The main aim of this course is to give students a clearer understanding of some of the most important issues which have affected the United Kingdom since the Second World War.

During the last seventy years there have been many important changes in the character of British society and the way it works, but there is also considerable continuity, especially in some of the ideas and attitudes adopted by people in Britain. We will look at internal or “domestic” developments, but also at the main external challenges which Britain has faced throughout the world. Indeed, the international environment of which Britain is a part has changed radically since the end of the Second World War. Britain’s place within that evolving international system has interacted with domestic events and attitudes: it is important to try to understand the relationship between these two dimensions.

The lecture course (CM) will address the following broad areas: Britain at the end of the war; politics, society and culture; the end of empire; Europe; globalisation. The TD will be based on the study of the documents in this brochure, which contains both primary and secondary material.