BRITISH SOCIETY & INSTITUTIONS:

A PANORAMA OF MODERN BRITAIN

L1Anglaiss2 – UE Civilisationbritanniqueetaméricaine

MsPELLEGRY
florence.pellegry@univ-reunion.fr
 A few words of introduction...

To give you a general overview of the social,

economic and political peculiarities inherent
to the United Kingdom and its population.

Focusing on its recent history (from 1837 onwards)

Focusing on its institutions and political system

10 h - Main lecture (Ms Pellegry)

+ 10h – Tutorials (Mr Kehoe)
Why 1837?

1837: Beginning of the Victorian Era

Victorian era considered as marking the beginning of modern times

Let’s test your knowledge of
Kings and Queens of the
United Kingdom !
Queen Victoria

1837-1901
King Edward
VII

1901-1910
King George V

1910-1936
King Edward VIII

1936
King George VI

1936-1952
Queen Elizabeth II

1952 - today
Course outline
1. BRITISH SOCIETY
 
A. Language, culture and ethnicity
B. Economic profile
C. Inequalities
D. Education
E. Religion
F. Population
G. The press
Course outline
2. BRITISH POLITICS & INSTITUTIONS
 
A. The British Constitution
B. Institutions
C. The Monarchy
D. The Government – The Executive
E. The Parliament – The Legislative
F. The Judiciary
G. Political parties & elections
H. Britain in Europe and overseas
 Course assessment

1 end of term written exam (1 hour ) - 75% of the mark

1 MCQ test on Moodle – 25% of the final mark
Tips for working on the course
Attend all classes and re-read your notes before each
class

 Moodle group:
L1S2 Civilisation britannique LLCER Monde
Anglophone

Books available in your library

Grellet Françoise, A Cultural Guide, Nathan, 2007
Lurbe P., Civilisation Britannique, 2001, Paris, Hachette
Introduction
Four nations in one

 THE BRITISH ISLES

GREAT BRITAIN

THE UNITED KINGDOM

 
THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (IRELAND, OR EIRE))
 
IRELAND
 
THE ISLE OF MAN (in the Irish sea) AND THE CHANNEL ISLANDS
 The United Kingdom

A unitary but multinational state

 Some key figures

 243,000 sq km (v. France = around 675,000 sq km)

66.65 million inhabitants(2019)

about 275 people per square kilometre (2019)

1. BRITISH SOCIETY
A / LANGUAGE, CULTURE
& ETHNICITY
 A land of immigration

https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/windrush-histories/story-of-windrush-ship
 HMT Empire Windrush

https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/windrush-histories/story-of-windrush-ship
A multicultural society

Distinct cultural or ethnic identities

I) The Four Lands
ENGLAND
 WALES (CYMRU IN WELSH)

1282:Wales was conquered by the English

Strong Celtic heritage

Welsh Language Act of 1993

 SCOTLAND

1603: England and Scotland united under

the same Monarch (King James I)

1707: Great Britain was created by the Act of Union

Creation of the Parliament of Great Britain

English, Scots, and Scottish Gaelic

 IRELAND

 a Celtic land

‘Plantation period’

1801: Act of Union between Great Britain

and Ireland
‘United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland’
1919

1921: Partition
 British regional differences

Devolution of Power.

1998: Good Friday Agreement.

1998: Devolution granted to Scotland, Wales.

2014: Scottish referendum for independence.