British History: Britain Today in Historical Perspective

Britain today appears as a modern nation, yet its politics, society, and culture remain profoundly shaped by history. From Brexit and debates over Scotland’s future to questions of immigration and diversity, the issues facing Britain cannot be understood apart from their historical roots. This course, “Britain Today in Historical Perspective”, invites you to place current challenges in a wider historical context, exploring how the legacies of empire, Britain’s relationship with Europe, the evolution of class structures, and shifts in cultural identity continue to shape the nation. It reveals that modern Britain is not an isolated present, but the outcome of centuries of continuity and change.

This course will be led by Dr. Alexandre Loktionov, a distinguished scholar with profound academic expertise. He is currently a Research Fellow at Christ’s College, as well as a Research Fellow at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research and the Institute for Oriental and Classical Studies at HSE University in Russia.

In the course, Dr. Alex will lead us to explore and reflect on:

• Was Brexit an accident of history or the outcome of long-standing tensions?
• How do today’s social inequalities echo divisions from the Industrial Revolution or post-war Britain?
• In what ways have immigration and multiculturalism reshaped British identity?
• How has the role of the state shifted from the welfare model to neoliberal reforms?
• How is Britain’s international position shaped both by its historical legacies and today’s realities?

Join us in this journey through history and the present, and discover how looking back can help us better understand Britain today.