Exploring British Politics

by Garnett; Mark

• ISBN13: 9781408263655
• ISBN10: 1408263653
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2012-05-03
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Concise, comprehensive and accessible, Exploring British Politicspresents an insightful approach to British politics with a special emphasis on developments since the 2010 general election and the formation of Britain's first coalition government since 1945.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'.

Author Biography

Mark Garnett is Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Lancaster University. He is the author, co-author or editor of numerous books and articles on British politics.

Philip Lynch is a Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of Leicester.

Table of Contents

Contents

Guided tour

Guide to features

Preface

Acknowledgements

Part 1 Context

Chapter 1   Understanding British politics

Learning outcomes

Introduction

UKpolitics, representative democracy and the ‘Westminster Model’

Liberal democracy

The changing state 

Conclusion and summary

Further reading

Websites 

Chapter 2   Analysing British politics 

Learning outcomes 

Introduction 

The Westminster Model and the study of British politics 

Alternative models 

Approaches to British politics

Research methods

Conclusion and summary

Further reading 

Websites

Chapter 3   UK government in context 

Learning outcomes 

Introduction

The post-war ‘consensus’ 

The end of consensus, 1970–79

Thatcherism, 1979–97

Blair and New Labour

Conclusion and summary

Further reading 

Websites

Chapter 4   Economy and society

Learning outcomes 

Introduction

Britai 

Sources of cohesion 

Conclusion and summary

Further reading

Websites

Chapter 5   The media and communications

Learning outcomes

The UK media: not one, but many? 

Theories of media influence 

New Labour and the media

Conclusion and summary

Further reading 

Websites

Part 2 Constitution and institutions

Chapter 6   The constitution 

Learning outcomes 

Introduction 

The uncodified constitution 

Sources of the UK constitution 

Main principles of the UK constitution 

The constitution under pressure 

New Labour and constitutional reform 

A new constitutional settlement

Conclusion and summary 

Further reading 

Websites 

Chapter 7   The core executive

Learning outcomes 

Introduction 

The core executive model 

The Prime Minister 

Leadership style

The Cabinet  

Ministerial responsibility

Ministers and departments

Conclusion and summary

Further reading

Websites 

Chapter 8 Parliament 

Learning outcomes 

Introduction 

The House of Commons

The House of Lords 

Parliamentary reform 

Conclusion and summary

Further reading

Websites 

Chapter 9   The judiciary and the law

Learning outcomes

Introduction 

The judicial system in the UK 

Judicial review and the Human Rights Act 1998 

Who are the judges?

New Labour’s constitutional reforms

The police 

Conclusion and summary

Further reading

Websites 

Part 3 Multi-level governance

Chapter 10 The changing State 

Learning outcomes 

Introduction 

Government to governance

Changing attitudes towards the state

Reform of the civil service

The quango state 

Multil governance 

Globalisation 

Conclusion and summary

Further reading 

Websites 

Chapter 11 Local government to local governance

Learning outcomes 

Introduction 

Government to governance 

The structure of local government 

Functions of local authorities

Local government finance

Local government in a multi-level polity 

Local democracy 

Conclusion and summary 

Further reading 

Websites

Chapter 12 Devolution 

Learning outcomes

Introduction 

The Union 

Towards devolution 

Devolution in Scotland and Wales 

England 

Changes to UK government 

Northern Ireland 

The post-devolution polity 

Conclusion and summary 

Further reading

Websites 

Chapter 13 The UK and the European Union 

Learning outcomes 

Introduction 

The development of the European Union 

The institutions of the European Union 

Interpreting the European Union 

Britainand the European Union 

An ‘awkward partner’ 

Conclusion and summary 

Further reading 

Websites

Part 4 Political parties

Chapter 14 UK party systems

Learning outcomes 

Introduction

History of a two-party system 

The UK party system since 1997 

Party systems in Scotland and Wales 

The party system in Northern Ireland 

UKparties and European elections 

Conclusion and summary 

Further reading

Websites

Chapter 15 Party organisation 

Learning outcomes 

Introduction

From cadre parties to mass parties 

Conservative Party organisation 

Labour Party organisation

Liberal Democrat organisation

Party finance

Back to cadre parties? 

Conclusion and summary 

Further reading 

Websites 

Chapter 16 Ideology and party competition 

Learning outcomes 

Introduction 

The nature of ideology  

Conservatism 

Socialism 

Liberalism 

Ideology and British political parties

A new ‘consensus’?

Alternative voices 

Conclusion and summary 

Websites 

Part 5 Participation

Chapter 17 Elections and electoral systems 

Learning outcomes 

Introduction 

Elections in the UK 

Functions of elections 

Election campaigns

Electoral systems in the UK 

Electoral reform

Impact of the new electoral systems 

Conclusion and summary

Further reading 

Websites 

Chapter 18 Voting behaviour  

Learning outcomes 

Introduction 

Class voting and partisanship 

Dealignment 

Other social factors 

Rational choice approaches

The 1997, 2001 and 2005 general elections 

Realignment or dealignment?

Conclusion and summary 

Further reading 

Websites 

Chapter 19 Participation beyond elections

Learning outcomes 

Introduction

Referendums

Pressure groups 

New social movements

Pressure groups and democracy  

Conclusion and summary

Further reading 

Websites 

Part 6 Conclusions

Chapter 20 Governance and democracy in the UK 

Learning outcomes

Introduction 

The old order changes

The more things change …  

The condition of British democracy

From Blair to Brown  

Conclusion and summary 

Further reading  

Websites 

Index

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