Labour unions in the 21st century: relevant or a thing of the past?

Explore the evolving role of labour unions in modern society, examining their relevance and impact in the 21st century.
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  • Start Date: 14 May 2025
    End Date: 04 Jun 2025
    Wed (Evening): 18:30 - 20:30
    Online
    Location: Online
    Duration: 4 sessions (over -4 weeks)
    Course Code: HPC211
    Tutors:  Caglar Ezikoglu
    Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £119.00
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In stock
SKU
231623
Full fee £119.00 Senior fee £119.00 Concession £119.00

What is the course about?

This course investigates the role and relevance of labour unions in the contemporary workplace, analysing their impact on workers' rights and industry standards.

What will we cover?

• History and evolution of labour unions
• Current trends and challenges
• Case studies of significant labour movements
• Legal frameworks and policies
• The future of labour unions in a globalized economy.

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

• Understand the historical context and development of labour unions
• Analyse the effectiveness of modern labour unions
• Evaluate the impact of labour unions on workplace practices and policies
• Discuss the potential future of labour unions in a global economy.

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

This is an introductory course suitable for all levels. No specific prior knowledge or skills are required, though a general interest in labour issues and social justice will be beneficial.

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

The course will be taught through a combination of lectures, discussions, and case studies. Students will be expected to complete course readings and participate in group discussions but these are not obligatory. The most important issue is interactive lessons with in-class participation and you will be encouraged to share your thoughts and ideas during the course.

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

No additional costs, but you may wish to bring pen and paper or a digital equivalent for notetaking.

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

HPC213 Strikes in the 21st century: relevant or a thing of the past?
HPC214 Economic paradigms: are there alternatives to capitalism?
HPC212 Cities: local and global?
HPC215 Competitive cities in the Global Political Economy
HPC216 Cities and waste in the global economy
HPC217 Corruption and colonialism: how the past affects the present.

Caglar Ezikoglu

Dr. Çaglar Ezikoglu is an expert in international politics, Middle East and Turkish politics and political economy, with an MA from in European politics from the University of Sussex and a PhD in International Politics from Aberystwyth University in 2019. Widely published, he’s presented at numerous conferences around the world in the study of international politics. He currently teaches at the University of Birmingham in the Department of Political Science and International Studies and he has taught at the university level in the UK and Turkey. He has been teaching courses in political science, international relations, economics, history and sociology. He has been nominated for the Political Studies Association Sir Bernard Crick Teaching Prize and British International Studies Association Early Career Excellence Teaching Prize in 2024. He is the recipient of the competitive UK Global Talent Visa. At City Lit, Çaglar will teach politics courses, exploring the politics of cities, unions and strikes in the 21st century, Turkey, the Middle East and global political economy.

Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.