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(Replaces Ageing Issues)

In the next 25 years the percentage of the UK population over 65 is expected to rise by over 65%. Does society have the resources to cope with this growth? What are the financial and social implications?

Key Facts;  Glossary Index;  Additional Resources (websites etc.);  Index.

Two documentaries from Marc Isaacs:
All White in Barking (2007) examines the attitudes the white citizens of Barking have towards the immigrants living in the area. These attitudes generally involve prejudices which focus on what clothes the immigrants wear, the religion they follow and the food they eat.
Men of the City (2009) follows a trader, a street-sweeper, an immigrant and an insurance agent in London as they attempt to move forward in the economic crisis and discover their place in the capital city.

• Director: Marc Isaacs
• Running time: 133 minutes
• Subtitle options: none

This is the completely revised edition of Britain — The Country and Its People:

Understanding the country and its people:

This book covers all aspects of British life: The Government, The Media, Welfare, Education, Sport and Competition etc. It gives students the essential facts about Britain but also looks at the attitudes and beliefs which shape them. Lots of extra information in the form of charts and graphs, extracts from novels and newspapers etc.

•  Understand the attitudes and beliefs that shape Britain’s character.
•  Discover the history and cultural background to British society and institutions such as the NHS and the BBC.
•  Find out about people’s daily lives from charts, graphs, and extracts from popular fiction and newspapers.
•  Use the questions at the end of each chapter to analyse what you have read and to make comparisons with your own culture.
•  Website at www.oup.com/elt/britain, regularly updated with new information and links to media and government websites.
•  Level: A/Linjefag/Fagdepot

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Contents: Identity: the foundations of British culture; Literature and Philosophy; Art, Architecture and Design; Performing Arts; Cinema, Photography and Fashion; Media and Communications; Food and Drink; Living Culture: the state of modern Britain.

Download/View Chapter 5 (PDF)

A fantastic value set of eight documentaries looking at British life from the Victorian era through to the swinging '60s:

1) Victorian Britain (the age of industrial expansion and empire)
2) Music Hall Days (the great performers from the Music Halls and beyond, including “the songs that won the war”)
3) East End Through the Ages (the history of the East End from the turn of the 19th century)
4) Britain in the 1940s (the fortitude of the British people during and after the war)
5) Britain in the 1950s (how Britons dressed, laughed, holidayed etc.)
6) Britain in the 1960s (Britain in the Swinging Sixties)
7) Classic Love Stories of the 20th Century
8) Story of the Royal Family (from Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II).

New seventh edition:
 This highly-praised textbook has been substantially updated to provide students with the perfect introduction to Britain — its country and people, politics and government, education, economy, media, arts and religion. It includes: discussion of recent developments and areas of topical interest in British society such as immigration, the recession, devolution and Britain's relationships with the US and the EU, and coverage of the 2010 election; exercises and questions to stimulate class discussion; insights into the attitudes of British people today towards important issues; updated suggestions for further reading and useful websites; and, a fully updated companion website featuring further exercises, links to relevant articles and videos online, and quiz questions. British Civilization is a vital introduction to the complex identities of Britain. (360 pages)
Level: A/Linjefag etc.

Contents: Chronology of significant dates in British history. 1. The British context 2. The country 3. The people 4. Politics and government 5. International relations 6. The legal system 7. The economy 8. Social services 9. Education 10. The media 11. Religion 12. Leisure, sports and the arts.

New December 2007 edition! British Cultural Identities analyses contemporary British identity and the changing ways in which people who live in the UK are affected by being British. Each chapter covers one of seven intersecting themes: environment, education, gender, youth culture, class etc. This new edition is fully updated to include environmental concerns, devolution, the infantilization of culture, binge-drinking and reality TV, 7/7 and terrorism, and a general shift from a literate to a visual culture. Authors: Michael Storry and Peter Childs
Contents: Introduction: Britain and the modern world — Places and peoples: nation and region — Education, work, and leisure — Gender, sex, and the family — Youth culture and style — Class and politics — Ethnicity and language — Religion and heritage — Conclusion: Britain towards the future
Level: A

(Replaces Citizenship and National Identity)

What does it mean to be British, and what makes a good citizen? This title covers what citizenship is, the rights and responsibilities of a citizen, British national identity and whether the concept of “Britishness” still has relevance in a modern society. It also looks at social participation and what it means to live in a democracy, including information on voting and government.

Chapter One: Identity and Belonging
What does citizenship mean?, National ceremonies and symbols, ‘Moaning, drinking and queuing’ make us British, A more United Kingdom, Citizens feel a strong sense of belonging, Citizenship: our common bond, British identity, Britishness and social cohesion, A question of identity, Britain and beyond, Just who do we think we are?, Citizenship tests.

Chapter Two: Democracy in Action
Parliament and the public, Discover Parliament, Modern Britain ‘needs Parliamentary reform’, Parliamentary elections, Election jargon buster, Tackling voter disengagement, Compulsory voting.

