POLb1146 Britain, Brexit and the Future of British Politics and Policy

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Ray Raymond, Ph.D. (lecturer), doc. Mgr. Michal Pink, Ph.D. (deputy)
doc. Mgr. Michal Pink, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Šárka Pittnerová (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Michal Pink, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Supplier department: Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of the British political system
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 38 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
Analyze the Brexit phenomenon, its causes and consequences for British electoral politics, British political institutions as well as British foreign and defense policy. The course will also examine the state of British politics with a general election.
Learning outcomes
Students better understand why: - Brexit happened including an in-depth look at the 2016 referendum itself; - The negotiations between the UK and the EU; - The way in which Brexit has endangered the structural integrity of the United Kingdom and the ethical standard of British politics and governance; and, - A critical look at “Global Britain,” the foreign and defense policy launched by the Conservative government post-Brexit
Syllabus
  • 1. Brief overview: British Political Institutions before Brexit 2. Brexit: What it is and why it happened 3. The long term causes. What creates the political climate that made this rebellion possible? 4. The relationship between Britain and Europe since 1945 5. The diplomatic negotiations to withdraw and the agreement 6. Consequences for the UK constitution, parliament and parliamentary sovereignty 7. Consequences: Scotland 8. Consequences: Northern Ireland 9. Consequences: Political culture, elections and political participation 10. Consequences: British foreign policy and “Global Britain” 11. Consequences: British security policy: Cooperation with Europe? 12. And in the end…The futurre of UK – EU relations
Literature
    required literature
  • Professor Catherine Barnard, Factsheet, The EU Withdrawal Bill, The UK in a Changing Europe, Explainer, 19 September 2017.
  • Glencross, Andrew. 2016. Why the UK Voted for Brexit: David Cameron’s Great Miscalculation Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan
  • Matt Bevington, “What does the Brexit Deal Mean”? The UK In a Changing Europe, Explainer, 20 January 2021
Teaching methods
Lectures, working groups, individual written preparations.
Assessment methods
There were will be three essays each inviting you to answer a question I will set. Please don’t regurgitate the readings or my lectures. Think for yourself: marshall the information from these and outside sources to form a clear cogent argument. Originality is always warmly welcome. These are short evidence based analytical essays. First, think through what you want to say; that is your thesis. Second, marshal the evidence to support your thesis and reach a conclusion. In your professional lives, writing short analytical papers like this will be a daily task. The first essay will be worth 20 points and should be approximately 500 words long. The second essay will be worth 40 points and should be approximately 1,000 words. The final essay, also work 40 points, should also be approximately 1,000 words. A: 90-100 B: 80-89 C: 70-79 D: 60-69 E: 50-59 F: 0-49
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2022, Spring 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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