POL13: British and European Politics

POL13 examines these questions through two modules, one on British Politics and one on The Politics of the European Union: the exam will be an undivided paper, so students can specialize in one module or study them in combination. The British Politics module explores politics in the UK since 1945, including the rise and fall of the post-war settlement, Thatcherism and New Labour, changes to the constitution and policymaking, and electoral behaviour up to the 2019 general election. The Politics of the European Union module examines key aspects of the process of European integration, such as the nature of the European Union, the distribution of power within (and political mobilisation against) the EU, monetary integration and its problems, EU enlargement, and the EU's role in international affairs. The paper will enable students to engage critically with the scholarly literature in these fields and to develop a comparative and historical perspective on British and European politics.

Selected readings:

• Tony Judt, Postwar: A History of Europe since 1945 (London: Pimlico, 2005)
• David Edgerton, The Rise and Fall of the British Nation: A Twentieth Century History (2018)
• Julie Smith, The UK’s Journeys In and Out of the EU: Destinations Unknown (London: Routledge, 2017)

Download the full paper guide (Download PDF)