Chapter Three: Youth Participation
Are young people allergic to politics?, Political outsiders?, Got a taste for it?, The case for votes at 16, New evidence finds majority in favour of votes at 16, Votes at 16?, Since citizenship education arrived.

Key Facts;  Glossary;  Additional Resources (websites etc.);  Index

(Replaces Classless Society)

Is today’s society truly a meritocracy, in which economic and social barriers to achievement have been eliminated? Many believe this to be the case, and yet recent research suggested social mobility is slower in the UK today than it was in medieval England. This book looks at the thorny issue of class and whether it is an impediment to social mobility. It looks at the way class divides schools, at the way character skills are critical in the early years of educastion ... and much more.

Key Facts;  Glossary;  Additional Resources (websites etc.);  Index.

Futurum GOLD Price

A really wonderful book about football — believe it or not! This is the story of one man’s obsession with football. A book full of funny and perceptive observations about the game, the psychology of the fan, male rites of passage, crowd violence and life in general. Lots of short sections that can be read separately. Author: Nick Hornby (247 pages)
Level: A/B

Sarah Lyall, a reporter for the New York Times, married to an Englishman analyses the British political, social and cultural landscape with wit and acuity:

This is an entertaining survey of 21st-century England from a sharp-eyed American. In A Field Guide to the English, Sarah Lyall looks perceptively at the social, political and cultural landscape of contemporary England. She explores themes as diverse as peers, politics, the media, understatement, the weather, and England's relationship with animals, alcohol and sex. She ponders the missing link between the famous British reserve and the British predilection for hooliganism and the strange process by which a collection of naughty schoolboys pass Parliamentary motions. Sarah connects the British toughness to Bronco loo paper, the Earl of Uxbridge losing his leg at Waterloo, not turning the central heating on until mid-November, and the fact that ‘some of my husband's favourite puddings have stale white bread as the main ingredient’. (277 pages)
Level: 2nd-3rd Year of the Gymnasium

Matthew Collins was just another white face from a council estate with nowhere to go and nothing to do. The violence and racism of the far right offered him an alluring escape from the mediocrity of school, work and boredom. In 1980s Britain, the belligerent sentiments of a few hundred lonely white men went almost unnoticed. But this tiny minority had grand designs. Fuelled by alcohol and violence, they built a party that would go on to hold seats in council chambers across England and in the European Parliament. And hidden behind those large union flags were individuals – including Matthew Collins – prepared to bomb and kill to make their dreams a reality. This book shows how the far right attracts working-class people damaged by the system and encourages them to express their anger at other members of society. It shows how fascists exploit some of the most vulnerable people in society – young working-class men with limited prospects – and gives them a sense of belonging, worth and comradeship. It charts the dissolution of the National Front and the rise of the British National party – making clear its violent, Nazi and anti-parliamentary origins. Author: Matthew Collins. (336 pages)
Level: Gymnasiet etc. / A Teacher's Resource

A History of Modern Britain tells the story of how the great political visions of a New Jerusalem or a second Elizabethan Age came to be defeated in post-war Britain by a culture of consumerism, celebrity and self-gratification. In each decade, political leaders think they know what they are doing, but find themselves confounded. Every time, the British people turn out to be stroppier and harder to herd than predicted. Throughout, Britain is a country on the edge — first of invasion, then of bankruptcy, then on the vulnerable front line of the Cold War and later in the forefront of the great opening up of capital and migration now reshaping the world. This history follows all the political and economic stories, but also deals with comedy, cars, the war against homosexuals, Sixties anarchists, oil-men and punks, Margaret Thatcher's wonderful good luck, political lies and the true heroes of British theatre. Very readable, many useable excerpts. Author: Andrew Marr (political journalist).  (640 pages)
Level: Gymnasium — a resource for the teacher/Library/Depot

A story of power and the price that is paid for power:

Thatcher's life and political career are portrayed in flashback as she struggles with Alzheimer's and grieves for her deceased husband, Dennis. We follow her life from the family grocer's shop to her eleven-year period in office, which was marked by her strict leadership style, spending cuts, strikes, the introduction of an unpopular poll tax and the Falklands War. Later, as her leadership is called into question, previously loyal cabinet members turn against her one by one, leading to her political downfall.

