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Semester 2

The Politics of the End of Empire (PLIT10117)

Subject

Politics

College

CAHSS

Credits

20

Normal Year Taken

3

Delivery Session Year

2023/2024

Pre-requisites

Visiting students must have completed 4 Politics courses at grade B or above. We will only consider University/College level courses, and we cannot consider interdisciplinary courses or courses without sufficient Politics/Government/International Relations focus. **Please see Additional Restrictions below**

Course Summary

The British Empire was a significant phenomenon in contemporary history. The empire's dissolution, especially from 1945 onwards, shaped the modern world and its politics. This course explores the end of empire's consequences for British politics and the shape and form of post-colonial states. By exploring the political impact of decolonization students will see its influence on the former colonial powers and the empires' political legacy in the wider world.

Course Description

This course will give students an introduction to the political dimension of the ending of the British Empire and its impact on world politics. Brexit, race-relations, immigration, state-building and conflict have presented many political and international questions which have roots in empire. Students across disciplines are curious to know more about colonialism. This course would assess and analyse the UK's relations with its former colonies and give students a critical outline of recent political history regarding decolonization. It would provide an opportunity for students to see the political manifestations of British imperialism on contemporary politics and evaluate the legacy of Empire, particularly the British Empire, on the post-colonial world. While firmly based in the discipline of Politics there would be inter-disciplinary engagement with History within the course. **This seminar has two objectives: 1) Firstly for students to understand the political implications and contemporary history of the end of empire for post-war Britain; 2) Secondly by using examples from across the world to understand how the decolonization of the British Empire affected the post-colonial world politically.

Assessment Information

Written Exam 0%, Coursework 90%, Practical Exam 10%

Additional Restrictions

Unless you are nominated on a Politics exchange agreement, visiting students are only permitted to enrol in one Politics course each, per semester, before the start of the relevant semester’s welcome period – and spaces on each course are limited so cannot be guaranteed for any student. Enrolment in a second Politics course will depend on whether there are still spaces available in the January Welcome Period, and cannot be guaranteed. It is NOT appropriate for students to contact staff within this subject area to ask for an exception to be made; all enquiries to enrol in these courses must be made through the CAHSS Visiting Student Office. This is due to the limited number of spaces available in this very popular subject area.

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