Week 1: Building Modern BritainReading:

Norton CH 1 and 2

Course Objectives

• Introduce students to the British political process.– Monarchy vs. Parliament– Executive vs. Legislative

• Examine pressing issues in British politics.– Devolution and Northern Ireland– Immigration – Election 2010

• Examine the basis of British foreign policy.– The “Special Relationship” with the US– The Iraq War

Office Hours/Contact Information

• Temporary Website:– http://sites.google.com/site/dfisk00/british-pol

itics• Professor David Fisk

– E-mail: dfisk@ucsd.edu– Location TBA 5:20-6:20 T/R

• Teaching Assistant Melanie Feurey– E-mail: mek005@ucsd.edu– SSB 347 Hours TBA

Course Grading and Participation

• Two Exams (Midterm and Final)-45% each– 6-8 pages in length– Late assignments are not accepted without valid

documentation.• Participation-10%

– Discussion of current events in the British political system.

• Current Events – BBC News, Economist, Financial Times– Guardian, Times, Independent

Course Readings

• Norton. Politics in Britain. • Dunleavy et al. Developments in British Politics 8.

– Read Norton chapters first; Dunleavy second.• Riddell. Hug Them Close.

– You can purchase either the reproduction or a used copy; you do NOT need to buy both.

• Archer. First Among Equals. – Fictional account of parliamentary life from an insider– Read Norton and Dunleavy first

• Supplementary readings:– Read based on interest

Guiding Questions

• What constitutes the United Kingdom? Great Britain?

• What factors promoted the unification of disparate nations under the banner of the United Kingdom?

• What does ethnicity, class, and religion look like in the British case?

• How do British citizens view their political system?

Great Britain/United Kingdom

• Great Britain:– England, Wales, and

Scotland.• United Kingdom:

– England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (Ulster).

• Democracy by evolution, not revolution.– Important

ramifications for the British constitution.

Introduction

• The UK in its current form has evolved over 400 years.– Acts of union added

territory to the English dominion.

• 16th century: Wales annexed.

• 18th century: Scottish lands added.

• 19th century: Ireland added– Irish independence in

1922– Northern Ireland (Ulster)

retained after Ireland declares independence.

The Process of Unification:Protestantism

• Each region maintained the “trappings of statehood” at the time of union

• Over time, economic and political rationale to unification became obvious but initial unification not always seen as beneficial.

• Protestantism provided an initial basis for common identity in Wales, Scotland, and England. – “Catholic threat” provided

a convenient rallying call.

The Process of Unification: The French Threat

• Fears of an attack based in Scotland or Ireland prompted acts of union.

• Protestantism provided a useful way to mobilize the British territory against threats from Catholic France.

• Mobilization brought people from various regions together; facilitated nation building.

The Process of Unification: Globalization and Empire

• Industrialization provided benefits for unification.– Search for new markets

coupled with impressive naval resources laid the groundwork for empire.

• Imperial expansion fostered a sense of pride in the British nation.

• Improvements in communications and transportation fostered closer ties between the regions.

The Process of Unification:The Monarchy

• Advances in communication aided the rise in importance of the monarchy.

• Cannadine: “Secular magic of monarchy” established during the reign of George III (1760-1820).

• Queen Victoria (1837-1901) furthered solidified the popularity of the institution; linking the monarchy with the state.

The Process of Unification:Political Reforms

• Limitation of the franchise to wealthy aristocrats caused rumblings– Political movements seeking

to expand the franchise existed throughout the territory.

• Reform movements united citizens from various regions.

• As franchise expands, political parties see value in contesting elections on a national rather than a regional platform.

The Effects of Unification

• Unification has not erased regional identities.– Scottish and Welsh nationalist movements

fare well in elections.• Devolution provides a voice for the

regions while allowing the central government to rule on behalf of the British nation.– While nationalist parties exist, secession

seems unlikely.

United Kingdom: Population

• Population: approximately 60 million.

• One of the most densely populated countries in the world.– 625 people per square

mile.• England is more densely

populated than the other regions.

• Predominantly white; 11 out of every 12 people are native born.

• A “graying” society; Immigration is changing the makeup of the UK.

United Kingdom: Religion

• Religion no longer provides the same unifying force as it did.

• As in other advanced democracies, the British are becoming increasingly more secular.

• The number of citizens who do not identify with any religion has risen by nearly 12% over the last twenty years.

• Anglicanism has declined by 11%.

• Catholicism has remained relatively constant.

United Kingdom: Class

• Class used to be the major predictor of partisan identification and activity; this is declining.

• The postwar era has been associated with upward mobility; working classes have become more middle class while many in the middle class has moved to the upper middle class.

• The rise of the middle class is reducing the stark differences between the upper and working classes; electoral volatility is on the rise.

United Kingdom: Public Opinion

• Monarchy: – Over two-thirds believe it

should be retained.• Political System:

– Cynicism towards the system is rife; three-quarters believe government could be improved.

• Political Parties: – Trust in political parties to

“do the right thing” or “put the country first” is low.

• Citizen Efficacy: – Two-thirds believe that they

do not really have a say in what government does.

Conclusion: The UK as “Typical”?

• Globalization and immigration are changing the ethnic background of the British population.– Providing the impetus for new political parties

(e.g. BNP/UKIP/Respect).• The role of religion and class in shaping

British politics is declining.– In line with other advanced democracies.

• While support for the monarchy remains high, cynicism towards the government is in line with other advanced democracies.

Next Lecture

• Theme: The British Constitution• Theme: The Monarchy• Readings: Norton CH 3