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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

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.

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.

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.

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

Thinking about Britain:

Gradualism- democracy evolved over centuries
Post WWII collectivist consensus- mixed economy and welfare state
Only in recent years has its power started to decline

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

Table 4.1

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

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
Industrial Revolution resulted in 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

Table 4.2

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
Surge of reform came to an end in 1949, but the Conservatives did not repeal the reforms

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

Table 4.3

British Political Culture

The civic culture and the collectivist years
High levels of legitimacy
Great civic tolerance
Patriotic enthusiasm

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 left and political culture/support for regime did not change

British Political Culture

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

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

Political Participation

Parties primary vehicle for participation for over 100 years
Party manifestos (platforms) have been very important in past
Ever since WWII, 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

Table 4.4

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
Views on Europe not shared by majority of British, aging party leadership

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

Table 4.5

Political Participation
Liberal Democrats

Product of 1987 merger of Liberal and Social Democratic parties
“First past the post” system prevent from winning as many seats
Currently challenging the Conservatives as second-largest party
It has capitalized on dissatisfaction with conservatives to build base
The party has fared better under new leader Charles Kennedy

Political Participation
Minor Parties

Rise in Scottish, Welsh, and Irish nationalism has led to moderate growth in support for regional parties
What is devolution?
In recent general elections they have often come second in their regions
Regional parties have always dominated Northern Ireland
Other minor parties

Political Participation
The British Electorate

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

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?