1. British Civilisation: an introduction to the class
This class is part of the 'block' (UE) called UE 23 (L1 Anglais, 2ème semestre): Civilisations et Littératures Anglophones (coef 3)
UE 23 is a unit made up of 4 components: a lecture course (CM) on Anglophone Literature, a literature seminar (TD) and two ‘civilisation’ CMs, one on US history and one on British history and contemporary Britain (= this class)

2. Exams:
‘Contrôle Final 100%’: no tests during term, a two hour exam (on both US and GB classes, possible ‘tirage au sort’ between US and GB). Same format for the second session. NB: for literature (including CM and TD): also a two hour written exam (but check with the colleagues who teach the classes).
The ‘tirage au sort’ does not apply if you are an erasmus, 'découverte,’ cycle prépa or CLE student, as in that case you can take the British Civilisation class separately from the rest of the 'UE'

3. How to make the most of this class:
2 essential tools:
BUY: Sarah PICKARD, La Civilisation Britannique, 12ème ed. Collection Langues pour Tous, Pocket, 2017 (if you have a slightly earlier edition from last year, that's fine!)
Moodle:
Between each lecture:
- go over your notes for the previous lecture, prepare Qs if necessary, explore further (moodle)
- prepare for the lecture to come: read the relevant chapter(s) in your book if applicable (see the programme on Moodle)
In class: be attentive, do not just copy out the key words on the screen at top speed, also note the main points of the extra explanations provided, do not hesitate to interrupt me with a Q
Test, voir comment fonctionne le système de commentaire

4. Programme for the year
NB: a list of corresponding chapters or pages from Sarah, Pickard’s Civilisation Britannique has been posted on Moodle, please do not forget to consult it and of course, do the reading!
1. The making of the UK: historical outline (England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland: 1066 to the present)
2. Northern Ireland: the Troubles and the Peace Process
3. The constitution, the birth of British democracy: a brief introduction and historical outline
4. How is Britain governed? Political institutions and political parties
5. Empire and Commonwealth / Multicultural Britain today
6. Conclusion: Britain’s international role today

5. The Making of the United Kingdom, a brief historical outline
Additional material for this chapter:
- Pickard: p and
- moodle online ‘course’: ‘Civilisation Britannique’: browse section 1 (media links), look at sections 2 and 3 for extra info on England, Scotland and Wales and 4: British history

6. Introduction: a few definitions:
(see Pickard: map p 414+ basic facts p 10, 12 and 14)
NB: I expect you to know the difference between: the UK, GB, Britain, the British Isles (see your book)
Britain, a Briton (a Brit: colloquial), adj: British
Wales, a Welshman/woman, adj: Welsh
Scotland, a Scot, adj: Scottish
(sometimes Scotch or Scots, look up ‘Scottish’ in your Hornby dictionary: adj Scottish = most general word used to describe the people and things of Scotland; adj Scots = only used to describe its people, its law and esp its language; adj Scotch mainly used in fixed expressions such as Scotch Whisky and Scotch broth, sounds old-fashioned or even insulting if it is used in any other way)
Ireland, an Irishman/woman, adj: Irish
England, an Englishman/woman, adj: English

7. As I said earlier, the UK = made up of 4 countries, four nations, English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish, hence the commonly used phrase ‘the four-nation state’.
As the adjective ‘united’ in the phrase ‘the UK’ suggests, there has been a more or less problematic process of unification of these different peoples over the centuries, and it is essential to say a few words about the history of this ‘making’ of the UK into a unified political entity before we examine more modern issues.
Before we start: a few definitions, to try and clarify the terms I have just used:

8. A state: an organized political entity defined by its right to exercise power, and not defined by language, ethnic identity or culture. Dictionary definition: an organized body of people usually occupying a definite territory, esp one that is sovereign (Merriam Webster’s collegiate dictionary)
Different from the state: l’Etat: the gvnt of a country, its political organisation; different from the meaning of the term used when describing the different states in the United States (one of the constituent units of a country having a federal government)

9. 2. A nation: a very complex term whose definition is often controversial. To simplify: a group of people defines itself as a nation, often (but not always or exclusively) by sharing a common culture, language and tradition (= history)
3. A country: the vaguest of the three terms, more or less covering the two concepts already mentioned, but also referring to geographical realities. Dictionary def: a political state, or nation, or its territory. It is the third meaning which best corresponds to what I meant when I used the term earlier.
NB: some nations have no state of their own (for ex. the Kurds or the Basques), and some states are made up of several countries, with several corresponding nations (the UK).

10. The Union Jack (1801)

11. St Andrew’s Cross: flag of Scotland

12. St George’s Cross: England

13. St Patrick’s Cross: Ireland

14. Flag of Wales