• Directed by: Phyllida Lloyd
• Starring: Meryl Streep, Anthony Head, Jim Broadbent, Harry Lloyd, Richard E. Grant, Olivia Colman
• Running time: 104 minutes
• Extra: Various documentaries
• Subtitle option: English

The 2001 Census is the most comprehensive social record of life in the UK now available. However, the data are not always easily accessible or clearly presented. This lively and innovative pack has been designed specifically to make all this new evidence about the social and geographical divisions in British society available to students. The topics selected focus especially on the differences between areas within the UK, highlighting the inequalities and gaps in service provision that the census data have revealed. The pack contains a range of  A4 learning materials, including: a Summary sheet (2 pages); 10 short reports (8 pages each) — Doctors & Nurses (on illness and the provision of formal care), In Sickness and In Health (on illness and the provision of informal care), Teachers (on qualifications and the uneven provision of teachers), Sons & Daughters (on child and adult educational qualifications), Changing Rooms (on overcrowded and undercrowded households), A Place in the Sun (on holiday, second homes and shared dwellings), The Office (on employment and the distribution of skills), Open All Hours (on people working long hours and no hours), Top Gear (on households with many cars and no cars), and Home Front (on children caring for others living in poverty). There are also 5 full-colour A2 posters (photos, text and maps depicting life in contemporary Britain and focusing on housing, poverty, employment, education and health). It also contains a Technical Report for teachers (giving the background to the project and more details of the analyses).
Level: Gymnasiet (all levels)/Linjefag/Library/Depot

Revised 2011.

Contents
Index

"Out of the ashes, what kind of country do we want to build?"
David Lammy MP predicted the riots of 2011 a year before they took place. Following the violence he now analyses the causes of the disturbances and their implications for the future. He draws on his experience of growing up in Tottenham – the area he now represents and the place where the riots began. He explores the human stories behind the headlines and seeks to explain why the breakdown of law and order was so swift and so widespread. He offers a practical way forward for Britain. Author: David Lammy. (272 pages)
Level: Gymnasiet etc. / A Teacher's Resource

(Replaces Migration and Population)

As the world’s population passes the seven billion mark, population growth is an increasingly pressing issue for humanity. Responding to the population explosion means taking sustainability, human development and resource consumption into account. With the EU allowing freedom of movement across European borders, migration is also a hot topic in the UK. This book looks at the numerous debates surrounding population and migration.

Today only 29% of people would say that they are religious, but a recent study showed that media coverage of religion has risen since the early 1980s. The controversy surrounding Muslim women who choose to wear the burqa, discussions over whether some Christians are discriminated against because of their beliefs and a rise in applications to set up ‘free’ faith schools are just a few of the debates hitting the headlines. This book examines the issues.
Level: 8.-10. kl./AVU + HG C-F etc.

(Replaces Religious Beliefs)

This book looks at the different faiths and faith-based cultures at work in our communities. It covers all the majors faiths in Britain today, and looks in detail at some of the recent debates surrounding religion, such as whether people of faith are discriminated against by new equalities legislation, if it is right to create more faith schools and whether Britain should follow the example of France and ban full face veils for Muslim women. It also covers trends in religion and worship, such as the decline in regular church attendance and whether Britain can still be called a 'Christian country'.

Key Facts;  Glossary;  Additional Resources (websites etc.);  Index.

In recent years Labour and the Conservatives have lost their iron grip on the electorate and the Liberal Democrats have emerged as a credible third force across the country. In local, Scottish, Welsh and European elections, smaller parties from across the ideological spectrum have been adding to the political mix. This fluid political scene provides a unique moment to explore the UK political parties and the challenges facing them as they grapple with the changing face of politics in the 21st century.

Key questions explored in this book include:

• How far have Labour and the Conservatives escaped from the shadow of Thatcherism?
• What turned the Liberal Democrats from a party of protest into a party of power?
• To what extent have green and far-right politics entered the political mainstream?
• What impact, if any, has devolution had on party lines across the UK?

Political parties are facing a crisis in confidence. Membership has melted away, while support for pressure groups has grown. Parties rely on hired professionals to win support among the growing number of independently-minded voters and have become much more aggressive, professionally-driven organizations. But there are real concerns about their capacity to engage and mobilise an increasingly critical and disenchanted electorate. Author: Stephen Driver. (220 pages)
Level: Gymnasiet etc. / Library / Depot / A Teacher's Resource

Anthropologist Kate Fox takes a revealing look at the quirks, habits and foibles of the English. She puts the English national character under the microscope, and finds a strange and fascinating culture, governed by complex sets of unspoken rules: The rules of weather-speak. The Importance of Not Being Earnest rule. The ironic-gnome rule. The reflex apology rule. The paranoid-pantomime rule. Class indicators and class anxiety tests. The money-talk taboo. Humour rules. Pub etiquette etc., etc. There are several sections that can suitably used on their own: Work to Rule (about behaviour codes at work), Dress Codes and Linguistic Class Codes (stof til Almen Sprogforståelse!). (424 pages)
Level: A/B 

NEW edition!
A guide to understanding the English that gets beyond the stiff upper lip and reveals their true spirit and character!

Table of Contents: Nationalism and Identity – Character – Attitudes and Values – Happy Families – Manners and Behaviour – Leisure and Pleasure – Drinking and Eating – Custom and Tradition – Sense of Humour – Culture – Systems – Culture – Systems – Crime, Punishment & Law – Government – Business – Language – Conversation