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about two times that of the state of Mississippi
Really all in a dense band from London to Newcastle, much of the land is open.
Population
about 59 million
non-white immigration since WWII from South Asia, West Indies, and East Asia
4.6 million (8% of total population)
Europeans?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
created in 1801
Great Britain
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
Union Flag – For the UK
Cross of St. George – English flag for centuries, St.
George legendarily slayed some dragon.
Welsh Flag- Claims to be oldest in world, probably from
Roman calvary
Cross of St. Andrew – Scottish Flag
Unofficial Flag of Northern Ireland
Irish Flag, some ‘republican’ parts of Northern Ireland fly
it as their flag as well.
Historical challenges to all industrialized democracies:
Building the nation-state
Defining the relationship between church and state
Establishing liberal democracy
Dealing with the impact of the industrial revolution
1215: Magna Carta 1295 – Convening of Model Parliament of Edward I, the first representative
Parliament 1500s: the Church of England 1529 Reformation Parliament of Henry VIII cuts ties to Roman Catholic Church. 1500s, defeat of Spanish Armada in 1588, perhaps the high point of English culture
with Shakespeare. 1628 Charles I forced to sign Petition of Right, Parliament‟s first statement of civil
rights in return for funds 1642-60: Civil War and Restoration 1688: Glorious Revolution 1689 Bill of Rights issued, est. constitutional monarchy 1701: Act of Settlement
royal succession Early 1700s: emergence of prime minister, 1721 Walpole the first 1832-1867 Reform Acts passed extending vote to all urban males and most of
countryside 1900 Labour Party est. 1916-1922 – Anglo-Irish War fought, independent Republic of Ireland formed 1973 UK made a member of the EEC, now EU 1979-1990 – Thatcher Era 1997- 2008 Blair Era
Waves of invasions by Romans, Angles Saxons, Danes, Celts, and finally Normans. British culture a mix of all of these influences.
„Celtic Fringe‟ Wales, Scotland, Ireland have own distinct languages.
English heavily influenced by French, French Normans ruled England since 1066. Many of our words are French heritage.
James I, a Scot, united England and Scotland but brought on a century of power struggles beginning in 1607.
1714 House of Hannover, relied on a cabinet to run the goernment 19th century, the most powerful nation in history. Naval power
and technology and industrialization made it the pre-eminent power. Governed one quarter of the world‟s population, „the sun never set‟, loss of empire was slow and gradual.
House of Lords – represented high nobility, Commons – low aristocracy and merchants. Monarch very powerful until the Germans came.
Political Parties – Tories (pro-Monarch) vs Whigs (against Monarch power, influenced American Founders).
1832 Reform Act Working Class that won the World Wars
established a „collectivist consensus‟ of social welfare programs and the nationalization of the commanding heights of the economy.
1832: Great Reform Act (men‟s suffrage)
1911: Reform of House of Lords
1928: Right to vote for all adults
Both Labour and Conservative gradually expanded the role of government
Party identification, electoral behavior, and occupation were strongly correlated
most of working class voted Labour
most of middle class voted Conservative
Parliament selects the prime minister
prime minister is not elected by popular vote
normally the head of majority party or coalition
Cabinet responsibility to parliament
major legislation and votes of confidence
voters Parliament
Majority party
Minority party
Prime minister
& cabinet
Government Queen‟s, David Cameron, or Conservative
government
Whitehall Street executive agencies
Downing Street prime minister‟s residence
Westminster parliament
The House of Commons 659 members
voting is 100% along party lines in most votes
party versus constituency interests
the House of Lords is not elected
Heriditary
Life peers
reforms
the government gets its way
MPs weigh political reputations
MPs in the governing party have opportunities to influence government
MPs talk about legislation
MPs scrutinize administration of policies
MPs publicizing issues
Minor role, no judicial review per se but courts can strike down some legislation that violates one of constitutional documents.
Mainly to make sure statutes are followed International Law increases power Judges come from distinguished jurists selected
by Lord Chancellor Conservative bias Common Law Complex system of civil and criminal courts House of lords is highest court.
The real source of power
Always present unified front
Home Office, Foreign Office, and Chancellor of the Exchequer
Shadow ministers
Executive
Legislature Court
Bureaucracies
Political parties Interest groups
Domestic economy
Domestic culture Domestic society
U.S.
France Germany
Russia
Postwar collectivist consensus until 1970s
consensus about role of government for the collective economic and social good
state should take expanded responsibility
economic growth and full employment
state should provide social welfare
public education, health care, etc.
publicly owned sector (1/5 of total production)
Labour Party – Working class, stronger hints of socialism, more like our democrats under Blair
Conservatives (Tories) – More moderate right party, do not disagree with all of collective ideas.
Liberal Democrats – mixture of social equality and classical liberalism emphasis on weak state. Most pro-EU, want proportional voter reforms.
Others- Scottish Nationalist Party control Scottish legislature, Welsh Plaid Cymru, several Northern Irish parties Ulster Union, Sinn Fein
Park Ridge Football Party- Lots of alcohol, lots of fights, police support, parental limited government.
