Teaching

Undergraduate teaching

I currently offer 4 units at undergraduate level (see below for instructions on accessing these pages):

• Britain's Cold War [UoB access only]
  Focusing on the years prior to 1980, and particularly the first half of the Cold War, this 1st year 'special topic' provides an introduction to its military and political dimensions in the UK whilst considering its social and cultural impact on the lives of contemporary Britons.
• Politics and society in contemporary Britain [UoB access only]
  This 2nd year 'lecture response' unit explores the important interrelationships between social, cultural and economic change and the evolving politics of postwar Britain.
• Decade of discord: Britain in the 1970s
  [UoB access only]
  This 2nd year 'special field' explores the achievements as well as the failures of the 1970s - a decade of profound discord and the fulcrum around which the post-war period moved.
• The politics of 'decline' in Britain's postwar 'golden age' and after [UoB access only]
  This 3rd year'lecture response' unit explores the paradox that in a time of unparalleled prosperity British politics was dominated by fears of Britain's 'decline', both economic and strategic.

Accessing my unit web pages

If you are a UoB student you can:

• Use a PC on campus or on Resnet; or
• Configure your browser to use the University 'proxy server' (which makes your home PC look as though it is on-campus) or use the UoB 'Virtual Private Network' (the latter I find to be more reliable).

Adobe Acrobat

A number of documents on my unit web pages are presented in Adobe Acrobat 'pdf' format. You need Adobe Reader software to read these. If you don't have it, you can get it by clicking the icon below.

Postgraduate teaching

MA in History

At postgraduate level, I contribute to the Contemporary History pathway of the University of Bristol's Master of Arts (MA) programme in History, one of several such pathways in this popular programme.

I also offer a contemporary history option in this Masters in History programme:

• New Labour in its historical context

If you are interested in finding out more about historical studies at taught postgraduate level at Bristol please consult the 'Prospective Postgraduates' pages on the Department of History website.

Research Supervision

I also supervise several research students in the field of contemporary British history - and I welcome research proposals from prospective postgraduates interested in researching the history of postwar Britain. I am currently or have recently been advising PhD and M.Phil students researching:

• 'Nostalgia' and the Labour Party
• The impact of Penguin Books on the centre-left of British politics (part of the Penguin Archive project).
• The Thatcherite economic policy revolution of the 1980s
• The development of personal social services in postwar Britain
• The social costs of unemployment in the 1970s and 1980s
• The political life of Aldo Moro

For more information on research opportunities at the University of Bristol, see the 'Prospective Postgraduates' page on the Department of Historical Studies website.

General

Research resources

I have a guide to research resources for the study of contemporary British History.

Study skills

I have some handouts on writing and presentation skills: 

• Tips on essay writing
• How to footnote, and how to format a bibliography
• Presentation guidelines

Consultation hours

I am available for individual tutorials in my regular consultation hours in my office (G76) at the back of no. 15 Woodland Road. For current times see the consultation hours page on the Historical Studies' website. Alternative times by appointment.