PO3BFD: British Foreign and Defence Policy since 1945

Module code: PO3BFD

Module provider: Politics; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Kenton White, email: kenton.white@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 2 October 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The purpose of this module is to encourage students to critically evaluate Britain's post-war foreign and defence policy. This module is broken up into two areas. The first will look at the theory and practice of how foreign and defence policy is made. The second part will address what the policies have been and why, and what the current policies look like. The course will examine the end of the British Empire, the development of the Commonwealth, the nature of Britain’s relationship with the US and Britain’s sometimes ‘awkward’ relationship with European states and the EU. The course then critically examines a series of major post-war challenges – the Suez crisis, the Falklands War, economic and ‘soft power’, Britain’s retention of nuclear weapons, the impact of different governments on British foreign policy including the conflict in Afghanistan, Iraq and Ukraine. The course concludes with an exercise assessing the UK's place in the world today and strategy for the future. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Identify and explain the main features of British Foreign and Defence Policy;
2. Critically appraise contrasting interpretations of Britain's role in the world;
3. Use academic research methods to gather data on policy creation and implementation;
4. Organise material and articulate arguments effectively orally and in writing.

Module content

The module covers topics relating to various aspects of UK foreign and defence policy in post-war era, including military engagements such as the Falklands War, uses of soft, hard and 'smart' power, and key relationships ranging from the UK/US ‘Special relationship’ to the Government’s relationship with the media, nuclear weapons and key strategic partners. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module is taught via 10 weekly lectures and seminars. The classes require substantial preparatory reading and frequent contributions to discussion by all students. There is also a requirement for engagement with primary sources.

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Seminar discussions, group working and set tasks. 

Reassessment

Additional costs