Exploring British Politics

by Garnett, Mark; Lynch, Philip

• ISBN13: 9780582894310
• ISBN10: 058289431X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-10-05
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

EXPLORING BRITISH POLITICS Garnett & Lynch 'A lucid and up-to-date exploration of the British Polity - essential reading for every student' Dr. Joanna McKay, Senior Lecturer in Politics at Nottingham Trent University Concise, comprehensive and accessible Exploring British Politics presents an insightful and fresh approach to British politics with a special emphasis on recent developments. Designed to stimulate critical analysis and provoke lively debate, it provides new perspectives on two key themes the health of British democracy and the transition from traditional models of government to more flexible forms of 'governance'. Whilst framed in a discussion of the essential historical background of British politics, contemporary issues are to the fore throughout and readers are encouraged to scrutinise what is often taken for granted and to develop their owns thoughts and ideas. Whether studying the subject for the first time or revisiting it, Exploring British Politics is the ideal undergraduate text. "This book provides an insightful and intriguing new addition to the literature on British Politics". Dr.Dan Hough, Lecturer in Politics at the University of Sussex 'Thought-provoking, incisive and informative, Exploring British Politics provides an excellent and welcome addition to the current literature. Shedding light upon the key debates in British government and politics, the authors use a wealth of contemporary and historical examples to illustrate their arguments. Both students new to British Politics as well as those already familiar with the subject area, will greatly benefit from reading this engaging text'. Dr. Jacqui Briggs, Senior Lecturer in Politics, The University of Lincoln.

