HI180: Britain in the Twentieth Century: A Social History

This module explores the history of Britain in the twentieth century from a social history perspective. It pays special attention to the experiences and everyday lives of ‘the people’, rather than focusing on the actions of a powerful elite, and problematises some of the established narratives about modern Britain. It introduces historiographical, methodological, and political approaches associated with social history, such as ‘history from below’, labour history and the history of everyday life, critically examining them in light of feminist and postcolonial scholarship. It examines how race, gender, sexuality, and class united and divided ‘the British people’ and has shaped British identity. It considers the roles of social change, war, empire, culture, and politics in the construction of the nation, as well as the relationship between British identity and that of the four constituent nations of the United Kingdom. Throughout, we unpack some of the prevalent stories about modern Britain and conclude with examination of the roles of history and the heritage industry in the narration of the nation. Throughout the module, we will question what it means to be historians of Britain, asking everyone to reflect upon their own position as students living and studying in Britain – and how the past has shaped the world we live in today.

Aims and outcomes

Demonstrate a broad understanding of historical and theoretical interpretations of Britain in the twentieth century, particularly regarding ideas of nation, race, gender, sexuality, and class.
Identify key historiographical debates and contributions to interpretations of Britain in the twentieth century.
Identify and engage with key primary sources in British history, having gained experience of reading such documents for the meanings and evidence that they contain.
Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills through the delivery of a presentation.
Devise well-defined essay topics, construct bibliographies, collect relevant data from a variety of sources and present results in an effective fashion.

Indicative readings

P. F. Clarke, Hope and Glory: Britain, 1900-1990 (London, 1997).
Kenneth O. Morgan, Twentieth-century Britain: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford, 2000).
Pat Thane, Divided Kingdom: A History of Britain, 1900 to the Present (Cambridge, 2018).