POL231   Never Mind the Ballots! State and Society in the UK Today   (20 credits)

Description

This module explores changing state-society relationships across the UK, and their impact on government institutions. Traditionally, the British state has been viewed through the lens of the Westminster Model, which is top-down, power-hoarding, adversarial, exclusive, and with little emphasis on public participation. Yet changes to the fabric of the state through processes such as Europeanisation, devolution and the transformation of the public sector have challenged these assumptions. This module therefore considers where power resides within the state; how citizens interact with the state; and how the contemporary state should be understood in terms of accountability, legitimacy and governability.

Reading List