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The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom. Making of the Modern British State. Basic Statistics. Area: 243,610 sq. km Natural Resources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, Lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, Clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, slate, Arable land Land Use: arable land: 23.2 %

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The United Kingdom

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  1. The United Kingdom Making of the Modern British State

  2. Basic Statistics Area: 243,610 sq. km Natural Resources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, Lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, Clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, slate, Arable land Land Use: arable land: 23.2 % permanent crops: 0.2% other: 76.5% Ethnic Groups: white 92.1% (of which English 83.6%, Scottish8.6%, Welsh 4.9%, Northern Irish 2.9%), Black 2%, Indian 1.8%, Pakistani 1.3%, mixed 1.2% Religions: Christian (Anglican, Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 71.6%, Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1%, unspecified or none 23%

  3. What’s in a name? United Kingdom- England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland Britain- England, Scotland, and Wales England = England Good Friday Agreement (1998)

  4. British Confusion • The four regions can operate very differently: a. Scotland = own bank notes and legal system; Wales and NI do not b. England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all have own soccer teams but play together in cricket and rugby (sometimes)

  5. British Political History

  6. Thinking About Britain- Why is it a core Nation? • The incubator (even the originator) of liberal democracy • Gradualism a. Collective Consensus • 500 + yrs as one of the world’s great powers • Political system is similar to those in other English speaking countries

  7. 5. Britain today- only #1 and #4 still hold true

  8. Broad Sweep of British History • 1215- Magna Carta - end of absolute monarchy - consent of nobility before imposing taxes or spending money - created the Great Council - an early meeting of the minds

  9. 16th Century - Reformation and split b/w Catholics and Protestants - King Henry VIII softened the blow • Glorious Revolution 1688 - King now accountable to Parliament

  10. English Bill of Rights 1689 - illegal for monarch to impose taxes w/ consent of Parliament - could not enforce law w/out consent • Act of Settlement - procedures for succession to the throne - King and Queen govern in accordance with laws passed by parliament

  11. Development shaped by gradualism a. shift of power (gradual) from aristocracy to the people b. laid foundation of parliamentary democracy c. first country to industrialize, dominant world power 19thc d. model for other countries- consolidation of democracy and Westminster model

  12. Westminster Model

  13. Magna Carta 1215 a. limited the power of the monarchy and protected rights of feudal barons (King John) • English Bill of Rights 1689 a. Limits on power of the crown b. rights of Parliament c. freedom of speech in Parliament d. regular elections e. right to petition Monarch f. Reestablished right of Protestants to have arms for their defense

  14. Great Reform Act of 1832 a. Extending voting rights to another 300,000 men. b. Showed ruling elites willingness to adapt and cede some authority 6. Reform Act of 1867

  15. Representation of the People Act of 1884 and 1885 - working-class men became majority of the electorate 8. 1928 all women had voting rights

  16. Typically described as 2 party system; 2010 coalition gov. w/ Conservative-Liberal Democratic Alliance David Cameron Nick Clegg First formal coalition government in Britain since the 1930s

  17. Gradualism and Religion State sponsored Official religion 2/3 belong to the church Receives funding and support From the State

  18. British parties don’t have strong religious connections

  19. Political Change L R Collectivist Consensus (1945-1979) Thatcherism (1979-1997) Thatcher & Major The Third Way (1997-) Blair & Brown Cameronism (1997-)

  20. The Collectivist Consensus • 1945-1979 “Golden Era” • Policy Goals: - narrow gap b/w rich and poor - provide basic necessities through education, health care, and other policies of the welfare state - economic improvement and full employment (4% or less)

  21. Roots lie in WWII a. Winston Churchill (conservative) forms all-coalition government 1. normal politics suspended (including elections) 2. William Beveridge (conservative)- overhaul Social Service System a. Every citizen eligible for h.c. b. Unemployment insurance c. Pensions

  22. b. 1945- Labour Party wins c. Next 30 years- both parties enlarged government and differed on how big and how fast it should happen 1. neither discussed restricting size a. unabated economic growth b. no real divisive or controversial political “wedge” issue

  23. Economics of the Collectivist Consensus Keynesianism Deficit spending by the government Spurs economy (Demand-side Economics) New Deal/Stimulus Packages Laissez-Faire Free-market More capitalistic Nationalized industry More socialistic

