A view of singleton campus including singleton park and the beach, with the sea stretching into the horizon.

Dr Bryn Willcock

Lecturer

Politics, Philosophy and International Relations

b.willcock@swansea.ac.uk

Office - 018
Ground Floor
James Callaghan
Singleton Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

About

Dr Bryn Willcock has been teaching at Swansea University since 1995. He has also been a lecturer at the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David. His main teaching and research interests focus upon American foreign policy, American history, terrorism, nuclear history as well as British and European politics.

Dr Willcock is Admissions Officer for American Studies. He is the Coordinator for the American Intercalary Year, as well as the Semester Abroad Coordinator for PCS. He also has responsibility for incoming and exchange students into the Department.

Dr Willcock has been involved in the publication of books by both Oxford University Press and Taylor and Francis. In 2010 he was involved in the European-wide PartiRep Research project (http://www.partirep.eu/project) and in 2014 was engaged as a consultant on British Public Policy during the creation of the EUVOX voting project.

In 2017 Dr Willcock won an Excellence in Learning and Teaching Award, an award presented to those who offer outstanding support to students studying at the University.   

As part of the Erasmus Exchange Programme Dr Willcock has taught at both Uppsala University in 2018 and at the University of Iceland in 2019 and 2020.

Areas Of Expertise

Terrorism
Nuclear History
Post 1945 America
British Politics

Career Highlights

Teaching Interests

Terrorism
Nuclear History
Post 1945 America
British Culture and Politics
American Foreign Policy

Research Award Highlights

Publications

Research Highlights

Brandenburg, U. & Willcock, B. (2019). The Impact of an International Component in Educating the Public Using an Experimental Design. Journal of Studies in International Education, 102831531988989
https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315319889892, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa53157

All Research

Journal Articles

Brandenburg, U. & Willcock, B. (2019). The Impact of an International Component in Educating the Public Using an Experimental Design. Journal of Studies in International Education, 102831531988989
https://doi.org/10.1177/1028315319889892, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa53157

Supervision

A History of Queer Representation in Professional Wrestling (awarded 2023)

MA

Other supervisor: Dr Rachel Farebrother

Other supervisor: Dr David Anderson
The Transgressive Presidency: Donald J. Trump (awarded 2024)

MA

Other supervisor: Dr Themis Chronopoulos

Taught Modules

AM-100 American History and Politics

This module examines the history and politics of the United States from the American Revolution to the present. Major topics include the American Constitution and the structure of government, conservatism and liberalism, race and ethnicity, the American Dream, reform initiatives, the civil rights movement, immigration, voting rights, and the United States as a superpower.
AM-336 American Studies Dissertation

The American Studies dissertation is a free-standing, 40-credit module for American Studies students only, which runs across both semesters of Level Three. Candidates conduct research upon a subject of their choice, devised in consultation with a member of staff teaching on the American Studies degree. The topic must fall within staff research and teaching interests.
PO-119 Politics and the People

This module introduces students to key topics of comparative politics and addresses some of the central issues of how the people are involved in politics. This module assists students in addressing central questions in comparative politics by comparing political institutions and the role of people in politics across the world. It looks at the ways in which types of political participation, electoral systems and political parties shape the ability of people to influence politics. It addresses these issues primarily in the context of key examples of states that may be defined as old and new democracies.
PO-119A Politics and the People (10cr)

This module introduces students to key topics of comparative politics and addresses some of the central issues of how the people are involved in politics. This module assists students in addressing central questions in comparative politics by comparing political institutions and the role of people in politics across the world. It looks at the ways in which types of political participation, electoral systems and political parties shape the ability of people to influence politics. It addresses these issues primarily in the context of key examples of states that may be defined as old and new democracies.
PO-258 America in Crisis: From the Tet Offensive to Trump

