THE UNITED KINGDOM

SIZE: 245,000 sq. km(About the size of California)

POPULATION: 61 million

GDP per capita: $31,800

ETHNIC: 92% White, 8% Other83% English9% Scottish5% Welsh3% Northern Irish

RELIGION: 72% Christian (Anglican: official religion), 3% Muslim, 25% Other or N/A

HEAD OF STATE: Queen Elizabeth IIHEAD OF GOVT: Prime Minister

David Cameron

Gradualism in British Political Evolution

Democratization occurred over a very long period of time.

Why is this important?Compared with other states,

the time span for democratic evolution is immense.

Allows for a stable transition to democracy.

Growth of Parliamentary Power

1215: Magna Carta

No absolute monarch

Consent of nobility to tax and spend.

1660 Restoration

Ended Civil War Monarchy

restored Expanded role of

Parliament

Growth of Parliamentary Power

1688 Glorious Revolution

King would be Anglican.

Parliament Supreme

1911 Reform of Lords

House of Lords power is stripped.

House of Commons is supreme.

Democratization1832 Great Reform

Act

Expanded the male vote

1867 Reform Act

All male householders could vote.

Democratization1918 Representation

of the People Act

All men and women over 30 could vote.

1928 Equal Franchise Act

All women can vote.

Collectivist Consensus (1945-1979)

Consensus between parties on major policies. Greater economic equality. Full employment. Government control of major industries. Creation of a WELFARE STATE.

State provides a wide variety of social services.

MIXED ECONOMY Government nationalizes major industry. Continues to allow other principles of capitalism

(i.e., private property)

Beveridge Report (1942) Social Insurance Program for all

Health careUnemployment insurancePensions

National Health Service (NHS), 1948

Reasons for Collectivist Consensus

End of Consensus: Economic Crisis of 1970s

Inflation Stagnating Economy Declining Industrial

Competitiveness OPEC quadrupled oil

prices Government

mismanagement of industry

Strikes by laborers in major industries

Margaret Thatcher “The Iron Lady”

End of consensus PRIVATIZATION

Selling state-owned companies

NEOLIBERAL Revival of liberal

ideas Lower taxes, govt.

regulation, & welfare spending.

Protect property rights.

Prime Minister: 1979-1990

(Conservative Party)

Thatcher’s Record Privatization:

25 state-owned sold

Unemployment: 1979: 5% 1987: 10% 1990: 5.5%

Inflation: 1980: 21% 1986 2.5 %

Economic Growth 1.9% in 1980s

Taxes Lowered Income Tax Raised Consumption

Tax (Value-Added Tax) 8% to 15%

Tony Blair“The Third Way”

Prime Minister: 1997-2007

(Labour Party)

“New Labour Party” Combine socialism

and market economy. Kept Thatcher’s

major privatization reforms.

Increased welfare assistance. Welfare-to-work Pensions NHS Education

David CameronBritish Economic

Woes Blair’s increase in

welfare assistance.

2008 Global Recession and bailout.

UK debt as % of GDP

2010: 76.1%(U.S. 2010: 62.3%)

Prime Minister: 2010-?(Conservative Party)

UK’s Austerity MeasuresCUTS

Department budgets by 19%.

Public jobs (1/2 million).

Police spending. Grants to local

govt. Royal household Unemployment Retirement benefits

Raising pension age

Raising VAT 17.5% to 20%

Cameron’s “Big Society” Volunteerism Empowering

individuals and local communities.

Power shiftWhitehall

British people

Concern Funds for volunteer

agencies and local communities.

DEVOLUTION: Delegating

decision-making to local public bodies.

University FeesKEY FACTS

Fees in England to rise to a maximum of £9,000 a year Universities charging more than £6,000 will have to

meet requirements designed to help poorer students Graduates will begin paying back loans covering their

fees once they are earning at least £21,000 a year They will pay back 9% of their earnings above this level No tuition fees in Scotland, but universities there are

calling for 'graduate contributions' Fees in Wales are to rise in line with those in England -

but Welsh students will be subsidised wherever they study in the UK so will pay no more than the current fees of £3,290 a year

A review of the system in Northern Ireland is under way