Developments in British Politics: Institutions and Behaviour

Module title	Developments in British Politics: Institutions and Behaviour
Module code	POL3277
Academic year	2023/4
Credits	15
Module staff	Dr Hannah Bunting (Lecturer)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	0	11	0

Number students taking module (anticipated)	30

Module description

The British political landscape has rarely been this unpredictable. Since 2010, we have seen a coalition government, five Prime Ministers, two referendums, two snap general elections, financial crises, Brexit and COVID-19. This module situates these contemporary debates and developments within a longer term and institutional perspective. Drawing on both quantitative and qualitative evidence, we examine key questions on the past, present and future of British politics.

The module is recommended for students specialising in politics and those on interdisciplinary pathways that include politics (there are no pre- or co-requisites required).

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module provides students with high level knowledge about British politics and develops skills for analysing its political institutions, political behaviour and current affairs. Each week we will address a development in British politics -- such as devolution through the 2014 Scottish independence referendum or electoral reform through the introduction of voter ID laws -- situating it within the wider political context and challenging existing understandings.

Drawing on a mix of qualitative and quantitative evidence, this module looks at the week’s topic through four lenses: theory, institutions, politicians and public opinion. We take established political science concepts, frameworks and institutions and apply them to contemporary themes and challenges. You are given flexibility in your methodological and conceptual focus, and are encouraged to push the boundaries of current scholarship through critical engagement.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

1. demonstrate a critical understanding of key features of British (UK) political institutions, political behaviour and political themes and theory and evidence about them
2. identify and critique the most important challenges and opportunities in British politics today along with theory and evidence about them; and,
3. situate specific institutions, behaviours, challenges and opportunities in British politics within their political and contemporary historical context.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

4. apply abstract theories and concepts to empirical cases;
5. use logic and reasoning to evaluate arguments; and,
6. deploy a range of social research methods commonly used in the discipline of politics.

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

7. demonstrate ICT skills in accessing and using learning resources for the module;
8. work effectively in an organised manner individually as part of a team in seminars;
9. conduct research using a wide variety of sources; and,
10. communicate research findings clearly and concisely in the form of written reports.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover most or all of the following topics:

Models of British politics
The Parliament and representation
Elections, parties, voting, and the electoral system
The Scottish independence referendum 2014
The Brexit referendum 2016
Local government reform and democracy at different levels
Electoral reform
Democratic backsliding
Processes in British politics (ousting and instating a Prime Minister, maintaining Parliamentary sovereignty)

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	128	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Schedule Learning and Teaching Activity	22	11 x 2 hour seminars
Guided Independent Study	44	Seminar preparation
Guided Independent Study	84	Coursework including essay planning and writing

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay 1 plan	400 words	1-10	Written feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay 1	100	3000 words	1-10	Written feedback

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

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Essay 1	Essay 1 (3000 words) 100%	1-10	August/September re-assessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Readings include:

- John, P. 2022. British Politics: An Analytical Approach. OUP.

- Smith, M. J. 2015. From Consensus to Conflict: Thatcher and the Transformation of Politics. British Politics, 10(1), 64-78

- Pattie, C. and Johnston, R. 2017. Sticking to the Union? Nationalism, inequality and political disaffection and the geography of Scotland’s 2014 independence referendum. Regional & Federal Studies 27(1), 83-96

- Sobolewska, M. and Ford, R., 2020. Brexitland: Identity, diversity and the reshaping of British politics. Cambridge University Press

- Mellon, J. et al. 2018. Brexit or Corbyn? Campaign and Inter-Election Vote Switching in the 2017 UK General Election. Parliamentary Affairs 71(4), 719–737

- Walker, R. 2022. Boris Johnson: the moral case for government resignations in July 2022. British Politics

- Jeffery, D., Heppell, T. and Roe-Crines, A. 2022. The Conservative Party Leadership Election of 2019: An Analysis of the Voting Motivations of Conservative Parliamentarians. Parliamentary Affairs 75(1), 113–134

- James, T.S. and Clark, A., 2020. Electoral integrity, voter fraud and voter ID in polling stations: lessons from English local elections. Policy Studies 41(2-3), pp.190-209

- Dunleavy, P et al. (eds.) 2018. The UK's Changing Democracy: The 2018 Democratic Audit. LSE Press

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Key words search

British politics, comparative politics, political institutions, political behaviour, citizens, voters, parties, elections, parliament, executive politics

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
Module pre-requisites	none
Module co-requisites	none
NQF level (module)	6
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	28/01/2022
Last revision date	01/03/2023