Chapter One: Seeking New Lands, Seeing with New Eyes

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Comparative Politics Domestic Responses to
Global Challenges, Seventh Edition by Charles
Hauss
Chapter 4 Great Britain
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Learning Objectives

• After studying this chapter, students should be
  able to
• explain how the economic problems faced by
  Britain have had such dramatic political
  consequences.
• define and give examples of gradualism within the
  context of British political history.
• describe examples of the changes made by Prime
  Ministers Thatcher and Major to the
  political/economic culture of Britain.
• describe how New Labour differed from Old
  Labour and from Thatcherism.
• identify 4-6 major developments in the creation
  of the current regime.
• describe the basic elements of the collectivist
  consensus.
• describe several ways in which the civic culture
  of the collectivist consensus broke down in the
  1970s.

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Learning Objectives, continued

• After studying this chapter, students should also
  be able to
• explain why the three major parties in Britain
  are considered catch-all parties today.
• identify the main characteristics of the
  Conservative Party that ensured its success and
  survival.
• describe the conflict between ideological and
  pragmatic politics within the Labour Party that
  eventually led to Tony Blairs election as party
  leader.
• explain in general terms how interest groups
  function in Britain.
• explain the roles of the parliamentary party, the
  shadow cabinet, and collective responsibility in
  the functioning of Commons.
• describe the basics of the debates in Britain
  over the countrys relationship with Europe.

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The Blair Decade

• In 2008, the British government nationalized
  Northern Rock.
• The government gained a majority of seats on the
  Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) board of directors
  in 2008.
• The economy shrank by 0.6 in the last six months
  of 2008.
• The British government introduced a stimulus
  package.

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Thinking about Britain

• The Basics
• One of worlds most densely populated countries
• No longer an all white country
• Welfare state is still strong
• Social class remains a powerful force

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Thinking about Britain

• Democracy evolved over centuries. Scholars call
  this process gradualism.
• Post WWII, this led to a collectivist consensus
  in favor of a mixed economy and welfare state.
• Only in recent years has the countrys power
  started to decline.

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Thinking about Britain

• Four Themes
• Britain has suffered from less unrest and has had
  a more consensual history than any other country.
  
• Britains relative economic standing declined
  dramatically in the second half of the 20th
  century.
• The conservative governments of Margaret Thatcher
  and John Major in the 1980s and 1990s redefined
  political life.
• Impact of Blair and the New Labour Party

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The Evolution of the British State

• Sequential, rather than simultaneous, tasks of
  British
• Building the nation state
• Defining the role of religion
• Establishing liberal democracy
• Industrial revolution
• Maintained legitimacy without constitution

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The Evolution of the British StateBroad Sweep of
British History

• British State dates back to the Magna Carta
• Reformation and Henry VIII
• Two Revolutions in the 17th Century paved the way
  for Parliamentary Democracy
• Bill of Rights
• Act of Settlement 1701
• The Industrial Revolution resulted in the working
  class demanding political change
• Great Reform Act of 1832
• Late 1860s brought greater electoral reform
• In 1911 House of Lord stripped of power

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The Evolution of the British StateThe
Collectivist Consensus

• During WWII, Winston Churchill and opposition
  parties agreed to suspend normal politics.
• The Conservatives under Churchill agreed to
  establish a Commission to overhaul the social
  services system.
• This surge of reform came to an end in 1949, but
  the Conservatives did not repeal the reforms.

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The Evolution of the British StateThe
Collectivist Consensus

• From 1945 to the mid 1970s was the golden era of
  British politics
• WWII coalition government became an informal
  agreement on many issues
• Beveridge Report of 1942 formed core of
  Collectivist Consensus
• Post-war political cleavages were class based
  more than policy based

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British Political Culture

• The civic culture and the collectivist years
• High levels of legitimacy
• Great civic tolerance
• Patriotic enthusiasm

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British Political CultureThe Politics of
Protest Toward an Uncivic Culture?

• Growing unrest with the collectivist consensus in
  the 1970s
• Bloody Sunday 1972
• Racism and riots
• Radicalization of unions in face of growing
  unemployment and economic decline
• Thatcher government played on dissatisfaction
  with the left.

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British Political Culture

• The civic culture holds
• Dangers of protest were fleeting
• Economic recovery of the 1980s eased many
  problems
• Skepticism toward politicians grew

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British Political CultureWill there always be a
Britain?

• Identification with the UK has declined since the
  late 1960s
• Resurgence of support for regional parties in
  Scotland and Wales
• Devolution (regional parliaments)
• Monarchys loss of influence and prestige
• Increasing racial diversity (most born in the UK)
• Growing importance of the EU, euroskeptics

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Political Participation

• Parties have been the primary vehicle for
  political participation for over 100 years
• Party manifestos (platforms) have been very
  important in the past.
• Ever since WWII, either the Labour Party or the
  Conservative Party has won each general election.
• The parties began to change in the 1970s, with
  the parties both moving towards ideological
  extremes.
• All major parties have become catch-all parties.

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Political ParticipationThe Conservatives

• Conservatives have been successful
• They were flexible and changed policies.
• They emphasized market forces but maintained
  responsibility to the poor.
• They have an elitist but effective organization.
• Party strong during Thatcher years
• Party has had four leaders since 1997
• Today they are stronger contenders because of
  public dissatisfaction with Labour Party.
• The partys views on Europe are not shared by the
  majority of Britons. The party leadership is
  aging.

