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 Majority party Prime minister voters Parliament Minority party & 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 U.S. Domestic economy Russia Legislature Court Executive Bureaucracies Political parties Interest groups Domestic culture Domestic society France Germany 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