analysis    
• Structure and agency    
• Post-Structuralism

Themes:    

• Culture    
• Democracy    
• Ideology    
• Class

To encourage participants to engage critically with these themes and approaches, they will be required to apply them to a particular empirical setting, namely the political history of post-war Britain. They will do this individually but also collectively in the form of group work and in particular an assessed group presentation, one adapted from Fielding’s work as convenor of the Politics module Power and the State.

Target Students

Only available to level 2 joint Honours History and Politics students.

Classes

• One 1-hour seminar each week for 10 weeks
• One 2-hour lecture each week for 10 weeks

Assessment

• 75% Coursework 1: 1 x essay (2,500 words)
• 25% Coursework 2: 1 x individual presentation

Assessed by end of autumn semester

Learning Outcomes

i)•Knowledge and understanding of:
•the meaning of the concepts of ‘ontology’ and ‘epistemology’
•the way in which different approaches influence the questions we ask and the results we obtain
•the nature of historical and political change
•the nature of ideology and its causal role
•the idea of class and its influence upon historical and political analysis
•rational choice theory and its ontological implications
•feminist approaches to the study of history and politics
•the ‘cultural turn’ and its methodological implications
•the (blurred) boundaries between the disciplines of History and Political Science
•an understanding of the different ways in which the post-war ‘consensus’ can be understood

ii)•Intellectual skills: 
•critical analysis and conceptual thought
•handling challenging theoretical material
•the ability to develop logical arguments 

iii)•Professional and practical skills:
•ability to analyse information and arguments from a wide range of secondary and primary sources 
•ability to plan, research and write a sustained piece of research 
•ability to use IT to access sources and complete written assignments

(d iv) Transferable skills:
•oral and written communication 
•critical thinking
•time management
•information technology literacy 
•working with others

Conveners

• Dr Dean Blackburn