Course
Readings and Requirements
The
theme of this year's Oxford Program is Britain, the European Union (EU) and the
Challenge of Globalization. Britain joined the European Community (the forerunner
of the EU) in 1973, largely for negative (fear of exclusion) rather than positive
(enthusiasm for European integration) reasons. Not surprisingly, ambivalence has
been a hallmark of Britain's EU membership. This is reflected in Britain's decision
not to participate in the third stage of economic and monetary union (adoption
of a common monetary policy and a common currency: the euro) and popular opposition
to the proposed new EU constitution. Nevertheless Britain is a driving force behind
market integration in the EU and strongly supports the EU's recent enlargement
to include the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
A
detailed schedule of classes
is available online.
Oxford Summer Program 2008
Reading List
(Note: None of the books has been ordered through the GMU bookstore. Student should get the books themselves either in leading bookstores or through online venders).
General Texts
(Recommended reading to enhance the academic content of the program)
Desmond Dinan, Ever Closer Union: An Introduction to European Integration, 3rd edition (Lynne Rienner and Palgrave Macmillan, 2005)
Duncan Watts, British Government and Politics: A Comparative Guide (Edinburgh University Press, 2006).
Patrick Dunleavy, Developments in British Politics 8 (Palgrave Macmillan, 2006)
Duncan Watts and Colin Pilkington, Britain in the European Union Today, 3rd edition (Manchester University Press, 2005)
Hugo Young, This Blessed Plot: Britain and Europe from Churchill to Blair (Overlook Press, 1999)
Commentary/Opinion (one of which to be reviewed—see assignments)
Andrew Rawnsley, Servants of the People: The Inside Story of New Labour (Penguin, 2002)
Con Coughlin, American Ally: Tony Blair and the War on Terror (Ecco, 2006)
Philip Stephens, Tony Blair: The Making of a World Leader (Viking Books, 2004)
James Naughtie, The Accidental American: Tony Blair and the Presidency (Pan Books, 2005)
Peter Riddell, The Unfulfilled Prime Minister: Tony Blair's Quest for a Legacy (Politico’s Publishing Ltd, 2006)
Anthony Seldon, Blair's Britain, 1997-2007 (Cambridge University Press, 2007)
Geoffrey Wheatcroft, Yo, Blair!: Tony Blair's Disastrous Premiership (Politico’s Publishing Ltd, 2007)
Larry Elliot, Fantasy Island (Constable, 2007)
Light Reading (one of which to be reviewed—see assignments)
Jeremy Paxman, The English: A Portrait of a People (Overlook Press, 2001).
Jane Walmsley, Brit-Think, Ameri-Think: A Transatlantic Survival Guide, revised edition (Penguin, 2005)
Assignments
1. A book review (no longer than 1,500 words), to be submitted (electronic or hard copy) to Prof. Dinan no later than July 25, of one of the books listed in the Commentary/Opinion section of the reading list (20%).
2. A book review (no longer than 1,500 words) of Paxman (The English) or Walmsley (Brit-Think), to be submitted (electronic or hard copy) to Prof. Dinan no later than August 15. This review should include commentary drawn from the Oxford experience (20%).
3. A policy paper (no longer than 3,000 words) on an issue of special interest to the student and covered in the Oxford program, selected by the student in consultation with Prof. Dinan or Prof. Kewley, to be submitted to Prof. Dinan (hard copy only) no later than August 29 (40%).
4. Class participation, including discussion in the review sessions (20%).
Sample
book review
