1. United Kingdom

2. United Kingdom Political and Economic Change
Citizens, Society, and the State
Sovereignty, Authority, and Power
Public Policy
Political Institutions

3. Political Change Gradualism Evolution, not revolution
In comparison, Mexico, Russia, and China all experienced political change as a result of revolution
Adjusting to the Industrial Revolution
Creation of new social classes
Voting rights (Great Reform 1832, Reform 1867, Representation of People 1884, Women’s suffrage 1918, 1928)
Labor Party created in 1906

4. UK Intro-Fast Facts Population: 60,068,000 Capital: London; 7,615,000
Area: 242,910 square kilometers (93,788 square miles)
Currency: British pound
Life Expectancy: 78
GDP per Capita: U.S. $25,500
Literacy Percent: 99
Economy
Industry: Machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding
Agriculture: Cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables; cattle; fish
Exports: Manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food, beverages, tobacco

5. Political Change Loss of Imperialist Powers Collective Consensus
Helped colonies prepare for independence
Collective Consensus
Result of WWII
End Collective Consensus
Political party split as result of economy
The UK has a liberal attitude toward change
In contrast, Iran has a conservative attitude and China has a reactionary attitude

6. Economic Change Economic Economic Problems in the 1970s Citizens React
Declining industrial production and international influence
Citizens React
Thatcherism
Privatized business, cut back social welfare, strengthened national defense, strict with labor unions, returned to market controls on economy
Neoliberalism

7. Economic Change Cont. Third Way and “Big Society”
John Major as successor to Thatcher
“Third way”
Tony Blair, new Labour Party
“Big Society”
Coalition formed in 2010 between Liberal Democrats and Conservatives
David Cameron initiated vision of “big society”

8. Citizens Overview
Mostly homogenous-7% of Britain’s citizens are ethnic minorities
The main minority in the UK is Muslim and this is also the case in Russia
Social cleavages
The largest cleavage in the UK is religion
In Nigeria the largest cleavage is ethnicity
In Mexico the largest cleavage is social class
Multi-National Identities
“United Kingdom”-England, Wales, Scotland, part of Ireland

9. Citizens England Wales Largest Region
English dominates other nationalities
Challenge to integrate nationalities, but allow them to retain identities
Wales
Became subject to English king in 16th century
Welsh pride
Challenge: acceptance of English authority, but resentment remains as well as feelings of exploitation

10. Citizens Scotland Northern Ireland
Separate country resisted British rule until early 1600s
Agreed to single Parliament in London (1603)
Challenge: Scots have strong national identity, own national flag, Scottish Parliament recently revived
Northern Ireland
England and Ireland have long history of religious conflict
After WWI ended, Ireland was granted home rule with exception of NE corner
By 1949, Ireland totally independent, Northern Ireland remaining under British rule
Challenge: Religious tensions between Protestants and Catholics

11. Cleavages Social Class Distinction Ethnic Minorities
Working class v middle class
Psychological divide, solidarity
“Public schools” for elite, private grammar schools for middle class
Ethnic Minorities
Indian 23% of all non-European population, Pakistani 16%, Afro- Caribbean 12.2%, Black African 10.5%

12. Ethnic Minorities Muslim Minorities
Many British Muslims are disaffected and unemployed
Possible radicalization of young Muslims as a result of the British support of Iraqi war
Eastern European Migrants
Eastern Europe joins EU in 2004, influx of immigrants
National culture has not absorbed the groups into mainstream culture
Main draw: job opportunities

13. UK vs. Other Countries

14. Political Beliefs and Values
“Civic culture” (political culture) marked by trust, deference to authority and competence, pragmatism, and harmony
British citizens have good qualities for democratic participation
High voter participation, acceptance of authority, acceptance of law, tolerance for different viewpoints
“Politics of protest”

15. Changing Political Beliefs and Values
Decreasing labor union support
Increased Violence in Northern Ireland
Issues about British claims to Northern Ireland intensified in 1970s
Thatcherism
Conservative Party controlled British government from 1979 until 1997
New Labour
Tony Blair, Labour Party
Protests over Iraq War
Citizens and political leaders (even of Blair’s party) protested

16. Voting Behavior
More than 70% of eligible citizens participate in parliamentary elections
Tied to social class and region
Social Class
Historically rigid, but lines are more blurred today
Regional factors
Labour
Succeeds in urban, industrial areas
Conservative
Succeeds in rural, suburban areas

17. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power
Great Britain has the oldest democratic tradition of any country in the world
Authority and power provide stability and legitimacy
Social Compacts and Constitutionalism
Historical Evolution of National Political Traditions
Political Culture

18. Social Compacts and Constitutionalism
Tradition is a primary source of stability
Traditional legitimacy was based for many years on the belief that an hereditary ruling family had the right to rule
Church/state relationship where the church does not challenge the authority of the government
Never had a written constitution—has evolved over time based on documents (Magna Carta), common law (local customs and precedent) , and customs to form the “Constitution of the Crown”
In contrast, Mexico created a written constitution in 1917 after their revolution in 1910