1968 is often characterised as the annus horribilis of modern American history. Jules Witcover referred to 1968 as `The Year the Dream Died¿ and soon critics of the 1970s were writing in terms of America undergoing `Anxious Years¿ (McQuaid), as having `Uncertain Greatness¿ (Morris), and talking in terms of a `Retreat from Empire¿ (Osgood). This module will critically examine the reasons behind, and impact of, America¿s crisis of confidence. Such an analysis will consider the importance of issues such as the end of the Vietnam War, the Black Power movement, the Watergate Crisis, the pardon of Richard Nixon, the reopening of the Kennedy assassination, the so called `political malaise¿ and the Iranian Hostage crisis. The course then examines the legacy of events that lead to a surge in support for the Moral Majority and the New Right in America. As such, the course will look at the resurgence of religion as a powerful force in American domestic and foreign policy, a force that retains considerable sway in current American elections. The course will look at how Ronald Reagan focussed on bringing back pride, power and prestige to the presidency through a focus on new economics, tax cuts and heavy military spending. Despite this, the connection of the New Right to Reagan is a complex one. The legacy of this period will also be assessed in terms of the polarisation of American politics during the 1990s and beyond, the formation of the Tea Party, and the continuing decline in the trust in American government and political representatives.
PO-281 British Politics and Public Policy

This module examines British political debates on public policy as they have developed from the New Liberals to the Labour Government of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. It looks at five key periods and controversies. Firstly, the purpose and achievements of the so-called 'New Liberalism' of the turn of the century and beyond. Secondly public policy during the crises of the inter-war years. Thirdly, we will examine the question of the post-war 'consensus' over public policy. The fourth topic is the origins and nature of Thatcherism while the fifth is the origins and development of the Labour Government since 1997. Students following this module will thus develop a sound knowledge and appreciation of the ongoing debates about the nature and purpose of public policy as well as arguments over the means of implementation. They will also find themselves able to place contemporary debate into its vital historical perspective'
PO-3333 Clear and Present Danger: America and Terrorism

This module will provide an in-depth study of America¿s complex relationship with terrorism. Terrorist acts against America are as old as the Republic itself. Following consideration of what actions can meaningfully be considered acts of terrorism, this module will scrutinize, assess and explain terrorist threats against the US since 1776. It will offer both context and analysis of these threats and demonstrate that there are important historical connections and trends to be identified, not least in America¿s response to them. The module will seek to compare and contrast important periods in American history in which terrorist threats were prevalent, from the 1886 Haymarket Bombing to the attack on Wall Street in 1920 through the rise of terrorist threats during the 1950s when Congress was attacked and an attempt was made on the life of President Harry S. Truman. The module will then move to assess the escalation of terrorist threats from both terrorist groups and rogue states during the late 1960s when Nixon declared the problem a clear danger to the US through the 1980s when Reagan declared a `war on terror¿. The module culminates with the attacks of 9/11. The module will encourage students to make use of a wide variety of primary sources that will enable to them investigate, analyse and understand the origins and responses of the US to terrorist threats both historically and contemporarily. The module will also offer a multi-disciplinary approach to its subject by considering the impact of terrorism on American popular culture and demonstrate that as presidential interest in the terrorism threat began to rise from 1968, so too did interest from media sources and movie makers.
PO-3334 America and the Bomb

This module looks at the history and development of America¿s role in creating and utilising the atomic bomb as well as the development of `nuclear diplomacy¿ and subsequently America¿s attempts at nuclear control and non-proliferation. The course traces America¿s path to becoming the first nuclear power and focuses on the impact that this had both on international relations (notably the cold war, Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis and the development of concepts like `Mutually Assured Destruction¿) as well as the impact on America internally (the Rosenberg Case, McCarthyism and the rise of public fear). The course looks at how nuclear agreements were attained in the altered environment of the late 1980s and what caused this change, before looking at current controversies regarding America¿s attempts to counter perceived growing nuclear threats in such countries as Iran and North Korea. As an inter-disciplinary course there will be a utilisation of relevant films and media sources which reflect the prevailing attitudes of the time.

Invited Presentations, Lectures and Conferences

The Impact of an International Component in Educating the Public Using an Experimental Design

November 2020

IHES Conference 2020: Making a Difference, Prague (conference moved to online platform Zoom)

Dr Bryn Willcock

Email address

Twitter Account

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About

Areas Of Expertise

Career Highlights

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Supervision

A History of Queer Representation in Professional Wrestling (awarded 2023)

The Transgressive Presidency: Donald J. Trump (awarded 2024)

Taught Modules

AM-100 American History and Politics

AM-336 American Studies Dissertation

PO-119 Politics and the People

PO-119A Politics and the People (10cr)

PO-258 America in Crisis: From the Tet Offensive to Trump

PO-281 British Politics and Public Policy

PO-3333 Clear and Present Danger: America and Terrorism

PO-3334 America and the Bomb

Invited Presentations, Lectures and Conferences

The Impact of an International Component in Educating the Public Using an Experimental Design