British Capitalism and its Discontents ESH4092

  • Academic Session: 2025-26
  • School: School of Social and Political Sciences
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

British capitalism faces a series of contemporary challenges: vast regional and income inequalities; the future of the Union and Brexit; concentration of power and wealth around the City of London; an economy dominated by financial and often foreign-owned interests; vulnerability to international economic shocks; and the legacies of empire. This course explores the long-term foundations and current dynamics that have shaped Britain's economic model and debates around its past, present and future.

Timetable

Weekly over ten weeks: one hour lecture and one hour seminar. 

Requirements of Entry

Enrolment in an MA (SocSci) or MA (Arts) Honours Programme.

Excluded Courses

N/A

Co-requisites

N/A

Assessment

Assessment 1: Blog post (1,500 words) (40%).

 

Assessment 2: Essay (3,500 words) (60%).

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? No

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below.

Course Aims

To provide students with a strong grasp of Britain's contemporary economic challenges and possible solutions to them.

 

To familiarise students with the historical foundations of Britain's contemporary economic challenges.

 

To challenge students to write assessments which address Britain's contemporary economic challenges using primary and secondary sources and in formats suitable for academic and general audiences.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

 

Explain the key economic challenges Britain currently faces.

 

Discuss the historical foundations of Britain's economic challenges.

 

Assess contemporary and historical primary sources.

 

Analyse the key debates on the character of British capitalism.

 

Develop an awareness of possible policy solutions to Britain's economic challenges.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.