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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% Other 83% English 9% Scottish 5% Welsh 3% Northern Irish
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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% Other 83% English 9% Scottish 5% Welsh 3% Northern Irish RELIGION: 72% Christian (Anglican: official religion), 3% Muslim, 25% Other or N/A HEAD OF STATE: Queen Elizabeth II HEAD OF GOVT: Prime Minister David Cameron
STATE • A set of public institutions that exercise political power over a defined geographic territory. • Maintain sovereignty through the use of power. • Has a GEOGRAPHIC and POLITICAL boundary.
NATION • Human community with a shared culture and history. • Might be a sub-unit within a state. • Might transcend state boundaries.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland STATE http://recipes.wikia.com/wiki/British_Cuisine
United Kingdom • 4 NATIONS • England • Scotland • Wales • Northern Ireland http://www.maps2anywhere.com/Maps/Great_Britain_road_map.htm
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.
Expansion of Political Rights 1832 Great Reform Act • Expanded the male vote 1867 Reform Act • All male householders could vote.
Expansion of Political Rights 1918 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 care • Unemployment insurance • Pensions • National Health Service (NHS), 1948
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 v. Coal Union, 1984-85 • http://www.google.com/imgres?start=29&num=10&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=963&tbm=isch&tbnid=_BhEVGO_L_n1CM:&imgrefurl=http://ricochet.com/main-feed/Hollywood-Chose-The-Wrong-Mother-To-Punish&docid=jmO7Kp1u05V6sM&imgurl=http://cdn.ricochet.com/var/ezwebin_site/storage/images/media/images/margaret_thatcher_iron_ohp_postcard-p239145453810465432z85wg_4002/1493840-1-eng-US/margaret_thatcher_iron_ohp_postcard-p239145453810465432z85wg_400_lightbox.jpg&w=400&h=400&ei=I5xhUJ7XE-L00gHJvoDADw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=389&vpy=626&dur=841&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=121&ty=110&sig=100229315771898025599&page=2&tbnh=145&tbnw=145&ndsp=36&ved=1t:429,r:19,s:29,i:66 • http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=963&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=TzAPoidjgd3nLM:&imgrefurl=http://libcom.org/library/notes-on-the-miners-strike-1984-1985&docid=1dhzutuWb8ETNM&imgurl=http://libcom.org/files/images/history/article-0-03C2B2E7000005DC-205_468x325%255B1%255D.jpg&w=468&h=325&ei=rZthUITxH-m10AG8qICQBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=734&vpy=452&dur=1635&hovh=187&hovw=270&tx=105&ty=99&sig=100229315771898025599&page=3&tbnh=144&tbnw=192&start=63&ndsp=36&ved=1t:429,r:15,s:63,i:329
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
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 Cameron British 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%) • Gordon Brown: Labour PM (2007-2010) Prime Minister: 2010-? (Conservative Party)
Cameron’s Coalition Government Nick Clegg: Liberal Democrats https://plus.google.com/101752040505756228125/posts
Cameron’s “Big Society” • Volunteerism • Empowering individuals and local communities. Power shift Whitehall British people Concern • Funds for volunteer agencies and local communities. • DEVOLUTION: • Delegating decision-making to local public bodies.
University Fees KEY 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 • $1.61=1 Pound $5,316=3,290 Pounds $14,543=9,000 Pounds
“Liberal Democrats: A Long, Unhappy Marriage” • Why did Lib Dems lose half their support in the polls? • List SEVERAL major points of contention between Tories and Lib Dems. • What is the major point of agreement between the two? • In spite of differences/difficulties, why is Clegg loathe to end coalition?
“Liberal Democrats: A Long, Unhappy Marriage” • Why did Lib Dems lose half their support in the polls? • List SEVERAL major points of contention between Tories and Lib Dems. • What is the major point of agreement between the two? • In spite of differences/difficulties, why is Clegg loathe to end coalition?