Influences on Political Culture

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

2. 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 Influences on Political Culture

3. How is the legitimacy of the British government evident?

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. 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 British Gradualism at its BEST AND WORST

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. 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 Collective Consensus (1945-1979)

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” • 1979-1990 • 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 • 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

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)

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; • 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

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

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 • 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: • 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

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” • 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 • 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 • 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” • 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