Module HIST3293: POLITICS AND WELFARE: ENGLAND, 1880-1914

Department: History

HIST3293: POLITICS AND WELFARE: ENGLAND, 1880-1914

Prerequisites

• A pass in at least TWO level two modules in History.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To give students an advance understanding of the connections between political and social history in the creation of the New Liberal 'welfare state'.
• To give students a detailed understanding of the policy-making process in a democracy, including the contributions of politicians, civil servants, employers and trade unionists.
• To develop the skills necessary for critical analysis and evaluation of a wide range of primary sources including social and medical investigations, journalistic writings, speeches, party propaganda, and government and civil service documents.
• To advance understanding of the relationship between contemporary sources and subsequent historical interpretation.

Content

• This special subject will examine:
• The changing meanings of the term 'welfare state' from the 1880s to the present day.
• The operation of the late Victorian and Edwardian political system.
• The wider political and social significance of the conflict between free traders and protectionists.
• The character and strategies of the Liberal, Conservative and Labour parties.
• The ideologies of 'New Liberalism' and 'British socialism'.
• The origins of, and reactions to, the New Liberal welfare reforms, with particular emphasis on pensions and health and unemployment insurance.
• The validity of the celebrated 'Dangerfield thesis' - the idea that there was a fundamental change in the political culture of Edwardian England.

Learning Outcomes

• At the end of the module students should have:
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of the origins of the New Liberal governments' unprecedented programme of welfare reforms.
• A broader understanding of the political and social factors shaping the public policy-making process in a democracy, and the character of its 'welfare state'.

• Subject specific skills for this module can be viewed at: http://www.dur.ac.uk/History/ugrads/ModuleProformaMap/

• Key skills for this module can be viewed at: http://www.dur.ac.uk/History/ugrads/ModuleProformaMap/

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Student learning is facilitated by a combination of:
• seminars to allow students to present and critically reflect upon the acquired subject-specific knowledge, methodologies and theories, and to identify and debate a range of issues and differing opinions. The seminar is the forum in which students are given the opportunity to communicate ideas, jointly exploring themes and arguments. Seminars are structured to develop understanding and designed to maximise student participation related to prior independent preparation. Seminars give students the opportunity to develop oral communication skills, encourage critical and tolerant approaches to reasoned argument and historical discussion, build the students' ability to marshal historical evidence, and facilitate the development of the ability to summarise historical arguments, think in a rapidly changing environment and communicate in a persuasive and articulate manner, whilst recognising the value of working with others and, occasionally, towards shared goals;
• tutorials either individually or in groups to discuss topics arising from prepared work, allowing students the opportunity to reflect upon their personal learning with the tutor.
• Assessment:
• Unseen Examinations test students' ability to work under pressure under timed conditions, to prepare for examinations and direct their own programme of revision and learning, and develop key time management skills. The unseen examination gives students the opportunity to develop relevant life skills such as the ability to produce coherent, reasoned and supported arguments under pressure. Students will be examined on subject specific knowledge;
• Summative essays remain a central component of assessment in history, due to the integrative high-order skills they develop. Essays allow students the opportunity to recognise, represent and critically reflect upon ideas, concepts and problems; students can demonstrate awareness of, and the ability to use and evaluate, a diverse range of resources and identify, represent and debate a range of subject-specific issues and opinions. Through the essay, students can synthesise information, adopt critical appraisals and develop reasoned argument based on individual research; they should be able to communicate ideas in writing, with clarity and coherence; and to show the ability to integrate and critically assess material from a wide range of sources;
• Assessment of Primary Source Handling Students are assessed on their understanding of original primary sources, usually in print, their character varying according to the nature of the subject, and the students' ability to bring that knowledge to bear on research-based monographs and articles. Students are given the opportunity to discuss and articulate an understanding of changing interpretations and approaches to historical problems, drawing evidence from a body of primary source materials. Students are required to demonstrate skills associated with the evaluation of a variety of primary source materials, using documentary analysis for a critical assessment of existing historical interpretations.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

One formative essay of not more than 2500 words (not including footnotes and bibliography), submitted in Term 1. This will be returned with written comments and a standard departmental feedback sheet. Coursework essays are formative as well as summative. They are to be submitted in two copies, of which one will be returned with written comments and a standard departmental feedback sheet. Preparation to participate in seminars and tutorials. At least one oral presentation in each term, and at least two practice gobbets in each term.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University