This free course provides an accessible and lively social science account of contemporary Wales. It introduces key aspects of the economy, society, politics and culture of Wales, providing a wealth of up-to-date evidence that is organised around core social science concepts and theories, to help you make sense of a changing nation.
Overview
Syllabus
- Introduction
- Learning outcomes
- 1 Rugby – an introduction to contemporary Wales
- 1 Rugby – an introduction to contemporary Wales
- 1.1 Difference
- 1.1.1 Place
- 1.1.2 Work
- 1.1.3 Gender and ‘race’
- 1.1.4 Class
- 1.2 Audio activities
- 1.3 Conclusion
- 2 Place and belonging
- 2 Place and belonging
- 2.1 The regions of Wales
- 2.1.1 One Wales or many?
- 2.1.2 Regional differentiation in Wales
- 2.1.3 Perceptions of regional differences in ‘Welsh character’
- 2.2 Conclusion
- 3 Work
- 3 Work
- 3.1 Economy and work in contemporary Wales
- 3.2 Work, worklessness and poverty
- 3.3 Conclusion
- 4 Gender and ‘race’
- 4 Gender and ‘race’
- 4.1 Thinking about ‘race’ and Wales
- 4.2 Thinking about gender and Wales
- 4.3 Conclusion
- 5 Class
- 5 Class
- 5.1 Conceptions of class in Wales
- 5.1.1 Class as organisation and conflict
- 5.1.2 Classlessness
- 5.1.3 White settlers
- 5.1.4 The ‘Taffia’
- 5.2 Conclusion
- 5.3 Audio activities
- 6 Nationalism and the Welsh language
- 6 Nationalism and the Welsh language
- 6.1 Language and identity
- 6.1.1 Language and personal identity
- 6.1.2 Language and national identity
- 6.1.3 The Welsh language and political nationalism
- 6.2 Welsh language and nationalism
- 6.2.1 Welsh language activism
- 6.2.2 The Welsh language and Welsh institutions
- 6.3 Nationalism
- 6.3.1 Varieties of nationalism
- 6.3.2 The nature of Welsh nationalism
- 6.3.3 Nationalism under devolution
- 6.4 Conclusion
- 7 Labour traditions
- 7 Labour traditions
- 7.1 Labour’s ‘Welsh’ values (Andrew Edwards)
- 7.1.1 Labour values and Welsh values
- 7.1.2 The Labour tradition in the 1980s and 1990s
- 7.2 Labour and devolution
- 7.2.1 The Labour tradition and devolution
- 7.2.2 The Labour tradition in twenty-first century Wales
- 7.3 Conclusion
- 8 Political representation
- 8 Political representation
- 8.1 A history of political representation in Wales
- 8.1.1 Political representation in pre-devolution Wales
- 8.1.2 Contesting political representation in Wales
- 8.1.3 New Labour and the Welsh devolution settlement
- 8.2 Broadening engagement and participation in Welsh politics
- 8.2.1 Defining civil society
- 8.2.2 Inclusive politics through a vibrant civil society
- 8.2.3 New opportunities for civil society participation post-2006?
- 8.3 Conclusion
- 9 Cultural representation
- 9 Cultural representation
- 9.1 Cinema and Wales
- 9.1.1 Wales at the Oscars
- 9.1.2 A Welsh film revival?
- 9.1.3 A Way of Life and ‘new’ Welsh identities
- 9.2 Television ‘fictions’ and Wales
- 9.2.1 An S4C drama revival
- 9.2.2 Dr Who and Torchwood– BBC Cymru Wales and network success
- 9.2.3 Gavin and Stacey
- 9.3 Conclusion
- 10 Course conclusion
- 10 Course conclusion
- Keep on learning
- Glossary
- References
- Further reading
- Acknowledgements
