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School of Law, Politics and Sociology

Political Change: Contemporary France (L2157)

Political Change: Contemporary France

Module L2157

Module details for 2022/23.

30 credits

FHEQ Level 6

Module Outline

Political change, and how best to implement it, underpins French political history, and presents an ongoing challenge for successive presidents and governments in contemporary France. Paradoxically, while elections are typically won on a mandate for change, attempts to implement electoral promises are then frequently met with powerful resistance from the electorate and from groups representing vested interests. This creates a pattern wherein continuously alternating governments are unable to implement the fundamental reforms that are widely considered to be necessary, leading to a perennial problem of ‘immobilism’. This module explores the reasons for this situation, and seeks to identify why, and in what ways, some areas are more resistant to change than others.

Module learning outcomes

Demonstrate a systematic understanding of key aspects of the forces that favour or hinder political change in France

Critically evaluate relevant literature from both academic and non-academic sources

Devise and sustain arguments with reference to political change in France

Produce written work that critically analyses a topic in the politics of contemporary France and that observes appropriate scholarly conventions

TypeTimingWeighting
Coursework30.00%
Coursework components. Weighted as shown below.
EssayT1 Week 7 100.00%
Essay (4000 words)Semester 1 Assessment Week 1 Thu 16:0070.00%
Timing

Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.

Weighting

Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.

TermMethodDurationWeek pattern
Autumn SemesterLecture1 hour11111011111
Autumn SemesterSeminar2 hours11111011111

How to read the week pattern

The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.

Dr Susan Collard

Convenor, Assess convenor
/profiles/543

Prof Emily Robinson

Assess convenor
/profiles/314082

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