British Politics

& Government

SV369

Spring 2012

 

 

Professor TERRENCE CASEY Office: Moench A 209
PHONE: 877-8281 Office Hours:  MTRF 5th Hour or walk-in
E-Mail: casey1@rose-hulman.edu  RHIT Mailbox: #93

 

This course will introduce you to the history, institutions, and politics of Great Britain. We will begin with an examination of the major events in British politics since the Second World War. We will then move on to review the major governing ideas, institutions, actors, and electoral processes of the British political system. Finally, we will look at Britain's role in the wider world and the key challenges facing the country in the early 21st century. By the end of the course you should have a much greater appreciation of the similarities and differences between Britain and the United States and (hopefully) a sense of what Americans might be able to learn from the British experience.  

 

Syllabus (PDF)

 

READINGS: The majority of the reading for this course will come from the following texts: (1) Andrew Marr, A History of Modern Britain; (2) Philip Norton, The British Polity, 5th Edition, and (3) Richard Heffernan, Philip Cowley, and Colin Hay, Developments in British Politics 9. You are also expected to keep abreast of current events in the UK. Here are a list of useful links.

British Politics Links

NEWS LINKS:  
BBC Politics Page The Times
The Guardian The Independent
The Economist Financial Times
The Telegraph Daily Mail
The Sun (Britain's Leading Tabloid) Private Eye (Political Satire)
GOVERNMENT LINKS:  
10 Downing Street Parliament
Cabinet Office Scottish Parliament
Welsh National Assembly Northern Ireland Assembly
POLITICAL PARTY LINKS:  
Labour Conservative
Liberal Democrats Scottish Nationalists
Plaid Cymru (Welsh Nationalist) Green Party
Political Blogs:  
Guido Fawkes Parliamentary Blog (of plots, rumours, and conspiracy) Left Foot Forward
Conservative Home Labour List
Political Betting The Spectator Coffee House

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:  Your grade will be based on the following:

(A) Three Exams (65% total).  The first two exams (20% each) are tentatively scheduled for Friday, March 30th (end of 4th week) and Friday, May 4th (end of 8th week) These will include broad questions that require you to demonstrate your knowledge of the subject matter and show that you can critically and intelligently analyze key issues in British politics. The third exam (25%) will be a take-home essay exam that includes material from the entire course. Exams from graduating seniors will be due on Friday, May 18th. Exams for all others are due on Monday, May 21st.

(B) Research Paper (25%). Topic and Bibliography due on Friday, March 16th; Research paper due on Monday, April 30th. You will be required to write a 10-15-page research paper on an important political topic related to the history, governance, or politics of the United Kingdom. More detailed instructions will be handed out separately.  (Citation Guide for Papers)

 

 (C) Attendance and Participation (10%). You are expected to come to each class prepared (i.e., having done the assigned reading) and ready to actively participate in the discussion. Participation points are not an automatic bonus for showing up. If you do not do the reading or never speak up, even if you attend class every day, you will get a zero for participation.

 

Topics and Readings

NOTE: PowerPoint slides and other handouts will be added below as the course progresses

 

 PART I -- THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT: BRITAIN SINCE WORLD WAR II

Week 1 (March 5-9) MT -- The Making of the Modern British State

Philip Norton, The British Polity, Chapters 1 and 3

Phil Cowley, Colin Hay, and Richard Heffernan, 'Introduction: A Landscape Without a Map? British Politics after 2010,' Chapter 1 in Developments in British Politics 9

  RF--  Building a 'New Jerusalem': The Postwar Attlee Government Andrew Marr, A History of Modern Britain, Part 1 (pp. 1-112)
Week 2 (March 12-16) MT--  Change and Consensus: The Conservative Fifties Andrew Marr, A History of Modern Britain, Part 2 (pp. 113-228)
  RF -- Modernization and Failure: Wilson, Heath, and Callaghan Andrew Marr, A History of Modern Britain, Part 3 (pp. 231-377)
Week 3 (March 19-23) MT -- Britain's Capitalist Revolution: The Thatcher-Major Years Andrew Marr, A History of Modern Britain, Part 4 (pp. 381-474)
  RESEARCH PAPER TOPIC AND BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE (FRIDAY, MARCH 16)  
  RF -- Forging a 'Third Way': New Labour and Beyond Andrew Marr, A History of Modern Britain, Part 5 (pp. 477-602)