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Political ParticipationLabour

• Began as alliance of unions, socialists, and
  cooperative associations in the early 20th
  century
• Clause 4 Formally repudiated by Blair
• Economic crisis and New Left activists led to
  leadership by partys left wing
• Leaders more interested in electoral success than
  ideology were chosen in mid-80s
• New Labour Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and
  younger, more moderate leaders took over in
  mid-1990s

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Political ParticipationLiberal Democrats

• Product of 1987 merger of Liberal and Social
  Democratic parties
• First past the post system prevents them from
  winning as many seats.
• The party is currently challenging the
  Conservatives as second-largest party.
• The party has capitalized on dissatisfaction with
  conservatives to build its base.
• The party has fared better under new leader
  Charles Kennedy.

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Political ParticipationMinor Parties

• Rise in Scottish, Welsh, and Irish nationalism
  has led to moderate growth in support for
  regional political parties.
• What is devolution?
• Regional parties fortunes ebb and flow. In
  recent general elections, they have often come in
  second in their regions.
• Regional parties have always dominated Northern
  Ireland

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Political ParticipationThe British Electorate

• The British electorate
• Long time class-based politics upset by
  radicalism and Thatcher victories
• Dealignment instead of realignment
• Labour victories result of
• Voters fatigue with Conservative government
• Success in appealing to middle class and
  post-materialist voters
• Labor has tried to increase support among women
  by nominating them to elected positions

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Political ParticipationInterest Groups

• Many interest groups, but little actual lobbying
• Lobbying must be done when bills are drafted
• Focus their activity on the people who make the
  decisions
• Civil servants
• Ministers
• Party leaders
• Trade Unions Council has close links with labor,
  Confederation of British Industries with
  Conservatives
• What was their role during collectivist years?

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The British State Enduring Myths and Changing
Realities

• Walter Bagehots The English Constitution
• Britains Constitution composed of acts of
  Parliament, understandings, and traditional
  practices that everyone agreed to follow
• Difference between the dignified and real
  constitution

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The British State Enduring Myths and Changing
Realities

• The Monarchy and the Lords visible but powerless
• House of Lords 92 have hereditary membership,
  life seats to recognize exemplary service, church
  officials, and law lords
• Can delay legislation for up to six months
• In theory, monarch still rules in Parliament,
  but not in practice

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The British State Enduring Myths and Changing
Realities

• House of Commons
• Represent single member districts elected in
  first past the post system
• MPs do not have to live in their districts
• Elections are party centered

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The British State Enduring Myths and Changing
Realities

• Key to British Democracy is the Parliamentary
  Party
• Leader of majority party is Prime Minister
• Head of minority party is the shadow cabinet
• Backbenchers
• Thatcher and Browns career paths are typical

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The British State Enduring Myths and Changing
Realities

• The Cabinet
• Cabinet members are all members of the House of
  Commons except for the Attorney General and
  Leaders of the House of Lords
• Collective responsibility
• Introduces all legislation
• 90 of legislation passes after extended study
  and debate
• Richard Crossman memoirs, cabinet becoming less
  important

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The British State Enduring Myths and Changing
Realities

• The rest of the British State
• Civil servants act as administrators, not policy
  makers.
• Regulatory agencies oversee newly privatized
  companies.
• QUANGOs make a great deal of policy and
  regulation.
• While courts have potential to be more active,
  they have never exercised a policy-making role.

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FIGURE 4-1 Decision Making in Britain
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Public Policy The Thatcher and Blair Revolutions

• Domestic politics
• After the 1945 election Labour nationalized key
  industries, were performing poorly by the 1960s
• Welfare state became a growing expense
• Thatcher reduced the role of state and privatized
  government owned companies and government
  services
• Tony Blair's Third Way

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Public Policy The Thatcher and Blair Revolutions

• Domestic Policy Thatcher and Major governments
• Privatization was popular in the short term
• Attempts to reduce social service met with
  resistance
• Supporters saved British economy
• Detractors Widened gap between rich and poor

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Public Policy The Thatcher and Blair Revolutions

• Domestic Policy Blair government
• Welfare to work
• Raised minimum wage
• Tuition increases
• Congestion pricing

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Public Policy The Thatcher and Blair Revolutions

• Foreign policy Europe
• International power has waned since WWII
• Special relationship with United States
• Britain divided on Europe
• Issue of single currency
• Should the UK join European Monetary Union?
• Should the UK ratify the new EU treaty
  (constitution)?

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Public Policy The Thatcher and Blair Revolutions

• Foreign policy Iraq
• Great Britain supported 1991 Gulf War and U.S.
  effort in Afghanistan after 9/11
• Under Blair government, Great Britain became
  second largest contingent of troops in Iraq in
  2003
• Britain pulled half of its troops by mid-2007

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Feedback

• Centralized, professional media
• 11 main daily newspapers, London dailies
• Regional newspapers, local newspapers
• Five quality newspapers known as broadsheets
• Tabloids are superficial and scandalous
• BBC and independent broadcasters offer thorough
  political coverage
• Papers usually support a political party
• Very little local news
• Conclusion Blairs legacy and British democracy,
  regime has rock solid support