chapter 4: great britain …the incubator of liberal democracy…
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gradualismgradualism
collectivist consensuscollectivist consensus
mixed economymixed economy
welfare statewelfare state
Time Line of Political DevelopmentTime Line of Political Development
12151215 King John forced to sign Magna CartaKing John forced to sign Magna Carta
12951295 first representative Parliament convenedfirst representative Parliament convened
15291529 Henry VIII convened ‘Reformation Parliament,’ began Henry VIII convened ‘Reformation Parliament,’ began process of cutting ties to Roman Catholic churchprocess of cutting ties to Roman Catholic church
16281628 Charles I forced to accept Petition of Right, Charles I forced to accept Petition of Right, Parliament’s statement of civil rightsParliament’s statement of civil rights
1642-481642-48 English Civil War: Royalists vs. ParliamentariansEnglish Civil War: Royalists vs. Parliamentarians
16491649 Charles I tried and executedCharles I tried and executed
16891689 Parliament issues bill of rights establishing Parliament issues bill of rights establishing constitutional monarchyconstitutional monarchy
17071707 Act of Union united kingdoms of England and Act of Union united kingdoms of England and ScotlandScotland
Time Line of Political DevelopmentTime Line of Political Development
17211721 Sir Robert Walpole Britain’s first PMSir Robert Walpole Britain’s first PM
1832-671832-67 Reform Act passed, extending vote to all urban malesReform Act passed, extending vote to all urban males
19001900 Labour Party foundedLabour Party founded
1916-221916-22 Anglo-Irish War – establishment of Republic of Anglo-Irish War – establishment of Republic of IrelandIreland
19731973 UK made a member of European Economic UK made a member of European Economic Community (now the EU)Community (now the EU)
1979-901979-90 Margaret Thatcher PMMargaret Thatcher PM
19821982 Falklands WarFalklands War
19971997 Tony Blair PMTony Blair PM
Essential Political FeaturesEssential Political Features Legislative-executive system: parliamentaryLegislative-executive system: parliamentary Legislature: ParliamentLegislature: Parliament Lower House: House of CommonsLower House: House of Commons Upper House: House of LordsUpper House: House of Lords Unitary power systemUnitary power system geographic subunits: England, Scotland, geographic subunits: England, Scotland,
Wales, Northern IrelandWales, Northern Ireland electoral system for lower house: pluralityelectoral system for lower house: plurality chief Judicial body: House of Lordschief Judicial body: House of Lords
Great Britain: one of the world’s great powers Great Britain: one of the world’s great powers for five centuriesfor five centuries
permanent seat on UN Security Councilpermanent seat on UN Security Council
its world position has been in decline for more its world position has been in decline for more than a centurythan a century
important historical role: important historical role: how democracies how democracies developdevelop
4 themes that set UK apart from other democracies4 themes that set UK apart from other democracies
gradualismgradualism
2020thth century economic decline century economic decline
conservative redefinitionconservative redefinition
New Labour redefinitionNew Labour redefinition
United Kingdom: Great Britain and Northern United Kingdom: Great Britain and Northern IrelandIreland
crowded, urbancrowded, urban
regional and religious differencesregional and religious differences
racial diversityracial diversity
the welfare statethe welfare state
guarantees basic health care, education, pensionguarantees basic health care, education, pension
highest rate of economic growthhighest rate of economic growth
unemployment rate among lowestunemployment rate among lowest
lower standard of livinglower standard of living
remnants of social class distinctionsremnants of social class distinctions
Evolution of the British StateEvolution of the British State
Great Britain emerged from 4 great transformations Great Britain emerged from 4 great transformations with rough consensuswith rough consensus
Compare France and GermanyCompare France and Germany
one divisive issue: classone divisive issue: class
maintained legitimacy with no written constitutionmaintained legitimacy with no written constitution
British History HighlightsBritish History Highlights
1215: Magna Carta1215: Magna Carta over next 4 centuries, England coalesced in a over next 4 centuries, England coalesced in a
very loose, decentralized statevery loose, decentralized state by 16by 16thth-17-17thth century, broad contours of state century, broad contours of state
and concept of government in placeand concept of government in place Reformation, Restoration and revolutions less Reformation, Restoration and revolutions less
traumatic than on continenttraumatic than on continent Royal prerogatives gradually disappearedRoyal prerogatives gradually disappeared
1919thth century century
rise of capitalismrise of capitalism
