Contemporary Wales

This free course provides an accessible and lively social science account of contemporary Wales. It introduces key aspects of the economy, society, politics and culture of Wales, providing a wealth of up-to-date evidence that is organised around core social science concepts and theories, to help you make sense of a changing nation.

• Introduction
• Learning outcomes
• 1 Rugby – an introduction to contemporary Wales
• 1 Rugby – an introduction to contemporary Wales
• 1.1 Difference
• 1.1.1 Place
• 1.1.2 Work
• 1.1.3 Gender and ‘race’
• 1.1.4 Class
• 1.2 Audio activities
• 1.3 Conclusion
• 2 Place and belonging
• 2 Place and belonging
• 2.1 The regions of Wales
• 2.1.1 One Wales or many?
• 2.1.2 Regional differentiation in Wales
• 2.1.3 Perceptions of regional differences in ‘Welsh character’
• 2.2 Conclusion
• 3 Work
• 3 Work
• 3.1 Economy and work in contemporary Wales
• 3.2 Work, worklessness and poverty
• 3.3 Conclusion
• 4 Gender and ‘race’
• 4 Gender and ‘race’
• 4.1 Thinking about ‘race’ and Wales
• 4.2 Thinking about gender and Wales
• 4.3 Conclusion
• 5 Class
• 5 Class
• 5.1 Conceptions of class in Wales
• 5.1.1 Class as organisation and conflict
• 5.1.2 Classlessness
• 5.1.3 White settlers
• 5.1.4 The ‘Taffia’
• 5.2 Conclusion
• 5.3 Audio activities
• 6 Nationalism and the Welsh language
• 6 Nationalism and the Welsh language
• 6.1 Language and identity
• 6.1.1 Language and personal identity
• 6.1.2 Language and national identity
• 6.1.3 The Welsh language and political nationalism
• 6.2 Welsh language and nationalism
• 6.2.1 Welsh language activism
• 6.2.2 The Welsh language and Welsh institutions
• 6.3 Nationalism
• 6.3.1 Varieties of nationalism
• 6.3.2 The nature of Welsh nationalism
• 6.3.3 Nationalism under devolution
• 6.4 Conclusion
• 7 Labour traditions
• 7 Labour traditions
• 7.1 Labour’s ‘Welsh’ values (Andrew Edwards)
• 7.1.1 Labour values and Welsh values
• 7.1.2 The Labour tradition in the 1980s and 1990s
• 7.2 Labour and devolution
• 7.2.1 The Labour tradition and devolution
• 7.2.2 The Labour tradition in twenty-first century Wales
• 7.3 Conclusion
• 8 Political representation
• 8 Political representation
• 8.1 A history of political representation in Wales
• 8.1.1 Political representation in pre-devolution Wales
• 8.1.2 Contesting political representation in Wales
• 8.1.3 New Labour and the Welsh devolution settlement
• 8.2 Broadening engagement and participation in Welsh politics
• 8.2.1 Defining civil society
• 8.2.2 Inclusive politics through a vibrant civil society
• 8.2.3 New opportunities for civil society participation post-2006?
• 8.3 Conclusion
• 9 Cultural representation
• 9 Cultural representation
• 9.1 Cinema and Wales
• 9.1.1 Wales at the Oscars
• 9.1.2 A Welsh film revival?
• 9.1.3 A Way of Life and ‘new’ Welsh identities
• 9.2 Television ‘fictions’ and Wales
• 9.2.1 An S4C drama revival
• 9.2.2 Dr Who and Torchwood– BBC Cymru Wales and network success
• 9.2.3 Gavin and Stacey
• 9.3 Conclusion
• 10 Course conclusion
• 10 Course conclusion
• Keep on learning
• Glossary
• References
• Further reading
• Acknowledgements