Culture of the British Commonwealth 1.S3.EP.ECS.6
Course objectives
The objective of the course is to survey the historical evolution and current state of the Commonwealth. To consider the symbols of the association, its political consultations and values, shared official agencies, and to look at aspects of the 'People's Commonwealth' and the critical relationship between the governmental, voluntary and business sectors.
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Course Content
1. What is the Commonwealth?
2. Historical perspectives – origins, meanings, Dominions, Republics and the Secretariat.
3. Britain, Brexit and the EU.
4. Decolonization – Rhodesia and crisis 1960s, Apartheid and crisis 1980s.
5. Symbolic Commonwealth – the head, the logo, the venue, the argot.
6. Political Commonwealth – membership, Chogms, ethos, values, globalization, smaller states and regionalism.
7. Official Commonwealth – the secretariat, foundation, learning.
8. People’s Commonwealth – professional associations, philanthropy, education and culture, sport and the commonwealth games, public-private business partnerships.
9. Africa and the Commonwealth.
10. The nations of North America and the Caribbean.
11. The nations of Australasia.
12. India and Pakistan.
13. Literature of the Commonwealth.
14. The Commonwealth on film.
15. The crisis of human rights and democracy.
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Methods of instruction/ forms of classroom activity:
multimedia presentations, group discussion, pair-work activities, individual reflective activities, thinking routines, reading comprehension, research tasks, ICT tools - MS Teams
Field of study
Student workload
Study level
Education profile
Type of course
The semester in which the subject is carried out
Mode
Requirements
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Knowledge
1. The student knows geographical, historical and political facts referring to the English-speaking countries related to The Commonwealth (k_W06/P6S_WG)
2. The student knows the principles of the functioning of cultural institutions in The Commonwealth and related to the scope of English philology (k_W09/P6S_WK)
Skills
3. The student is able to create and read English-language texts and prepare elaborate presentations relating to English studies, and the study of the Culture of the Commonwealth, using formal sources (k_U04/P6S_UK)
4. The student is able to take up individual and group activities aimed at developing language skills and study techniques to ensure success in learning (k_U08/P6S_UO)
Social Competences
5. The student is ready to accept linguistic and cultural differences and recognize them as natural vocational factors (k_K03/P6S_KO)
Assessment criteria
Forms of evaluation of learning outcomes:
1. Active participation in class activities 40% (outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
2. Writing an inquiry-based essay 30% (outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4)
3. Delivering a presentation to the class 30% (outcomes 1, 2, 3)
Criteria of evaluation:
60% = 3
80% = 4
100% = 5
Bibliography
Reading list:
A Guide to the Contemporary Commonwealth W. David McIntyre
The Empire’s New Clothes: The Myth of the Commonwealth Phillip Murphy
Shadows of Empire: The Anglosphere in British Politics Michael Kenney and Nick Pearce
The Rise and Fall of the British Nation: A Twentieth Century History David Edgerton
Commonwealth: Inter and Non-state Contributions to Global Governance (Global Institutions) Timothy M. Shaw
The Commonwealth Website: http://thecommonwealth.org/
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: