weuk

Comparative European Politics
The United Kingdom

Geography

Political Context, Culture, History

Four nations/nomenclature

Conventional Wisdom on UK was to emphasize its
Homogeneity, integration, political stability, consensus politics
Resilience of its political institutions, their ability to foster compromise

What has happened in the world and in the academy to change this view???

Post-Colonial struggles since WWII – resulting in
Increased Ethnic/National Consciousness
Decline of UK/Europe and Ascendancy of US/SU

New Waves of Immigration – increased diversity in UK
Decline of Britain in the ‘70s “the sick man of Europe”
“The Troubles”

BBC story on Orangemen

Ethnic Make-up of Contemporary UK (2001 census; source: CIA World Factbook, August 16, 2009)

White 92.1%

English 83.6%,

Scottish 8.6%, Welsh 4.9%, Northern Irish 2.9%

Black 2%

Indian 1.8%

Pakistani 1.3%

Mixed 1.2%

Other 1.6%

Religous Affiliations (2001 Census; cited in the CIA World Factbook, August 16, 2009):
Christian (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 71.6%,

Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified or none 23.1%

Political Reform in Response to Regionalism/Nationalism: Devolution

New parliaments in Scotland, Wales

Political Culture
Traditionally modern, modernly traditional

Pragmatism – change, innovation inevitable, good
(W. belief in PROGRESS***)

Deference to authority

Class politics
English much more class conscious than Americans

Class distinctions much more important
Why???
History, institutions, education system, party manifestations of

Oratory, Debate, Humour, Satire

The UK in the WORLD and in EUROPE
How to characterize UK’s position in the world
Complex – colonial power, imperialism

People adventuresome, embrace opportunity to “experience” other cultures, peoples

Yet in Europe – often aspires to be “isolationist”

What role has UK played in European integration via EU??
Generally a “Euroskeptic”
Foot dragger

Only joined EECs in 1973
after first advisory referendum in UK history
blackballed twice by de Gaulle
in fact, initiated competitor to European Communities called
the European Free Trade Area – soley free trade

Conservative Party would continue along these lines but
Labour Party, under Blair at least, much more pro-Europe

Signed onto to Social Charter (finally) in Treaty of Amsterdam (1997)
Plans to join the Euro in 2004 or so

Comparative European Politics

The UK

Institutions, Power and Politics

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The Westminster Model – Britain’s Greatest Export
Characteristics of:

Monarchy - Constitutional limits on power of monarchy

Parliamentary sovereignty
No judicial review
No Bill of Rights til recently
No single written constitutional document

Who has power?

Prime Minister

primus inter pares – less so today – more shared responsibility

how selected

Cabinet ministers

Differences between UK and American cabinet members

British members are also members of Parliament – expected to spend considerable time there and in home district

Selected for their popularity and political skill vs. in US???

Differences in Accountability between UK/US cabinets/governments
Question Hour

Labour Party Front Bench
Conservative Party Front Bench
Lib-Dems Front Bench

House of Commons (lower house)

646 members
~ 5 year terms
ruling party decides when to call for elections

Last election: May 5, 2005
Labor 35.2%
Conservative 32.3%
Liberal Democrats 22%
other 10.5%

Labor 356
Conservative 197
Liberal Democrat 62
other 31

Differences between UK MPs vs. US members of Congress
Brits make less ($75,000 or so compared to over $100,000 in US)
Have less staff, office space – one part time assistant, shared offices the norm –

Compared to US:
Brits represent fewer constits – 659 members of House of Commons ~ about 90,000 constits per seat (compared to 550,000 in US)

House of Lords (upper house)

no elections
500 life peers
92 hereditary peers

1999 - House of Lords Act
elections were held in the House of Lords to determine the 92 hereditary peers who would remain there
elections are held only as vacancies in the hereditary peerage arise

Contemporary Changes in Westminster Model
Devolution
regional parliaments in Scotland and Wales
homerule restored in Northern Ireland (suspended as of 2002)
directly elected mayors
Bill of Rights
Reform of House of Lords

Other differences with US system
Corporatism – role of interest groups, advisory bds, QUANGOs

Link between Labour Party and Trade Union Congress

Distribution of seats by region – over-rep of Celtic Fringe (58)

Party Politics

Conservative Party
Roots

Ideology

Constituencies

Geographic Strengths

Thatcherism

1990s decline

Labour Party
Roots

Ideology