Industrial RevolutionIndustrial Revolution
exploitation of workers, political power monopolized exploitation of workers, political power monopolized by eliteby elite
Great Reform Act, 1832 Great Reform Act, 1832 Second Reform Act Second Reform Act 1867: expansion of electorate1867: expansion of electorate
first modern political parties: parliamentary first modern political parties: parliamentary leaders who needed support from newly leaders who needed support from newly enfranchised votersenfranchised voters Conservative National UnionConservative National Union National Liberal FoundationNational Liberal Foundation
1911: House of Lords lost remaining power – 1911: House of Lords lost remaining power – final step in evolution of British Parliamentary final step in evolution of British Parliamentary democracydemocracy
lasting party challenge for Great Britain: lasting party challenge for Great Britain: division of support division of support for Labour and Conservative parties along class linesfor Labour and Conservative parties along class lines
1926: 1926: Trades Union Congress (TUC) Trades Union Congress (TUC) general strikegeneral strike
20s- 30s: Labour Party became main competition for 20s- 30s: Labour Party became main competition for ConservativesConservatives
no party had clear majority in Parliamentno party had clear majority in Parliament
liberal (free market) wing of Conservative Party discreditedliberal (free market) wing of Conservative Party discredited
rise of Tory politicians: greater willingness to consider rise of Tory politicians: greater willingness to consider government as solutiongovernment as solution
The Collectivist Consensus: the golden The Collectivist Consensus: the golden era of British politicsera of British politics
1945 – mid 1970s1945 – mid 1970s
both parties agreed on policy goalsboth parties agreed on policy goals
full employmentfull employment
guarantee of at least subsistence-level living conditionsguarantee of at least subsistence-level living conditions
cooperation with labor unionscooperation with labor unions
government intervention to promote/secure economic growthgovernment intervention to promote/secure economic growth
World War II: catalyst for collectivist consensusWorld War II: catalyst for collectivist consensus
Winston Churchill became PMWinston Churchill became PM
headed all-party coalitionheaded all-party coalition
Beveridge Report Beveridge Report : proposed overhaul of social : proposed overhaul of social service systemservice system
effect of Cold Wareffect of Cold War
reform surge over by ’49reform surge over by ’49
Socialist parties lost momentumSocialist parties lost momentum
recovery underwayrecovery underway
popular support for Labour began to wane popular support for Labour began to wane
Conservatives returned to officeConservatives returned to office
retained the welfare stateretained the welfare state
continuing electoral division along class lines but without great continuing electoral division along class lines but without great ideological conflictideological conflict
height of collectivist consensus: 1959height of collectivist consensus: 1959
came to an end because the two conditions that came to an end because the two conditions that made it possible ceased to exist:made it possible ceased to exist:
steady economic growthsteady economic growth
absence of deeply divisive issuesabsence of deeply divisive issues
British Political CultureBritish Political Culture
civic culturecivic culture: virtually unanimous agreement that the : virtually unanimous agreement that the political system, based on parliamentary sovereignty political system, based on parliamentary sovereignty and cabinet rule, is and cabinet rule, is legitimatelegitimate
political political efficacyefficacy
patriotic but not patriotic but not jingoisticjingoistic
the politics of protestthe politics of protest
1970s- more reservations about the collectivist 1970s- more reservations about the collectivist consensusconsensus
dissatisfaction, confrontationdissatisfaction, confrontation Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland racismracism unionsunions anti-nuclear, anti-waranti-nuclear, anti-war
effects of protest on British political cultureeffects of protest on British political culture
created far more polarized political systemcreated far more polarized political system
Left:Left: capitalists were exploiting the working class capitalists were exploiting the working class
Right: Right: socialists, unionists, feminists and minorities socialists, unionists, feminists and minorities
were undermining traditional valueswere undermining traditional values
led eventually to confrontation fatigueled eventually to confrontation fatigue
resolution:resolution:
Thatcher government met strikers head onThatcher government met strikers head on
Economic recovery in 90sEconomic recovery in 90s
PM’s strong stand against the leftPM’s strong stand against the left
will there always be a Britain?will there always be a Britain?