Economic stagflation in 1970s
Neither party was able to manage economy well
1978-79 “winter of discontent” strikes
Thatcher‟s alternative vision
cut taxes, reduce social services
stimulate the private sector
market and “businesslike” methods
Served (1979 - 1990) longer without interruption than any other British prime minister in 20th century
Even under Thatcher and Major, Britain experienced real growth in both social services and health care provisions
1979-1984 government spending actually rose from 39% of GNP to 44% of GNP
1890: 8%
1910: 12%
1920: 26%
1989 survey: less than 1/3 approved of the “Thatcher revolution”
1997 electoral victory
the largest majority in parliament (419/659) that the Labour Party has ever held
Conservative vote fell to its lowest share since 1832
Tony Blair: “New Labour is a party of ideas and ideals, but not of outdated ideology. What counts is what works.”
“Third way” alternative to collectivism and Thatcherism:
rejected the historic ties between Labour governments and the trade union movement
reversed the tendency to provide centralized statist solutions to economic and social problem
A vague philosophy to draw support from across the social-economic spectrum.
Year Working class Women
1974 57% 38%
1979 50% 35%
1983 38% 26%
1987 42% 32%
1992 45% 34%
1997 58% 49%
Civil society institutions independent of government
Interest groups influence politics not by contesting elections
regardless of which party wins
Distance between party and interest groups Interest groups criticize partisan allies
Quangos though, polciy advisory boards.
Organizations of British businesses
Confederation of British Industries
dominated by large firms
Organizations of British labour
Trades Union Congress (TUC)
38% of workforce is unionized
90% of unionized workers are affiliated with TUC
affiliation with the Labour Party
Class Conflicts
National and Ethnic Identity
Culture considered pragmatic, tolerant, stable
Slow political process despite power of any majority party.
Political demands of individuals and groups are combined into policy programs
farmers, environmentalists, business, etc.
substantial political resources
popular votes, campaign funds, legislative seats, executive influence, etc.
competing policy goals are compromised to produce a single governing program
Were powerful local councils, Thatcher abolished them in 1986, this coupled with poll tax was one of Thatcher‟s most unpopular ideas.
1997, Blair returns power to local governments to some extent, particularly in London.
1997 Scotland and Wales have their own legislatures. Nationalist sentiment is strong in Scotland.
1998 Good Friday agreement, reestablishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Federalism?
Still unitary for now.
-Ireland dominated by the United Kingdom, union with UK in 1801, but had been dominated
by English and Protestant landholders for centuries since the 1600s. Penal laws restricted
rights of Catholic Irish. Irish Rebellion in 1798 resulted in violence, and establishment of
Society of United Irishmen and the Orange Order of Protestants to fight for loyalty to Crown
and William of Orange.
-Irish Famine in the 1840s, population declines by almost 30% through death and
emigration, many settle in US or cities like Liverpool, Manchester and Edinburgh.
-Charles Stewart Parnell, agitates for limited home rule by end of 18th century, much of his
efforts are blocked by House of Lords. Prime Minister Gladstone wishes for reform of
relationship with Ireland. Several acts of disobedience including a boycott help the cause.
IPP party is formed and plays a powerful role as kingmaker in Parliament.
-Easter Rising of 1918, movement turns more violent. Eamon de Valera returns from
imprisonment and radicalizes movement.
-War for Independence 1919-1921, Sinn Fein and IRA lead guerrilla war against British and
Ulster Unionists.
-1921 peace is negotiated by leadership lead by Michael Collins, but it accepts partition of
the island. De Valera strongly opposes and a bitter feud ensues
Free Irish State of 1922 established, NI out. FIS Has dominion status within UK until 1949. 1949 Republic of Ireland established, dissolves all ties with UK. Economic challenges and poverty until 1992. Joining EU and
liberalisation helped greatly. Since 1990s Ireland „Celtic Tiger‟. Country growing less socially conservative. 1998 Belfast „Good Friday‟ Agreements, established a Northern
Ireland Parliament with power sharing between the sides. Broke down in 2002, but was re-established in 2007 between Ian
Paisley (Protestant) and Gerry Adams (Catholic). IRA agreed to disarm last summer. Ulster Project International to improve relations between
Protestant and Catholic families across the country.
IRA resisted participation in the Republic, angered over the partition of the island. Various acts of violence on both sides. Was a minority but affected many regular people.
Bombings continued from late 1960s to Belfast agreement in late 1990s. Violence in Northern Ireland, Ireland and in the UK and London.
UK officially claimed their forces were neutral trying to uphold law and order and security, but there was some cooperation with Unionist forces.
Deaths by status of victim[2]StatusNo. Civilian1855 Members of security forces (and reserves)1123 of whom: British Army (excluding Northern Ireland regiments)499 Royal Ulster Constabulary301 Ulster Defence Regiment197 Northern Ireland Prison Service24 Garda Síochána (Republic of Ireland police)9 Royal Irish Regiment7 Territorial Army7 English police forces6 Royal Air Force4 Royal Navy2 Irish Army1 Members of Republican Paramilitary Groups394 Members of Loyalist Paramilitary Groups151