1. Chapter 4: Great Britain
Comparative Politics: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges, Seventh Edition by Charles Hauss
Chapter 4: Great Britain
Chapter Cover Slide – book cover, book title, chapter number, chapter title

3. Learning Objectives
After studying this chapter, students should be able to:
explain how the economic problems faced by Britain have had such dramatic political consequences.
define and give examples of gradualism within the context of British political history.
describe examples of the changes made by Prime Ministers Thatcher and Major to the political/economic culture of Britain.
describe how “New Labour” differed from “Old Labour” and from Thatcherism.
identify 4-6 major developments in the creation of the current regime.
describe the basic elements of the collectivist consensus.
describe several ways in which the civic culture of the collectivist consensus broke down in the 1970s.

4. Learning Objectives, continued
After studying this chapter, students should also be able to:
explain why the three major parties in Britain are considered “catch-all” parties today.
identify the main characteristics of the Conservative Party that ensured its success and survival.
describe the conflict between ideological and pragmatic politics within the Labour Party that eventually led to Tony Blair’s election as party leader.
explain in general terms how interest groups function in Britain.
explain the roles of the parliamentary party, the shadow cabinet, and collective responsibility in the functioning of Commons.
describe the basics of the debates in Britain over the country’s relationship with Europe.

5. The Blair Decade
In 2008, the British government nationalized Northern Rock.
The government gained a majority of seats on the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) board of directors in 2008.
The economy shrank by 0.6% in the last six months of 2008.
The British government introduced a stimulus package.

6. Thinking about Britain
The Basics
One of world’s most densely populated countries
No longer an “all white” country
Welfare state is still strong
Social class remains a powerful force

7. Thinking about Britain
Democracy evolved over centuries. Scholars call this process gradualism.
Post WWII, this led to a collectivist consensus in favor of a mixed economy and welfare state.
Only in recent years has the country’s power started to decline.

8. Thinking about Britain
Four Themes:
Britain has suffered from less unrest and has had a more consensual history than any other country.
Britain’s relative economic standing declined dramatically in the second half of the 20th century.
The conservative governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major in the 1980’s and 1990’s redefined political life.
Impact of Blair and the “New Labour” Party

9. Table 4.1

10. The Evolution of the British State
Sequential, rather than simultaneous, tasks of British
Building the nation state
Defining the role of religion
Establishing liberal democracy
Industrial revolution
Maintained legitimacy without constitution

11. The Evolution of the British State Broad Sweep of British History
British State dates back to the Magna Carta
Reformation and Henry VIII
Two Revolutions in the 17th Century paved the way for Parliamentary Democracy
Bill of Rights
Act of Settlement 1701
The Industrial Revolution resulted in the working class demanding political change
Great Reform Act of 1832
Late 1860’s brought greater electoral reform
In 1911 House of Lord stripped of power

12. Table 4.2

13. The Evolution of the British State The Collectivist Consensus
During WWII, Winston Churchill and opposition parties agreed to suspend normal politics.
The Conservatives under Churchill agreed to establish a Commission to overhaul the social services system.
This surge of reform came to an end in 1949, but the Conservatives did not repeal the reforms.

14. The Evolution of the British State The Collectivist Consensus
From 1945 to the mid 1970’s was the golden era of British politics
WWII coalition government became an informal agreement on many issues
Beveridge Report of 1942 formed core of “Collectivist Consensus”
Post-war political cleavages were class based more than policy based

15. Table 4.3

16. British Political Culture
The civic culture and the collectivist years
High levels of legitimacy
Great civic tolerance
Patriotic enthusiasm

17. British Political Culture The Politics of Protest: Toward an Uncivic Culture?
Growing unrest with the collectivist consensus in the 1970’s
Bloody Sunday 1972
Racism and riots
Radicalization of unions in face of growing unemployment and economic decline
Thatcher government played on dissatisfaction with the left.

18. British Political Culture
The civic culture holds
Dangers of protest were fleeting
Economic recovery of the 1980s eased many problems
Skepticism toward politicians grew

19. British Political Culture Will there always be a Britain?
Identification with the UK has declined since the late 1960’s
Resurgence of support for regional parties in Scotland and Wales
Devolution (regional parliaments)
Monarchy’s loss of influence and prestige
Increasing racial diversity (most born in the UK)
Growing importance of the EU, euroskeptics

20. Political Participation
Parties have been the primary vehicle for political participation for over 100 years:
Party manifestos (platforms) have been very important in the past.
Ever since WWII, either the Labour Party or the Conservative Party has won each general election.
The parties began to change in the 1970’s, with the parties both moving towards ideological extremes.
All major parties have become “catch-all” parties.

21. Table 4.4

22. Political Participation The Conservatives
Conservatives have been successful:
They were flexible and changed policies.
They emphasized market forces but maintained responsibility to the poor.
They have an elitist but effective organization.
Party strong during Thatcher years
Party has had four leaders since 1997
Today they are stronger contenders because of public dissatisfaction with Labour Party.
The party’s views on Europe are not shared by the majority of Britons. The party leadership is aging.

