Influences on Political Culture

• Island• Small Size• Short supply of fertile

soil and growing season

• Temperate climate • No major geographic

barriers

Influences on Political Culture

• Noblesse oblige and social class– Duty of the upper

class to take responsibility for the welfare of the lower class

– Major concern today is cost

• Multi-nationalism– England – Scotland– Wales– Northern Ireland– National identities are

still strong

How is the legitimacy of the British government evident?

History

• World Power• Industrial Revolution • Napoleonic Wars• Queen Victoria

– Direct colonial rule– Ruled as a hegemonic – Control pattern of

alliances – Control terms of the

international economic order

Industrial Change and Struggle for Voting

• Pressed to expand the right to vote

• Reform Act of 1832• People’s Charter• Representation of

People Act of 1867• Franchise Act 1884• People Acts of 1918• Took place without

violence

British Gradualism at its BEST AND WORST

• Educate the people• Prepare them• Work the kinks out • Gradualism at its best• Move at a snails pace

in this hare’s world

• State takes control of economy:– Took control of

industry– Set prices and

restricted flow of capital abroad

– Used power to fragment labour unions

Challenges to the Collective Consensus since 1970

Industrialization

• Rapid Expansion of manufacturing production and technological innovation

• Economic and Social transformation – External– Internal– Changes

• Peasant and craftsman• Cash market transaction• Commercialization of

Agriculture• Mechanization of

Manfacturing

Collective Consensus (1945-1979)

• Coalition Government: minister from both major parties

• Reconstruction and dreams of new prosperity took priority

• Determination to rebuild and improve conditions of life

• Gov’t should take an expanded responsibility for economic and social welfare

• Creates a Welfare state;– Political system that

redistributes wealth from rich to poor

– Standard in western Europe

• Economic stagnation – Declining competitiveness

fueled industrial strife and kept class based tentions

Economic Crisis

• Loss of colonies • OPEC • Labor Unions

– Higher wages– Strikes

• Movement toward Liberal and Conservative parties

• Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher“Iron Lady”

• 1979-1990• Weakened economy

b/c socialist policies• Privatized business

and industry• Cut back social and

welfare programs• Strengthened national

defense• Market

Tony Blair“Third Way”

• 1997-2007• “New Labour”• Third Way

– Political Organization– Country’s values– Institutions – Policies

• Promised:– New economic, welfare, and

social policy, British leadership in Europe, revitalize democratic participation

– Devolve power from central gov’t to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

Tony Blair

• War in Iraq• Allie to US on the War

in Terrorism– Led moral, diplomatic,

and military support– Created a Special

Relationship– War shifted from

Afghanistan to Iraq

Citizens, Society, and the State

Multi-national Identities

• England: largest in the region

• Wales: West of England (16th century)

• Scotland: James I; still have a strong national identity

• Northern Ireland: remained under British rule after 1949 Independence

Social Class Distinctions

Social Class Distinction

• Working v. Middle Class

• Education differences– 65% of 17 years old

are still in school– Elite class– Now: more

widespread

Oxbridge: Oxford and Cambridge combined

Ethnic Minorities

• 7.1% non-European origin

• Ethnic population grew 53% (91-01)– 3 mill to 4.6 mill– Despite immigration

restrictions – Mixed race population

is increase (2001 census)

Political Beliefs and Values

• Civic Culture: trust, deference to authority and competence, pragmatism, and harmony

• High % of people vote in elections

• Values of free market economy

• Decreasing support of Labour unions

• Increased violence regarding Northern Ireland

• Thatcherism• New Labour• Protest over the Iraq

War

Political Beliefs and Values

Voting Behavior

• Social Class: – Lines have been

blurred– Reflection by the

“Third Party” way– Labour: strongest

among people who feel disadvantaged: Scots, Welsh, and poor

• Regional Factors: – Labour: Liverpool,

Manchester, Newcastle, Yorkshire, Scotland, Wales, and urban, industrial areas

– Conservative: England, rural and suburban areas

Voting Behavior

Political Institutions

Linkage Institutions

• Political Parties– Labour – Conservative – Liberal Democarats

Linkage Institutions

• Interest Groups;– Pluralism – Neo-Corporatism– Quangos (quasi-

autonomous nongovernmental organization)

– 5,000 organization

• Most influential:– Linked to class and interest – TUC: coalition of unions

Role of the Media

• Quality News and Tabloids

• BBC– Sought to educate – Clash b/w Blair

government

• Strictly regulated by Government

Institutions of National Government

• Parliamentary System:– Executive branch is fused with the legislative

branch– Separation of powers does not exists– Judicial Branch lacks power of judicial review

• Unitary System;– Centralized in London

Comparative Executives

Prime Minister of Britain President of the U.S.

