Size

about two times that of the state of Mississippi

Really all in a dense band from London to Newcastle, much of the land is open.

Population

about 59 million

non-white immigration since WWII from South Asia, West Indies, and East Asia

4.6 million (8% of total population)

Europeans?

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

created in 1801

Great Britain

England

Scotland

Wales

Northern Ireland

Union Flag – For the UK

Cross of St. George – English flag for centuries, St.

George legendarily slayed some dragon.

Welsh Flag- Claims to be oldest in world, probably from

Roman calvary

Cross of St. Andrew – Scottish Flag

Unofficial Flag of Northern Ireland

Irish Flag, some ‘republican’ parts of Northern Ireland fly

it as their flag as well.

Historical challenges to all industrialized democracies:

Building the nation-state

Defining the relationship between church and state

Establishing liberal democracy

Dealing with the impact of the industrial revolution

1215: Magna Carta 1295 – Convening of Model Parliament of Edward I, the first representative

Parliament 1500s: the Church of England 1529 Reformation Parliament of Henry VIII cuts ties to Roman Catholic Church. 1500s, defeat of Spanish Armada in 1588, perhaps the high point of English culture

with Shakespeare. 1628 Charles I forced to sign Petition of Right, Parliament‟s first statement of civil

rights in return for funds 1642-60: Civil War and Restoration 1688: Glorious Revolution 1689 Bill of Rights issued, est. constitutional monarchy 1701: Act of Settlement

royal succession Early 1700s: emergence of prime minister, 1721 Walpole the first 1832-1867 Reform Acts passed extending vote to all urban males and most of

countryside 1900 Labour Party est. 1916-1922 – Anglo-Irish War fought, independent Republic of Ireland formed 1973 UK made a member of the EEC, now EU 1979-1990 – Thatcher Era 1997- 2008 Blair Era

Waves of invasions by Romans, Angles Saxons, Danes, Celts, and finally Normans. British culture a mix of all of these influences.

„Celtic Fringe‟ Wales, Scotland, Ireland have own distinct languages.

English heavily influenced by French, French Normans ruled England since 1066. Many of our words are French heritage.

James I, a Scot, united England and Scotland but brought on a century of power struggles beginning in 1607.

1714 House of Hannover, relied on a cabinet to run the goernment 19th century, the most powerful nation in history. Naval power

and technology and industrialization made it the pre-eminent power. Governed one quarter of the world‟s population, „the sun never set‟, loss of empire was slow and gradual.

House of Lords – represented high nobility, Commons – low aristocracy and merchants. Monarch very powerful until the Germans came.

Political Parties – Tories (pro-Monarch) vs Whigs (against Monarch power, influenced American Founders).

1832 Reform Act Working Class that won the World Wars

established a „collectivist consensus‟ of social welfare programs and the nationalization of the commanding heights of the economy.

1832: Great Reform Act (men‟s suffrage)

1911: Reform of House of Lords

1928: Right to vote for all adults

Both Labour and Conservative gradually expanded the role of government

Party identification, electoral behavior, and occupation were strongly correlated

most of working class voted Labour

most of middle class voted Conservative

Lack of a written constitution

Parliament selects the prime minister

prime minister is not elected by popular vote

normally the head of majority party or coalition

Cabinet responsibility to parliament

major legislation and votes of confidence

voters Parliament

Majority party

Minority party

Prime minister

& cabinet

Government Queen‟s, David Cameron, or Conservative

government

Whitehall Street executive agencies

Downing Street prime minister‟s residence

Westminster parliament

Single-member district

First-past-the-post (winner-take-all) system

The House of Commons 659 members

voting is 100% along party lines in most votes

party versus constituency interests

the House of Lords is not elected

Heriditary

Life peers

reforms

the government gets its way

MPs weigh political reputations

MPs in the governing party have opportunities to influence government

MPs talk about legislation

MPs scrutinize administration of policies

MPs publicizing issues

Minor role, no judicial review per se but courts can strike down some legislation that violates one of constitutional documents.

Mainly to make sure statutes are followed International Law increases power Judges come from distinguished jurists selected

by Lord Chancellor Conservative bias Common Law Complex system of civil and criminal courts House of lords is highest court.

The real source of power

Always present unified front

Home Office, Foreign Office, and Chancellor of the Exchequer

Shadow ministers

Executive

Legislature Court

Bureaucracies

Political parties Interest groups

Domestic economy

Domestic culture Domestic society

U.S.

France Germany

Russia

Postwar collectivist consensus until 1970s

consensus about role of government for the collective economic and social good

state should take expanded responsibility

economic growth and full employment

state should provide social welfare

public education, health care, etc.

publicly owned sector (1/5 of total production)

Labour Party – Working class, stronger hints of socialism, more like our democrats under Blair

Conservatives (Tories) – More moderate right party, do not disagree with all of collective ideas.

Liberal Democrats – mixture of social equality and classical liberalism emphasis on weak state. Most pro-EU, want proportional voter reforms.

Others- Scottish Nationalist Party control Scottish legislature, Welsh Plaid Cymru, several Northern Irish parties Ulster Union, Sinn Fein

Park Ridge Football Party- Lots of alcohol, lots of fights, police support, parental limited government.

