HIB047nII A History of Modern Britain II

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2020
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Vladimír Černý, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Vladimír Černý, Ph.D.
Department of History – Faculty of Arts
Supplier department: Department of History – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Tue 16:00–17:40 B2.22
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! HIB0505II A History of Modern Britain II
Předmět je otevřen studentům bez omezení. Zapsat si jej nemohou pouze ti studenti, kteří již předmět absolvovali v jarním semestru 2019 pod starým kódem HIB0505II.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 13 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course will focus on the political, economic, social and cultural transformations of Great Britain in the period from the First World War to the end of the Cameron coalition government in 2015. Attention will also be paid to the interpretation of British foreign policy and processes leading to the demise of the British Empire.
Learning outcomes
Students having successfully completed this course will be expected to have attained a more significantly detailed knowledge of 20th century British history. They will also gain the opportunity to practise working with foreign literature and to improve their presentation skills during the preparation and presentation of their paper.
Syllabus
  • 1. United Kingdom during the First World War; the main battlefields and the situation at the fronts.
  • 2. The consequences of the world conflict and the loss of the position of the first world power.
  • 3. The British empire in the 1920s and 1930s; mandate territories, imperial conferences and the 1931 Statute of Westminster.
  • 4. Appeasement - a political necessity or a sign of weakness?
  • 5. Great Britain during the Second World War; the development of military operations and relations with the Allies.
  • 6. Postwar Britain under Labor and Conservatives in 1945-1955.
  • 7. Suez Crisis in 1956 - a definitive retreat from glory?
  • 8. Transformation of British society in the 1940s - 1960s.
  • 9. The process of decolonization and the role of the Commonwealth.
  • 10. The Troubles – Northern Ireland conflict and its political and social implications.
  • 11. British attitudes towards European integration.
  • 12. Margaret Thatcher's politics and the Falklands War.
  • 13. The United Kingdom at the turn of the millennium: Devolution, Brexit and uncertain prospects.
Literature
    required literature
  • WRIGLEY, Chris: A Companion to Early Twentieth-Century Britain. Malden – Oxford 2003.
  • ADDISON, Paul – JONES, Harriet: A Companion to Contemporary Britain 1939-2000. Malden – Oxford 2005.
  • FAJMON, Hynek. Margaret Thatcherová a její politika. 2., rozš. vyd. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2010, 391 s. ISBN 9788073252175. info
  • JUDD, Denis. Impérium : britská imperiální zkušenost od roku 1765 do současnosti. Translated by Zdeněk Hron. 1. vyd. Praha: BB art, 1999, 507 s. ISBN 8072570463. info
    recommended literature
  • CHILDS, David: Britain since 1945. A Political History. London – New York 2006.
  • SUTTIE, Andrew: Rewriting the First World War. Lloyd George, Politics and Strategy 1914-18. Basingstoke – New York 2005.
  • JACKSON, Ashley: The British Empire and the Second World War. London 2006.
  • GOWLAND, David, Arthur TURNER and Alex WRIGHT. Britain and European integration since 1945 : on the sidelines. New York: Routledge, 2009, x, 301. ISBN 9780203299906. info
  • Devolution in the United Kingdom. Edited by Russell Deacon - Alan Sandry. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2007, x, 212 p. ISBN 0748624163. info
Teaching methods
The course is carried out in form of seminars. Regular attendance is required. In the framework of seminar sessions, students will also have to work with related archive materials and discuss their essays.
Assessment methods
The classification will evaluate attendance which will be proved by signatures on the attendance lists. The students will also have to write an seminar essay on one of the set topics. The final exam will be in the form of a written test examining the student's elementary knowledge of the subject.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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