The United Kingdom Test Dillon Patel

← Gradualism: Its democracy evolved over a number of centuries in a

process known as gradualism
• It did have to face the challenges of creating a nation-state,
overcoming religious and class conflict and the strife that often
accompanies democratization. However, unlike most states, it was
able to spread these challenges out over a number of centuries and
to largely resolve each of them before it had to meet the next.
← The Economy
• Has been on economic decline since 2002
← The House of Commons
• More powerful than the House of Lords
← Why is Britain part of Comparative Politics?
• 1. The incubator of liberal democracy (representative)
• 2. Its Gradualism
• 3. Has been one of the world’s greatest powers
• 4. Its political system is very similar to most English speaking
countries making it a good country to begin with
← Beveridge Report (1942)
• Called for a social insurance program in which every citizen would
be eligible for Health Care unemployment insurance, pensions, and
other benefits that would guarantee all Britons a least a subsistence
income
← Collective Consensus (1945-1975)
• The golden era of British politics
• Leaders from both party agreed on a variety of political goals
o Full employment, some social services, cooperation with labor
unions and government intervention to secure economic
growth
• Although labor began to weaken, Capitalism did not repeal much of
its policy, but actually did much of the opposite
• Each party consistently expanded the role of the state
• The End: 1970’s Economic Collapse
o Raising unemployment, lowering GDP, and stagflation
← Original Cleavages
• Conservatives: rich, urban, aristocrats, middle class
 • Liberal: worker, city, London, poor
← Conservatives
• Successful because..
o 1. Pragmatic
o 2. Noble
o 3. Elitist, but effective organization
• Thatcherism (1980s)
o Finally defeat union supremacy
o Not actually that “far” left
o Renewal of more free market economy
 Privatization
 Reduced spending for social services
 Curbed the power of Unions
 Opposed integration into Europe
 Reasserted Britain’s influence in global affairs
← Labor Party
• Began as alliance of trade unions, independent socialist
movements, and cooperative associations: but became TOO liberal
and had to move more center to compete in elections
• Social Democratic Party: Closer to center labor party members
• Tony Blair (1994)
o Despite their original plans, ended up keeping many of
Thatcher’s reforms
o Blair had a bright, engaging personality and was possibly one
of Britain’s most effective Politicians
o His siding with the US on Iraq caused his downfall
← British Political Culture
• Collectivist years: Most believed in the legitimacy of the
government and that they had a level of efficacy (ability to
influence the political process as individuals).
• 1970s: more reservations about the government
o radicalization of Northern Ireland and the Unions
← Good Friday Agreement (1998)
• Gave Northern Ireland a regional government in which all parties
will be represented or a proportional basis.
 o Later agreements did the same for Scotland and Wales.
• The major of London will be directly elected
← Immigration
• Conservatives: tend to opposed the integration of races in British
society
← Euroskepics
• the large majority of English citizens
• Maastricht Treat: created the multinational organization in the early
1900’s, the English were incredibly hesitant
o due to their feared loss of national distinctiveness and the
viability of the Euro.
← The Act of Settlement of 1701
• designed to secure the Protestant succession to the throne, and to
strengthen the guarantees for ensuring parliamentary system of
government
• strengthened
• the Bill of Rights
• No Roman Catholic, nor anyone married to a Roman Catholic, could
hold the English Crown.
← The Magna Carta
• The Magna Carta, written in 1215, is the most historic document
that has come to define both the history of England and in essence
the democratic world. The manuscript stated that King John, a 13th
century tyrant, no longer held absolute power and would need the
consent of Parliament before forming policy, raising taxes, or
spending money.
← Vocabulary
• Shadow Cabinet: the official leadership of the opposition party that
“shadows” the cabinet
• The Backbenchers: members of the Parliament who are not in the
government of shadow cabinet