23. Political Participation Labour
Began as alliance of unions, socialists, and cooperative associations in the early 20th century
Clause 4: Formally repudiated by Blair
Economic crisis and New Left activists led to leadership by party’s left wing
Leaders more interested in electoral success than ideology were chosen in mid-‘80s
New Labour: Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and younger, more moderate leaders took over in mid-1990s

24. Table 4.5

25. Political Participation Liberal Democrats
Product of 1987 merger of Liberal and Social Democratic parties
“First past the post” system prevents them from winning as many seats.
The party is currently challenging the Conservatives as second-largest party.
The party has capitalized on dissatisfaction with conservatives to build its base.
The party has fared better under new leader Charles Kennedy.

26. Political Participation Minor Parties
Rise in Scottish, Welsh, and Irish nationalism has led to moderate growth in support for regional political parties.
What is devolution?
Regional parties’ fortunes ebb and flow. In recent general elections, they have often come in second in their regions.
Regional parties have always dominated Northern Ireland

27. Political Participation The British Electorate
Long time class-based politics upset by radicalism and Thatcher victories
Dealignment instead of realignment
Labour victories result of:
Voters’ “fatigue” with Conservative government
Success in appealing to middle class and post-materialist voters
Labor has tried to increase support among women by nominating them to elected positions

29. Political Participation Interest Groups
Many interest groups, but little actual lobbying
Lobbying must be done when bills are drafted
Focus their activity on the people who make the decisions
Civil servants
Ministers
Party leaders
Trade Unions Council has close links with labor, Confederation of British Industries with Conservatives
What was their role during collectivist years?

30. The British State: Enduring Myths and Changing Realities
Walter Bagehot’s The English Constitution
Britain’s Constitution composed of acts of Parliament, understandings, and traditional practices that everyone agreed to follow
Difference between the “dignified” and “real” constitution

32. The British State: Enduring Myths and Changing Realities
The Monarchy and the Lords: visible but powerless
House of Lords: 92 have hereditary membership, life seats to recognize exemplary service, church officials, and law lords
Can delay legislation for up to six months
In theory, monarch still rules “in Parliament”, but not in practice

33. The British State: Enduring Myths and Changing Realities
House of Commons
Represent single member districts elected in first past the post system
MPs do not have to live in their districts
Elections are party centered

34. The British State: Enduring Myths and Changing Realities
Key to British Democracy is the Parliamentary Party
Leader of majority party is Prime Minister
Head of minority party is the shadow cabinet
Backbenchers
Thatcher and Brown’s career paths are typical

35. The British State: Enduring Myths and Changing Realities
The Cabinet
Cabinet members are all members of the House of Commons except for the Attorney General and Leaders of the House of Lords
Collective responsibility
Introduces all legislation
90% of legislation passes after extended study and debate
Richard Crossman memoirs, cabinet becoming less important

36. The British State: Enduring Myths and Changing Realities
The rest of the British State:
Civil servants act as administrators, not policy makers.
Regulatory agencies oversee newly privatized companies.
QUANGOs make a great deal of policy and regulation.
While courts have potential to be more active, they have never exercised a policy-making role.

37. FIGURE 4-1 Decision Making in Britain

38. Public Policy: The Thatcher and Blair Revolutions
Domestic politics
After the 1945 election Labour nationalized key industries, were performing poorly by the 1960’s
Welfare state became a growing expense
Thatcher reduced the role of state and privatized government owned companies and government services
Tony Blair's “Third Way”

39. Public Policy: The Thatcher and Blair Revolutions
Domestic Policy: Thatcher and Major governments
Privatization was popular in the short term
Attempts to reduce social service met with resistance
Supporters: saved British economy
Detractors: Widened gap between rich and poor

40. Public Policy: The Thatcher and Blair Revolutions
Domestic Policy: Blair government
Welfare to work
Raised minimum wage
Tuition increases
Congestion pricing

41. Public Policy: The Thatcher and Blair Revolutions
Foreign policy: Europe
International power has waned since WWII
Special relationship with United States
Britain divided on “Europe”
Issue of single currency
Should the UK join European Monetary Union?
Should the UK ratify the new EU treaty (constitution)?

42. Public Policy: The Thatcher and Blair Revolutions
Foreign policy: Iraq
Great Britain supported 1991 Gulf War and U.S. effort in Afghanistan after 9/11
Under Blair government, Great Britain became second largest contingent of troops in Iraq in 2003
Britain pulled half of its troops by mid-2007

43. Feedback Centralized, professional media
11 main daily newspapers, London dailies
Regional newspapers, local newspapers
Five quality newspapers known as broadsheets
Tabloids are superficial and scandalous
BBC and independent broadcasters offer thorough political coverage
Papers usually support a political party
Very little local news
Conclusion: Blair’s legacy and British democracy, regime has rock solid support