Economic stagflation in 1970s

Neither party was able to manage economy well

1978-79 “winter of discontent” strikes

Thatcher‟s alternative vision

cut taxes, reduce social services

stimulate the private sector

market and “businesslike” methods

Served (1979 - 1990) longer without interruption than any other British prime minister in 20th century

Even under Thatcher and Major, Britain experienced real growth in both social services and health care provisions

1979-1984 government spending actually rose from 39% of GNP to 44% of GNP

1890: 8%

1910: 12%

1920: 26%

1989 survey: less than 1/3 approved of the “Thatcher revolution”

1997 electoral victory

the largest majority in parliament (419/659) that the Labour Party has ever held

Conservative vote fell to its lowest share since 1832

Tony Blair: “New Labour is a party of ideas and ideals, but not of outdated ideology. What counts is what works.”

“Third way” alternative to collectivism and Thatcherism:

rejected the historic ties between Labour governments and the trade union movement

reversed the tendency to provide centralized statist solutions to economic and social problem

A vague philosophy to draw support from across the social-economic spectrum.

Year Working class Women

1974 57% 38%

1979 50% 35%

1983 38% 26%

1987 42% 32%

1992 45% 34%

1997 58% 49%

n

left social-economic spectrum right

Civil society institutions independent of government

Interest groups influence politics not by contesting elections

regardless of which party wins

Distance between party and interest groups Interest groups criticize partisan allies

Quangos though, polciy advisory boards.

Organizations of British businesses

Confederation of British Industries

dominated by large firms

Organizations of British labour

Trades Union Congress (TUC)

38% of workforce is unionized

90% of unionized workers are affiliated with TUC

affiliation with the Labour Party

Class Conflicts

National and Ethnic Identity

Culture considered pragmatic, tolerant, stable

Slow political process despite power of any majority party.

Political demands of individuals and groups are combined into policy programs

farmers, environmentalists, business, etc.

substantial political resources

popular votes, campaign funds, legislative seats, executive influence, etc.

competing policy goals are compromised to produce a single governing program

Were powerful local councils, Thatcher abolished them in 1986, this coupled with poll tax was one of Thatcher‟s most unpopular ideas.

1997, Blair returns power to local governments to some extent, particularly in London.

1997 Scotland and Wales have their own legislatures. Nationalist sentiment is strong in Scotland.

1998 Good Friday agreement, reestablishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Federalism?

Still unitary for now.

Loss of Colonial Empire

Devolution and Constitutional Reform

Military power and closeness to US

-Ireland dominated by the United Kingdom, union with UK in 1801, but had been dominated

by English and Protestant landholders for centuries since the 1600s. Penal laws restricted

rights of Catholic Irish. Irish Rebellion in 1798 resulted in violence, and establishment of

Society of United Irishmen and the Orange Order of Protestants to fight for loyalty to Crown

and William of Orange.

-Irish Famine in the 1840s, population declines by almost 30% through death and

emigration, many settle in US or cities like Liverpool, Manchester and Edinburgh.

-Charles Stewart Parnell, agitates for limited home rule by end of 18th century, much of his

efforts are blocked by House of Lords. Prime Minister Gladstone wishes for reform of

relationship with Ireland. Several acts of disobedience including a boycott help the cause.

IPP party is formed and plays a powerful role as kingmaker in Parliament.

-Easter Rising of 1918, movement turns more violent. Eamon de Valera returns from

imprisonment and radicalizes movement.

-War for Independence 1919-1921, Sinn Fein and IRA lead guerrilla war against British and

Ulster Unionists.

-1921 peace is negotiated by leadership lead by Michael Collins, but it accepts partition of

the island. De Valera strongly opposes and a bitter feud ensues

Free Irish State of 1922 established, NI out. FIS Has dominion status within UK until 1949. 1949 Republic of Ireland established, dissolves all ties with UK. Economic challenges and poverty until 1992. Joining EU and

liberalisation helped greatly. Since 1990s Ireland „Celtic Tiger‟. Country growing less socially conservative. 1998 Belfast „Good Friday‟ Agreements, established a Northern

Ireland Parliament with power sharing between the sides. Broke down in 2002, but was re-established in 2007 between Ian

Paisley (Protestant) and Gerry Adams (Catholic). IRA agreed to disarm last summer. Ulster Project International to improve relations between

Protestant and Catholic families across the country.

IRA resisted participation in the Republic, angered over the partition of the island. Various acts of violence on both sides. Was a minority but affected many regular people.

Bombings continued from late 1960s to Belfast agreement in late 1990s. Violence in Northern Ireland, Ireland and in the UK and London.

UK officially claimed their forces were neutral trying to uphold law and order and security, but there was some cooperation with Unionist forces.

Deaths by status of victim[2]StatusNo. Civilian1855 Members of security forces (and reserves)1123 of whom: British Army (excluding Northern Ireland regiments)499 Royal Ulster Constabulary301 Ulster Defence Regiment197 Northern Ireland Prison Service24 Garda Síochána (Republic of Ireland police)9 Royal Irish Regiment7 Territorial Army7 English police forces6 Royal Air Force4 Royal Navy2 Irish Army1 Members of Republican Paramilitary Groups394 Members of Loyalist Paramilitary Groups151