decline of identification with Britaindecline of identification with Britain
regional parliamentsregional parliaments
monarch: important but tainted symbolmonarch: important but tainted symbol
involvement in EU undermines British national identityinvolvement in EU undermines British national identity
euroskepticismeuroskepticism
political participationpolitical participation
in past century, participation mostly through in past century, participation mostly through moderate parties and interest groupsmoderate parties and interest groups
1970s economic crisis 1970s economic crisis change in parties change in parties
deep divisions in both Labour and Conservatives deep divisions in both Labour and Conservatives drift in both toward ideological extremesdrift in both toward ideological extremes
extremism was a passing phenomenonextremism was a passing phenomenon
now, prevalence of catch-all partiesnow, prevalence of catch-all parties
The Conservatives [Tories]The Conservatives [Tories]
seen as ‘natural party of government’seen as ‘natural party of government’
in office for 2/3 of time since World War IIin office for 2/3 of time since World War II
defeated in three most recent electionsdefeated in three most recent elections
inability to chart new course inability to chart new course consigned to extended period consigned to extended period in oppositionin opposition
Labour’s proposal to introduce Labour’s proposal to introduce proportional representationproportional representation would make it even more difficult for Tories to regain would make it even more difficult for Tories to regain majoritymajority
reasons for success:reasons for success:
(1) most leaders were pragmatic politicians(1) most leaders were pragmatic politicians
(2) roots in noblility, embodied values of (2) roots in noblility, embodied values of noblesse noblesse obligeoblige
(3) effective top-down organization(3) effective top-down organization
what went wrong?what went wrong?
Margaret ThatcherMargaret Thatcher
selected in 70s by MPs who were hostile to welfare selected in 70s by MPs who were hostile to welfare statestate
Thatcher forced moderates to sidelinesThatcher forced moderates to sidelines
pro-market, anti-welfare statepro-market, anti-welfare state
future of conservatism:future of conservatism:
European IntegrationEuropean Integration
Tory right viewed EU and adoption of euro as serious Tory right viewed EU and adoption of euro as serious threats to British sovereigntythreats to British sovereignty
leadership and organizationleadership and organization
shrinking conservative base within partyshrinking conservative base within party
LabourLabour
formed at beginning of 20formed at beginning of 20thth century century
alliance of trade unions, independent socialist alliance of trade unions, independent socialist movements, and cooperative associationsmovements, and cooperative associations
originally dominated by Unionsoriginally dominated by Unions
later, alternated between moderation, left wing later, alternated between moderation, left wing activism and moderationactivism and moderation
after multiple electoral defeats and ideological drift to left, after multiple electoral defeats and ideological drift to left, found new unity in common desire to defeat the Toriesfound new unity in common desire to defeat the Tories
Blair: repudiated all vestiges of the old Labour left Blair: repudiated all vestiges of the old Labour left butbut kept kept many of Thatcher-era reformsmany of Thatcher-era reforms
Union influence, connections to working class reducedUnion influence, connections to working class reduced
peace initiativespeace initiatives
healthier economyhealthier economy
IraqIraq
End of the Blair decadeEnd of the Blair decade
success and popularity of the first term did not lastsuccess and popularity of the first term did not last
dissatisfaction with the Labour party in generaldissatisfaction with the Labour party in general
key issue: unpopularity of Iraq Warkey issue: unpopularity of Iraq War
June, 2007: Gordon Brown became PMJune, 2007: Gordon Brown became PM
The Liberal DemocratsThe Liberal Democrats
newest major partynewest major party
merger of Liberals (one of the country’s original merger of Liberals (one of the country’s original political parties) and Social Democrats (SDP)political parties) and Social Democrats (SDP)
in 1960s, Liberals tried for position between in 1960s, Liberals tried for position between increasingly ideological Labour and Conservativesincreasingly ideological Labour and Conservatives
provide a haven for growing number of dissatisfied provide a haven for growing number of dissatisfied votersvoters
Labour leaders left party to form SDPLabour leaders left party to form SDP
unable to win on its own, formed Alliance with unable to win on its own, formed Alliance with Liberals to run a single candidate in each districtLiberals to run a single candidate in each district
butbut, , Britain follows “first past the post” : no need to Britain follows “first past the post” : no need to win majoritywin majority
tends to shut third parties outtends to shut third parties out
Alliance disbandedAlliance disbanded
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