              

PART II-- GOVERNING IDEAS

Week 4 (March 26-30) MT -- The British Constitution

Philip Norton, The British Polity, Chapter 4

Meg Russell, 'Constitutional Politics,' Chapter 2in Developments in British Politics 9

Vernon  Bogdnor, 'A Codified Constitution for Britain?' Politics Review, September 2008, pp. 2-9 [Handout].

  RF -- Political Culture and Ideology

 Philip Norton, The British Polity, Chapter 2

Gerry Stoker, 'Anti-Politics in Britain,' Chapter 9 in Developments in British Politics 9    

  FIRST EXAM FRIDAY, MARCH 30TH Exam #1 STUDY GUIDE

SPRING BREAK (April 2-6)

 PART III -- POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS

Week 5 (April 9-13) MT-- Parliament: Commons and Lords Philip Norton, The British Polity, Chapter 12

Alexandra Kelso, 'Changing Parliamentary Landscapes,' Chapter 4 in in Developments in
British Politics 9
  RF -- Executive: Prime Minister and Cabinet Philip Norton, The British Polity, Chapter 8 and 13

David Richards, 'Changing Patterns of Executive Governance,' Chapter 3 in Developments in British Politics 9

Week 6 (April 16-20) MT -- Devolved Governments: Scotland and Wales Philip Norton, The British Polity, Chapter 10 (pp. 271-80; 291-96)

Roger Scully and Richard Wyn-Jones, 'Territorial Politics in Post-Devolution Britain,' Chapter 7 in Developments in British Politics 9

  RF -- Devolved Government: Northern Ireland Philip Norton, The British Polity, Chapter 10 (pp. 281-90)

Cathy Gormley-Heenan, 'Power-Sharing in Northern Ireland,' Chapter 8 in Developments in British Politics 9

                  

PART IV -- POLITICAL INTERESTS AND PROCESSES

Week 7 (April 23-27) MT-- Political Parties Philip Norton, The British Polity, Chapter 6

Philip Cowley, 'Political Parties and the British Party System,' Chapter 6 in Developments in British Politics 9

  RF -- Campaigns and Elections Philip Norton, The British Polity, Chapter 5

David Denver, 'Elections and Voting,' Chapter 5 in in
Developments in British Politics 9
RESEARCH PAPER DUE (FRIDAY, APRIL 27th)  

                              

PART V -- BRITAIN AND THE WORLD

Week 8 (April 30-May 4) MT -- Britain and the European Union Philip Norton, The British Polity, Chapter 9

 Lori Thorlakson, 'Britain's Place in the European Union,' Chapter 14 in Developments  in British Politics 9

  RF -- Britain and the United States Andrew Gamble, 'Britain in the World,' Chapter 16 in Developments in British Politics 9

John Dumbrell, 'US-UK Relations: Structure, Agency, and the Special Relationship,' Chapter 19 in Terrence Casey, ed., The Blair Legacy [Handout]
  SECOND EXAM (FRIDAY, MAY 4th)  

 

PART VI -- KEY ISSUES IN BRITISH POLITICS

Week 9 (May 7-11) MT -- Reviving the Economy Terrence Casey, 'Capitalism, Crisis, and a Zombie named TINA,' in  Terrence Casey, ed. The Legacy of the Crash [Handout]C

Colin Hay, 'Britain and the Global Financial Crisis: The Return of Boom and Bust,'
 Chapter 13 in Developments in British Politics 9
  RF -- British Identity & the Future of the Union -CANCELLED TBD
Week 10 (May 14-18) MT -- Extra Time
RF -- Wrap up and review Philip Norton, The British Polity, Chapter 16
  TAKE-HOME THIRD EXAM  (Due from graduating seniors by START OF CLASS on Friday, May 18th; from everyone else by noon on Monday, May 21st)  

 

London 2011