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? Willingness of the English people to Obey the law Police force is smaller and crime is individual violence Until: recently terrorist acts

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 Promised: 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 Ireland granted home rule after WWI and IRA 1949 bulk of Ireland became independent

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) Immigration: from colonies, Thatcher admin in 1980’s restricted immigration Adjusted poorly: police and physical harassment = race riots, plus increased scare after 9/11

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

Political Beliefs and Values Decreasing support of Labour unions Increased violence regarding Northern Ireland Thatcherism New Labour Protest over the Iraq War

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

Voting Behavior Regional Factors: Labour: Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Yorkshire, Scotland, Wales, and urban, industrial areas Conservative: England, rural and suburban areas

Political Institutions

Linkage Institutions Political Parties Labour Conservative Liberal Democarats

Linkage Institutions Interest Groups; Most influential: 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 “First among Equals”: he/she stands at the apex of the unitary government

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 Question Time: Speaker of the House: 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

Party Discipline Example: Backbenchers 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

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” Hereditary Peers Life Peers Highest Court of Appeals Cannot rule acts of Parliament unconstitutional Hereditary Peers Passed through the family Life Peers Distinguished service to Great Britain

Criticism of British Parliament Lack separation of between the Prime Minister and the legislature Dangerous concentration of Power Praise efficiency No gridlock

The Bureaucracy Civil Servants Stable and powerful 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 Modern: limited powers Relationship with EU 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” Public 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

Post-Blair Policy 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

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 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 Retains strong attachment to traditions 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