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2015/16 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HIST3722 Harold Wilson and the Meaning of Politics in Modern Britain

20 creditsClass Size: 14

Module manager: Professor Richard Whiting
Email: r.c.whiting@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2015/16

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The purpose of this module is to gain an understanding of what politicians do in a modern democracy. At its centre is the political career of Harold Wilson, Labour prime minister from 1964-70 and 1974-76. Wilson is a particularly interesting figure for this study because of his reputation for tactical shrewdness, skill in the adversarial environment of parliamentary politics, and adeptness at addressing the popular mood. The module examines his competitive relationships with leading politicians of the time, and his handling of major policy problems. It also assesses the importance of the Labour Party that was both radical in its identity, but also conservative in its ethos. There is a wide range of diaries and memoirs, as well as an extensive secondary literature, to support this module.

Objectives

- To gain an understanding of how politicians acted in modern Britain, both in the pursuit of power and the exercise of government;
- To assess the career of Harold Wilson, Labour prime minister from 1964-70 and 1974-76, and his relations with the major politicians of his day;
- To understand the significance of the ethos and ideology of the Labour party for its leading figures;
- To consider Wilson's premiership in relation to the 'modernisation of Britain'
- To critically evaluate a range of primary sources and secondary literature relating to the period;
- To develop clearly-expressed views about these problems in oral and written form.

Learning outcomes
- An informed view of how politicians act in a modern democracy;
- An understanding of Wilson's development as a politician, his pursuit of power, and his performance as prime minister;
- An awareness of the issues connected with Britain's foreign and domestic policies;
- A critical familiarity with some of the relevant primary sources for this topic;
- An awareness of the writings about political activity in a democracy.

Skills outcomes
- Evaluation of relevant primary sources.
- Critical response to secondary material.
- Development and elaboration of historical arguments.


Syllabus

Seminar topics will include:
- Politicians in a democracy and the major figures of the period;
- The Labour party - radicalism and tradition;
- Harold Wilson - the making of a politician;
- Wilson and the modernisation of Britain;
- A prime minister and his colleagues;
- The sources for the period, especially memoirs and diaries;
- An assessment of Wilson's achievement.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Seminar112.0022.00
Private study hours178.00
Total Contact hours22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

Preparation of seminar presentations
Reading for seminars
Preparation for essay
Revision for examination

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Seminar presentations and an assessed essay.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay1 x 2,000-word essay, due by 12.00pm on Monday of teaching week 930.00
PresentationVerbal presentation, format to be determined by tutor10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)40.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated


Exams
Exam typeExam duration% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)2 hr 00 mins60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)60.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 15/07/2015

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