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| Unit name |
The Rise of New Labour |
| Unit code |
POLI31372 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
H/6
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
|
| Unit director |
Professor. Wickham-Jones |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department |
School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit is concerned with the nature of New Labour. The focus of the unit is upon the rise of New Labour in British politics since 1983. The unit will look briefly at theoretical debates about the nature of New Labour before looking in detail at the transition in the party during the 1980s under the leadership of Neil Kinnock in terms of the its objectives, organisation, and electoral strategy. The unit will look at Blair's leadership of the party in opposition between 1994 and 1997 before concluding with an account of New Labour's performance in office since 1997. This conclusion will discuss the Blair administration's economic policy, its approach to welfare and the overall framework within which it has governed.
Aims:
- To outline the trajectory taken by the British Labour Party since 1983 and to examine its potential, objectives, electoral strategy and organisation.
- To examine the party’s recovery in this period.
- To assess theories about the nature of ‘New’ Labour.
- To detail New Labour’s transition from opposition to office.
- To analyse the policies implemented by New Labour in government since 1997.
Intended Learning Outcomes
- An understanding of debates about the nature of ‘New’ Labour.
- An awareness of developments in the politics of New Labour and an ability to assess those developments in a critical and evaluative fashion.
- An ability to give oral presentations
- An ability to write clearly and analytically, making use of the relevant material for the issue under consideration
- An awareness of the variety of source material available on Labour party issues
- An ability to assess particular forms of primary source material.
Teaching Information
Option 1 – A 1hr lecture and 2 hour seminar
Option 2 – A 3 hr seminar
Assessment Information
Unseen exam 100%
Reading and References
- Steven Fielding, The Labour Party Continuity and Change in the Making of New Labour (Palgrave),
- Andrew Chadwick and Richard Heffernan, The New Labour Reader (Polity)
- Stephen Driver and Luke Martell, Blair’s Britain (Polity)
- Steve Ludlam and Martin J. Smith (eds), New Labour in Government
- David Coates and Peter Lawler (eds), New Labour into Power
- Anthony Seldon (ed.), The Blair Effect
