1. Influences on Political Culture
Island
Small Size
Short supply of fertile soil and growing season
Temperate climate
No major geographic barriers

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Challenges to the Collective Consensus since 1970

8. 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

9. 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

10. Economic Crisis Loss of colonies OPEC Labor Unions
Higher wages
Strikes
Movement toward Liberal and Conservative parties
Margaret Thatcher

11. Margaret Thatcher “Iron Lady”
Weakened economy b/c socialist policies
Privatized business and industry
Cut back social and welfare programs
Strengthened national defense
Market

12. 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

13. 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

14. Citizens, Society, and the State

15. 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 bulk of Ireland became independent

16. Social Class Distinctions

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

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

21. 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

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

23. Political Institutions

24. Linkage Institutions Political Parties Labour Conservative
Liberal Democarats

25. 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

26. Role of the Media Quality News and Tabloids BBC
Sought to educate
Clash b/w Blair government
Strictly regulated by Government

27. Institutions of National Government

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. Parliament

33. 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

34. Set up of the House of Commons

35. 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

36. 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

37. Party Discipline Example: Backbenchers
2005 Higher Education Bill squeaked by 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

38. 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

39. House of Lords Hereditary parliamentary Minimal influence
Only power to delay legislation
Debate technicalities of proposed bills
May add amendments

40. 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

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

42. 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

43. 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

44. Public Policy and Current Issues

45. 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

46. 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”

47. 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

48. 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

49. 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

50. 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

51. Terrorism Brown: Committed to nonviolence
Started a pilot program to teach nonviolence among British Muslims
Still struggle with how to isolate Muslim extremist

52. 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

53. 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

54. 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