79-351 Understanding Contemporary Britain: Culture, Politics and Society

6 units, Carnegie Mellon University

This class introduces students to the main strands of British public life since 1979; Thatcherism, the "Troubles" in Northern Ireland, the growing multiculturalism of the post-imperial era, the changing politics of the Labour Party, economic austerity, and the roots of Brexit. The class will examine how these large-scale political developments manifested themselves in British popular culture - from film to music to sport - and will also survey the electoral landscape of contemporary Britain, from the dominance of the Labour and Conservative parties, to the role played by parties of the far-left and far-right, and the emergence of separatist parties in Scotland and Wales. [Note: students who have already taken this course under this number, 79-351, with its former title, The Roots of Brexit: Identity, Politics, and Culture in Contemporary Britain, may not enroll.]

Prerequisites: none listed

Offered: Fall 2026

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