Table of Contents

Guided tour of the book	p. xvi
Guide to features	p. xix
Preface	p. xxv
Acknowledgements	p. xvii
Context
Understanding British Politics	p. 3
Learning outcomes	p. 3
Introduction	p. 3
UK politics, representative democracy and the 'Westminster Model'	p. 4
Liberal democracy	p. 8
The changing state	p. 13
Conclusion and summary	p. 16
Further reading	p. 17
Websites	p. 17
UK government in context	p. 18
Learning outcomes	p. 18
Introduction	p. 18
The post-war 'consensus'	p. 19
The end of consensus, 1970-79	p. 28
Thatcherism, 1979-97	p. 30
Blair and New Labour	p. 36
Conclusion and summary	p. 38
Further reading	p. 40
Websites	p. 40
Economy and society	p. 41
Learning outcomes	p. 41
Introduction	p. 41
Britain: a divided nation?	p. 42
Sources of cohesion	p. 56
Conclusion and summary	p. 59
Further reading	p. 59
Websites	p. 60
The media and communications	p. 61
Learning outcomes	p. 61
Introduction	p. 61
The UK media: not one, but many?	p. 62
Theories of media influence	p. 64
New Labour and the media	p. 68
Conclusion and summary	p. 77
Further reading	p. 78
Websites	p. 79
Constitution and Institutions
The constitution	p. 83
Learning outcomes	p. 83
Introduction	p. 83
The uncodified constitution	p. 84
Sources of the UK constitution	p. 85
Main principles of the UK constitution	p. 88
The constitution under pressure	p. 93
New Labour and constitutional reform	p. 96
A new constitutional settlement	p. 101
Conclusion and summary	p. 103
Further reading	p. 103
Websites	p. 104
The core executive	p. 105
Learning outcomes	p. 105
Introduction	p. 105
The core executive model	p. 106
The Prime Minister	p. 107
Leadership style	p. 116
The Cabinet	p. 121
Ministerial responsibility	p. 126
Ministers and departments	p. 131
Conclusion and summary	p. 135
Further reading	p. 136
Websites	p. 137
Parliament	p. 138
Learning outcomes	p. 138
Introduction	p. 138
The House of Commons	p. 139
The House of Lords	p. 158
Parliamentary reform	p. 159
Conclusion and summary	p. 162
Further reading	p. 162
Websites	p. 163
Law and the judiciary	p. 164
Learning outcomes	p. 164
Introduction	p. 164
The judicial system in the UK	p. 165
Judicial review and the Human Rights Act 1998	p. 166
Who are the judges?	p. 169
New Labour's constitutional reforms	p. 175
The police	p. 176
Conclusion and summary	p. 180
Further reading	p. 180
Websites	p. 181
Multi-level governance
The Changing state	p. 185
Learning outcomes	p. 185
Introduction	p. 185
Government to governance	p. 186
Changing attitudes towards the state	p. 187
Reform of the civil service	p. 190
The quango state	p. 194
Multi-level governance	p. 202
The 'hollowing out' of the state?	p. 207
Conclusion and summary	p. 210
Further reading	p. 211
Websites	p. 212
Local governance to local governance	p. 213
Learning outcomes	p. 213
Introduction	p. 213
Government to governance	p. 214
The structure of local government	p. 214
Functions of local authorities	p. 222
Local government finance	p. 227
Local government in a multi-level polity	p. 232
Local democracy	p. 236
Conclusion and summary	p. 237
Further reading	p. 237
Websites	p. 238
Devolution	p. 239
Learning outcomes	p. 239
Introduction	p. 239
The Union	p. 240
Towards devolution	p. 243
Devolution in Scotland and Wales	p. 246
England	p. 254
Changes to UK government	p. 258
Northern Ireland	p. 261
The post-devolution polity	p. 269
Conclusion and summary	p. 271
Further reading	p. 272
Websites	p. 272
The UK and the European Union	p. 273
Learning outcomes	p. 273
Introduction	p. 273
The development of the European Union	p. 274
The institutions of the European Union	p. 280
Interpreting the European Union	p. 286
Britain and the European Union	p. 288
An 'awkward partner'	p. 294
Conclusion and summary	p. 305
Further reading	p. 306
Websites	p. 306
Political parties
UK party systems	p. 311
Learning outcomes	p. 311
Introduction	p. 311
History of a two-party system	p. 312
The UK party system since 1997	p. 318
Party systems in Scotland and Wales	p. 320
The party system in Northern Ireland	p. 321
UK parties and European elections	p. 324
Conclusion and summary	p. 326
Further reading	p. 326
Websites	p. 327
Party organization	p. 328
Learning outcomes	p. 328
Introduction	p. 328
From cadre parties to mass parties	p. 329
Conservative Party organisation	p. 331
Labour Party organisation	p. 336
Liberal Democrat organisation	p. 344
Party finance	p. 346
Back to cadre parties?	p. 348
Conclusion and summary	p. 351
Further reading	p. 352
Websites	p. 353
Ideology and party competition	p. 354
Learning outcomes	p. 354
Introduction	p. 354
The nature of ideology	p. 355
Conservatism	p. 357
Socialism	p. 360
Liberalism	p. 363
Ideology and British political parties	p. 367
A new 'consensus'?	p. 378
Alternative voices	p. 380
Conclusion and summary	p. 383
Further reading	p. 384
Websites	p. 385
Participation
Elections and electoral systems	p. 389
Learning outcomes	p. 389
Introduction	p. 389
Elections in the UK	p. 390
Functions of elections	p. 394
Election campaigns	p. 404
Electoral systems in the UK	p. 407
Electoral reform	p. 415
Impact of the new electoral systems	p. 417
Conclusion and summary	p. 420
Further reading	p. 420
Websites	p. 421
Voting behaviour	p. 422
Learning outcomes	p. 422
Introduction	p. 422
Class voting and partisanship	p. 423
Dealignment	p. 425
Other social factors	p. 430
Rational choice approaches	p. 432
The 1997, 2001 and 2005 general elections	p. 441
Realignment or dealignment?	p. 446
Conclusion and summary	p. 447
Further reading	p. 448
Websites	p. 449
Referendums and pressure groups	p. 450
Learning outcomes	p. 450
Introduction	p. 450
Referendums	p. 451
Pressure groups	p. 456
New social movements	p. 464
Pressure groups and democracy	p. 467
Conclusion and summary	p. 469
Further reading	p. 470
Websites	p. 470
Conclusions
Governance and democracy in the UK	p. 475
Learning outcomes	p. 475
Introduction	p. 475
The old order changes	p. 475
Constitutional reform	p. 477
The more things change...	p. 478
The condition of British democracy	p. 480
Conclusion and summary	p. 486
Further reading	p. 486
Websites	p. 487
Index	p. 489
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