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The State of the UK: Identifying Marginalised Identities and Addressing Inequalities

Module description

This module will introduce foundational concepts for the study of UK Politics, including Parliament’s constitutional basis and the process of devolution, and considers theories of power to questions who can access such resource. The module provides a detailed examination of the impact of contemporary law and policy on citizens, and identifies marginalised identities and the associated inequalities embedded in public institutions. In an empirical sense, this involves the study of trends including institutional bias and heteronormativity in the law, through case studies such as ableism and Housing, LGBTQI+ and healthcare, BAME students and education, and women and employment. The course will develop to additionally appreciate the global context and the UK’s synergies and differences on these issues with its international counterparts.  

Module aims - intentions of the module

The overarching aim of the module is to both analyse the merit of theoretical content, but also demonstrate the ability to apply this knowledge to appropriate empirical examples. It is the intention of the module, therefore, to build upon existing knowledge of UK Politics to identify marginalized identities, and demand that this information in an academic and degree-level manner, with a critical and thoughtful approach. Having completed the course, it is expected that students will be aware of the mechanics of government, but will go beyond this to question the role of various actors and the efficacy and validity of contemporary political practices in the UK in regard to addressing inequalities.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. demonstrate understanding of the core institutional features of the UK government and their role in policymaking
• 2. be able assess societal inequalities in terms of key areas such as healthcare and education through informed engagement with contemporary debates

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. be able to place descriptive material within a conceptual and theoretical context and to move from the concrete to the abstract and vice versa.
• 4. be able to assimilate and analyse a wide range of disparate data including media reports web-based material and governmental publications.
• 5. be able to engage critically with material and to offer a degree of academic impartiality on a subject many feel strongly about.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. be able to summarise demanding material and construct measured arguments through tutorials and essays.
• 7. be able to reflect critically on key topics in an examination environment

Syllabus plan

Although the exact content will vary year to year, the following topics will be covered on the course:

• Introduction: Parliament and Beyond
• Locating Power
• Pressure Group Activity
• Ableism and Housing   
• Devolution
• Women and Employment
• The Global Context
• BAME Students and Education
• Heteronormativity and the Law
• LGBTQI+ and Healthcare
• Conclusion

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Coxall, W. N. (2014). Pressure groups in British politics. Routledge.
• Deckman, M. M., & Swers, M. L. (2019). Women and politics: Paths to power and political influence. Rowman & Littlefield.
• Goodley, D. (2014). Dis/ability studies: Theorising disablism and ableism. Routledge.
• Grant, W. (1989). Pressure groups, politics and democracy in Britain. London: Philip Allan.
• Johnson, R., Rocheleau, A. M., & Martin, A. B. (2016). Hard time: A fresh look at understanding and reforming the prison. John Wiley & Sons.
• Jones, B., & Norton, P. (2018). Politics UK. Routledge
• Loury, G. C., Modood, T., & Teles, S. M. (Eds.). (2005). Ethnicity, social mobility, and public policy: Comparing the USA and UK. Cambridge University Press.
• Moran, M. (2015). Politics and Governance in the UK. Macmillan International Higher Education.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Key words search

UK Politics – Identity – Inequality – Power – Pressure Groups