Serves only as long as he/she remains the leader of the majority party

Elected every four years by an electoral college based on popular election

Elected as a member of Parliament (MP)

Elected as President

Has an excellent chance of getting his/her programs past Parliament

Has an excellent chance of ending up in gridlock with Congress

Cabinet members not always MPs and leaders of the majority party

Cabinet member usually not from congress

Cabinet members not experts in policy areas; rely on bureaucracy to provide expertise

Expertise in policy areas one criteria for appointment to cabinet members head cast bureaucracies

The Cabinet and the Prime Minister

• Collective Cabinet: – center of policy-making in

the British political system – Do not vote – Publicly support PMs

decisions

• Prime Minister: – Responsibility to Shape

their decisions

• Take Collective Responsibility

The Prime Minister

• Speaks legitimately for all Members of Parliament

• Chooses ministers and important subordinate posts

• Makes decisions in the cabinet, with the agreement of the ministers

• Campaign for and represents the party in parliamentary elections

Parliament

House of Commons

• One Party will get the majority of the seats

• Another will serve as the “opposition” – “loyal opposition”

• Multi-party system at the polls– Two party system in

the HC

Set up of the House of Commons

Debate

• Debate is quite spirited – Trying to gain attention

• Question Time:– PM and cabinet must defend themselves

• Speaker of the House: – presides over debate– Supposed to be objective– Not a member of the maj. Party– Allow everyone to speak

• Opposition is consider the “check” – Since there is no checks and balances

Party Discipline

• Very important– If the government do not support = crisis because if

lacks legitimacy

• Majority party wants to avoid “vote of Confidence”– Issues if not supported =

• Cabinet must resign immediately• Elections for new MPs is held

– Try to settle policy issues

• If a party losses confidence = everyone losses their job

• Example:– 2005 Higher Education Bill squeaked by 316-

311 votes– Allowed Blair’s government to continue to

control the Commons

• Backbenchers– John Major power was weakened – Blair over the use of force in Iraq

Party Discipline

Powers of Parliament

• Debate and refine potential Legislation

• The only ones who may become party leaders and ultimately may head the government

• Scrutinize the administration of laws

• Keep communication lines open between voters and ministers

House of Lords

• Hereditary parliamentary

• Minimal influence• Only power to delay

legislation • Debate technicalities

of proposed bills• May add

amendments

House of Lords

• Five “Law Lords”– Highest Court of

Appeals– Cannot rule acts of

Parliament unconstitutional

• Hereditary Peers– Passed through the

family• Life Peers

– Distinguished service to Great Britain

• Lack separation of between the Prime Minister and the legislature

• Dangerous concentration of Power

• Praise efficiency – No gridlock

Criticism of British Parliament

The Bureaucracy

• Civil Servants – Administer laws– Deliver public service– Clerical work– Higher level:

• directly advise ministers • Oversee work of the departments

• Stable and powerful – Experts

Judiciary

• Trial By Jury– Henry II

• Modern: limited powers– Parliamentary

Sovereignty– Determine government

decisions have/have not violated common law

• Relationship with EU

Public Policy and Current Issues

Public Policy and Current Issues

• The evolving relationship between government and the economy

• British relationship with the European Union

• Blair’s balancing act between the U.S. and the EU

• Direction of post-Blair policy• Terrorism• Devolution and constitutional reform

Government and Economy

• Until 1970’s: collective consensus– Social democratic values that support government

control– Keynesianism: gov’t took action to secure full

employment, expand social services, maintain a steady rate of growth, keep prices stable

• Thatcher: neo-liberalism– Free market economy and denationalization of

industries

• Currently: “middle way”

European Union

• 1978 joined the “Common Market” – Thatcher was opposed to quick integration – Opposed adoption of the Euro – Major and Blair gov’t favorable of EU

• Labour supported EU and Euro till they obtained office

• Conservatives are divided

• Public– Wants to keep the British way

Post-Blair Policy

• The “Legacy of Blair”– Economy has stabilized– Globalization has made London a dynamic

city in the world – Schools and hospitals improved– Devolution – Paying more attention to climate change,

worldwide poverty

• Brown:– Low key nature: how can affect place in

international politics– Meet with George W. Bush in 2007 – May or may not change the future

Post-Blair Policy

Terrorism

• “ Over ten years I have watched this {terrorism} grow. (if you had told me a decade ago that I would be tackling terrorism, I would have readily understood, but thought you meant Irish Republican Terrorism.)”

– Tony Blair

Terrorism

• Brown:– Committed to nonviolence– Started a pilot program to teach nonviolence

among British Muslims– Still struggle with how to isolate Muslim

extremist

Balancing Act b/w US and EU

• Tony Blair– Domestically: sustain economic prosperity

and social equality; British tradition – Internationally: develop new relationships

with Europe and maintain a relationship with US

– Iraq: damaged relationship with France, caused dissent in the Labour leadership (lost votes), lose of popular support

Devolution and Constitutional Reform

• Devolution : – Problems with Northern Ireland– Desire for Scotland and Wales to be independent

• Delayed by Thatcher (1977 failed)• Supported by Labour Party • 1999: referenda in both regions passed and now have

regional assemblies – 1998 Good Friday Agreement:

• A parliament was set up for NI• b/c of violence the assembly was suspended for 5 years• May 2007: reopened

– Affects of the new assemblies is not known – Creation of office of mayor and GA for London

Devolution

• Other reforms– Written Bill of Rights for individual citizens – Written Constitution – Freedom of information – New electoral system

• Retains strong attachment to traditions

• Role model for the development of democratic traditions in the modern world