From barons to ballots: the history of English democracy

What is the course about?

The course traces the history of the fledgling English democracy, from Magna Charta and Simon de Montfort, the Tudors’ attempts to turn back the clock and centralise power in an absolutist revival.

We continue our survey by casting light on events in the 17th century that witnessed a confrontation between Charles I. and a parliament that sought to establish its constitutional role by defining and curtailing the authority of the monarch. We discuss the relevance of the Glorious Revolution for the continuation of our story which leads us to the 18th century that witnesses an incremental shift of political decision making from the Monarch to the Prime Minister.

The reform acts of the 19th century are the backdrop to fascinating stories about rigged elections, rotten boroughs and the Chartist movement. We give credit to Benjamin Disraeli’s pro-democratic stance and his advocacy of Tory Democracy, which makes the British Conservatives distinct from their ideological peers on the continent. No account of the history of democracy would be complete without vivid reports about the campaign for women’s votes led by the Suffragettes who  feature prominently in our timeline. So does the abolition of the Lords' veto in the aftermath of the people's budget.

Developments in the 20th and 21st century will culminate in an analysis of the current political system and institutions that shape our understanding of democracy. We assess the strengths and weaknesses of parliament, the political executive, the monarchy, the supreme court as well as the media and evaluate if structures and procedures are fit for purpose and meet demands and expectations of modern democratic practice.

What will we cover?

•    What happened in Runnymede and who is Simon de Montfort? Tracing the origins of English democracy

•    Convention, precedent and common law: Why our democratic process needs “good chaps”

•    By the grace of God: Questions of legitimacy and the Monarchy’s changing role

•    Being Prime Minister: An impossible job?

•    Parliamentary sovereignty: Myth and reality of a cherished principle

•    More than backwoodsmen and cronies? The role of the Lords as a revising chamber

•    Reform on the horizon: Discussing the future of democracy in the UK

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

•    Account for the strengths and weaknesses of a non-codified constitution

•    Appreciate the origins and turning points of British democratic history

•    Assess the impact of societal change on constitutional practice

•    Evaluate where the power lies in Whitehall and Westminster

•    Discuss constructively the case for reform of the British democratic system

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

While some background knowledge about modern British history and current affairs may be useful, it is not a requirement. There will be core readings provided to students before lessons so that everyone can get familiarised with the themes/issues to be explored and discussed during each session. As with most of our history and current affairs courses, an open mind and a willingness to listen to and think about views with which you do not always agree are more important than specific levels of skills.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

A mixture of lectures/ short presentations by the tutor, Q&A, quizzes, pair/group work, and class discussions. A comprehensive bibliography will be given at the beginning of the course. Also, (brief) reading materials will be made available on the google classroom site. Participants will be encouraged to prepare for lessons by reading short texts, watching documentaries/short videos, and/or listening to short podcasts about the evolution of and challenges to British democracy. Please note, as the course progresses, learners are invited to take a more active part by participating in class discussions.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

A list of further readings will be provided to participants. The list will include suggestions of books to purchase, as well as of free resources such as newspapers, podcasts, online articles, and videos. While you are not required to buy any of these, you may wish to purchase some books, subscribe to specialised magazines, or attend talks or webinars on the issues addressed in class in order to deepen and broaden the subject knowledge gained in this course. However, this is not a requirement.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

You can browse further Politics, Economics & Current Affairs Courses on our website.