Module manager: Dr Richard Hayton
Email: R.Hayton@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
None
This module is approved as a discovery module
This module explores the politics of national identity in the United Kingdom. In so doing it encourages students to think theoretically and critically about how questions of national identity interact with other issues of governance, party politics and public policy. In part the module does this through an interrogation of constitutional debates about the future of the United Kingdom, notably the relationship between the constituent nations within it but also important questions of regional identity and governance. The module also explores the party-political dimension, namely how the politics of national identity impacts upon political ideologies and party strategies, and also the politics of issues such as immigration. Finally, the module asks whether, in the light of this rich investigation, the United Kingdom has a future and how the politics of identity will play out over the coming decade.
The aims of the module are:
To introduce students to the politics of national identity debate in the United Kingdom.
To explore in depth key aspects of this debate, for example in relation to party politics, multiculturalism, and constitutional reform.
To apply and critically engage with relevant theoretical perspectives.
To enable students to develop an ability to critically analyse ideas through reading and analysing both primary texts and secondary sources.
Strengthen students’ analytical, research, and communication skills for studying and interpreting contemporary British politics.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1.Analyse and explain the politics of national identity in the United Kingdom, demonstrating in-depth knowledge of historical and contemporary dimensions.
2.Critically evaluate relevant theoretical literature and apply theoretical frameworks to empirical examples effectively.
3. Identify, synthesise, and appraise a range of scholarly literature on the politics of national identity in the UK, demonstrating command of key academic debates.
4.Critically analyse and interpret developments in contemporary British politics in relation to national identity, assessing their implications for political discourse and policy.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1.Identify and retrieve relevant academic and policy sources using digital databases and online platforms.
2. Communicate complex information, ideas, and solutions clearly and effectively in written format.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Private study hours | 180 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students are asked to read key articles and chapters listed in the module reading list in preparation for seminar discussions and their essays.
Students will be provided with power point slides in advance of lectures, and will also be provided with seminar preparation questions to guide their reading.
Students will have the opportunity to receive feedback on an essay plan and discuss this with their seminar tutor in preparation for written assessments.
A formal formative assessment opportunity will be provided for the summative assessment task, which is specifically pedagogically aligned to that task. As part of this, each student will receive feedback designed to support the development of knowledge and skills that will be later assessed in the summative task.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | - | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team