British Politics and institutions

Knowledge

Having completed this course, students will:

• know the basic features of the main political institutions in the UK
• have insight in the history and current outlook of Britain’s main political parties
• have knowledge of the British electoral system and its consequences for political representation
• identify the characteristics of Britain as a ‘union state’
• know the key aspects of Britain’s relationship to Europe and the European Union
• have a general understanding of British foreign policy, its history and current debates

Skills

Having completed this course, students will be able to:

• apply concepts and theory to understand the working of British politics
• identify what makes the electoral system in Britain different from proportional representation
• critically reflect upon the institutions that uphold the British union, including their democratic legitimacy
• discuss the background and consequences of the Brexit referendum in 2016
• compare institutions and political actors in Britain to those of other countries
• discuss key aspects and controversies related to British foreign policy

Competences

Having completed this course, students will:

• be able to apply and assess key theories and concepts to analyse a political system
• be aware of different interpretations of political actors and events
• be critical thinkers and producers of academic texts

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Lectures.

Compulsory activities:

• Hand in a seminar paper on a specified topic related to the first six lectures.

Access to teaching:

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, and does not have to in order to retake the exam. If a student have only partially approved compulsory activities, they must complete those again to take a new exam, along with any other compulsory activities they haven't yet passed. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.

Four hour school exam.

You must have passed the compulsory activities in order to sit the exam.

Previous exams and guidelines.

• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Resitting an examination