19. Historical Evolution of National Political Traditions
British political system is influenced by many traditions
Developed gradually and consensually, with little conflict
In comparison, Russia changed primarily through revolution and Nigeria experienced change through several coup d’etats
Evolution of political traditions:
The shaping of the monarchy
Began as a limited monarchy
Over time, its powers have been restricted by Parliament
Today, the monarchy has no decision-making power but plays an important symbolic role in British society

20. Evolution of National Political Traditions
Challenges of the Industrial Revolution
Economic influences with colonial mercantilism and the Industrial Revolution
Established England as a major economic power
Changed society because poor peasants moved to cities to work in the factories
This is similar to China, where currently a majority of the citizens live in urban areas

21. Evolution of National Political Traditions
Colonialism
Between 1750 and 1914, nationalism and industrialization made it possible for European nations to build global empires that stretched across the continents
Industrialization allowed the British the to produce goods to sell in foreign markets
Industrialization increased communications and transportation with other countries

22. Public Policy and Current Issues
Transparency in Government
British government has had a solid reputation for its transparency
As a result of recent transparency scandals, the prime minister’s office announced in 2010 a new website, whose purpose is to provide users with information about government activities and policies
Relations with the European Union
Always been debate over whether or not to join the EU
Cameron promised a renegotiation of the U.K.’s membership of the EU and a popular vote on whether to stay in the bloc if his party wins the 2015 election outright

23. Public Policy and Current Issues
Devolution and Constitutional Reform
Government is unitary
China is also a unitary government
Desire by the Scottish and Welsh for their independence and the problems with Northern Ireland has resulted in devolution
Since 1999, Scotland and Wales have had the power to its own regional assembly, which has the powers of taxation, education, and economic planning
People have mixed feelings over devolution
Russia and China both have cleavages but neither government supports devolution and giving these groups power
Regardless of reforms, Britain still has a strong attachment to its many traditions
Britain still serves as a role model for the development of democratic traditions in the modern world

24. Political Parties Labour- Largest party on the left
Controlled government from under the leadership on Tony Blair until the conservatives and liberal democrats formed a coalition
Began as an alliance between trade unions and socialist groups
Supports EU membership
Liberal democrats-
Want proportional representation instead of a plurality voting system so they can have more seats in legislature
Want a bill of rights
Formed coalition with conservatives in 2010
Support EU membership
Conservative-
Main party on the right
Traditional wing: want country to be ruled by elite and support EU membership
Thatcherite Wing: want less government control and a full free market economy; don’t support EU membership (Euroskeptics)
David Cameron is the current prime minister and party leader
Formed coalition with liberal democrats in 2010

25. Elections British voters only elect members of parliament
Parliament then elects one of their members as Prime Minister
Elections are held every five years but the Prime Minister can choose to hold them earlier
Parliamentary elections are “winner-take-all” aka “first-past-the-post” aka a single member plurality system
In contrast, Russia uses proportional representation for the Duma

26. Interest Groups Interest groups are very powerful
Quangos: quasi-autonomous nongovernmental organizations
Policy advisory boards appointed by the government
Neo-corporatism: Interest groups dominate the state
Most powerful interest groups: those related to class and industrial interest

27. Government Institutions
3 branches of government
Bicameral legislature
Executive
Judiciary
Parliamentary system
Unitary state: centralized political authority in London

28. Cabinet and Prime Minister
Cabinet: prime minister and ministers who are party leaders from Parliament chosen by the Prime Minister
Collective cabinet: center of policymaking
Collective responsibility: cabinet member take collective responsibility for making policy
Important for government stability
Prime Minister: member of Parliament and majority party leader
UK prime minister is the head of government and is elected by a majority in the House of Commons
Russia and China’s prime ministers are also heads of government but they are appointed by the president
Speaks for all members of Parliament
Chooses cabinet members
Makes decisions in the cabinet
Campaigns and represents party in parliamentary elections

29. Parliament
Little separation of power between the cabinet and parliament
House of Commons:
Setup to function with two parties: the majority party and the “loyal opposition”
Setup with 2 long benches facing each other with a table in between; the prime minister sits in the middle surrounded by his cabinet members; they face the leader of the opposition party and the “shadow cabinet; less important MP’s sit on the back benches and are called “backbenchers”
Debate can be intense and very spirited
House of Lords:
Hereditary parliamentary house
Has very little power
Can delay legislation and debate technicalities of proposed bills
Hereditary peers: hold seats that have been passed down from family
Life peers: people appointed because of their service to Britain

30. Bureaucracy
Stable and powerful force in politics
Top bureaucrats stay with their particular policy area and are usually experts in that area
Have input in policy making and have discretionary power which gives bureaucrats the freedom to decide how they will carry out executive and legislate decisions
UK government employees are supposed to be politically neutral while in Nigeria they are hired based on a patron-client system called prebendalism and focus more on personal benefits

31. Judiciary Parliamentary sovereignty:
Parliaments decisions are final
Limits development of judicial review
British legal system based on common law
A supreme court was created in 2009 to replace the law lords as the highest judicial authority
It consists of a president and 11 justices
Serves as final court of appeal
Has much more limited powers than the U.S. Supreme Court

32. We hope you have enjoyed our presentation!

33. Sources
AP Comparative Government and Politics: An Essential Coursebook 6th Edition by Ethel Wood