The Gathering Storm? English Politics and Society 1924-51

This course looks at English social and political history in one of its most challenging periods, when the very nature of society at times seemed under threat in the wake of powerful forces, at home and abroad. We will explore those forces and their dynamic effects on contemporary Britain, from the rise and fall of the first Labour government, and the outbreak of a General Strike, to Churchill’s electoral defeat, and the creation of the Welfare State.

We will also discuss the critical role played by wider international affairs throughout the period, from the rise of Soviet power and the challenge of Fascism, to the perils of Appeasement, and the dark clouds of war – the second such conflict in a single generation. Throughout this course students will be actively encouraged to examine history through the eyes of those who experienced it, with the aid of a wide range of contemporary sources, both written and visual.