This course is explicitly historical in scope, having particular focus on those things within living memory, reflecting the vast upsurge of interest in contemporary history following the end of the Cold War. The course will address contending approaches to recent events which have shaped students own life and the lives of those immediately around them. Assessment for each taught module takes place at the end of each semester and is through a combination of coursework and/or exams, with some modules also requiring an assessed presentation. The MA Politics and Contemporary History will introduce students to the advanced study of contemporary history and equip them for a wide range of career possibilities from media and leisure to national government and in international organisations.