  24. British Political Culture Collectivist Years a. Virtual unanimous belief in the regime b. Public trust in politicians c. Sense of political efficacy d. Sense of patriotism Protest ---”Uncivic” Culture? Aka “The Crisis Years” a. everything changed in te 1970s 1. The “Sick Man of Europe” 2. uncontrolled gov’t spending, short-termism, gov’t leaders lacked understanding of economic theory, high unemployment, limited output, massive inflation ----economy a mess! 3. Strikes made it worse- especially coal 4. 1973 OPEC oil embargo a. Conservative Policy- 3-Day-Week 5. 1978- “Winter of Discontent”

  25. “Now is the Winter of our Discontent” Richard III Act 1, Scene 1

  26. This House has NO CONFIDENCE In Her Majesty’s Government. Labour government (PM Callaghan) Defeated 311-310

  27. Economics of ThatcherismMonatarism replaces Keynesianism • Supply side economics • Limited gov’t intervention • Reduce social spending, downsize public sector, reduce gov’t. workforce, and privatize industry • Cut taxes and let people innovate

  28. Thatcherite Social Policy • Less reliance on “the dole” • ‘Workfare’ instead of ‘welfare’ • Change benefits structures of welfare state (means testing and COLA shifts) • Cut spending

  29. New Labour’s Third Way • Modernization and recast British politics • “third way” alternative - break from tradition – Labour = unions and working people; Conservatives = business and well to do - New Labour = expand political base 3. Blair v. Brown 4. Iraq War and economic meltdown

  30. Took on foreign affairs Took on domestic issues

  31. Conservative-Liberal Coalition • David Cameron • Climate change, citizen activism, reduce gap b/w rich and poor • 2010- “hung parliament” • Cameron and Clegg - “Big Society”- devolution of power - local control of schools, recall of MP’s, elect police commissioners, etc.

  32. Political Economy and Development • British economy = “two track” pattern a. strong service sector b. weak industrial sector • Pre-2008 meltdown: a. low unemployment, low interest rates, low inflation, sustained growth

  33. Economic Management • British Macroeconomic policy a. Consensus = keynesianism b. Thatcherite = monetarism c. New Labour = improve labor quality through education and training; maintain market flexibility, and attract investment 1. control of inflation and limits on public expenditures d. Coalition Government = deficit reduction 1. cut in gov’t. subsidies for public housing, increase pension age, reduce child benefits for middle class families, 10% cut in welfare benefits, and 20% cut in public spending across board

  34. 2. Social Policy a. reduction of group inequalities not the proper goal of welfare state b. policies not that generous compared to rest of Europe

  35. 2011- administering of health care and managing budgets handed over to General practitioners

  36. Society and Economy

  37. Inequality and ethnic minorities a. diminished opportunity b 80% under the age of 45 c. young men targets of police and citizen harassment

  38. Inequality and Women

  39. a. Inequality by the numbers: - Full time employee pay gap = 10.2% - Part time “ “ = -4% - 2008- 79% of men employed; 70% of women - 50% of jobs performed by women are part-time; 1/6 performed by men b. Patterns of women’s employment shaped by chronic undersupply of affordable child care

  40. Britain in the Global Economy • #1 in Europe for FDI a. low cost, business friendly, financial incentives, reduced trade union power, and nonunionized recruits

  41. Governance and Policy-Making • Organization of the State a. parliamentary sovereignty + unitary government + Parliamentary democracy + constitutional monarchy = Westminster Model b. European Union 1. EU law overrides British law 2. European Court of Justice c. Unitary State 1. devolution under New Labour

  42. Cabinet Government

  43. 24 + cabinet positions a. Foreign Office, Home Office, Chancellor of the Exchequer, etc. b. overlapping membership required c. loyal followers or ideological combatants d. PM needs support of majority of cabinet on significant decisions e. only routine check on PM

  44. Cabinet supported by many institutions a. Cabinet committees, official committees, treasury, whips from Commons and Lords 3. Fusion of executive and legislature = decisive leadership

  45. Bureaucracy and Civil Service • Public and Semipublic Institutions a. Nationalized Industries 1. collective consensus- coal, iron and steel, gas and electric, 2. Thatcher- privatize b. quangos

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