British Political Parties
you disconnect your understanding of parties from their social context? Re-visit “median voter theory.” Anthony Downs, An Economic Theory of Democracy (1957).
Can
U.S. Post-War “Middle Class.”
1.
1945-1975: post-war economic prosperity.
– Industrial strength; industrial and agricultural exports; residential housing; public works (inter-state highway system). – Powerful unionization: autos, mines, ports, steel, transportation, etc… – Social segregation and economic marginalization of racial minorities.
The Social Arts The “angst” of the middle class
W. Mills, White Collar David Riesman, The Lonely Crowd Sloan Wilson, The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit – [became a film with Gregory Peck.] Louis Bromfield, Mr. Smith The “Southern California Look” Levittown – access to suburban life.
C.
Britain: Post-War Economic Decline
and transportation infrastructure intact. Was this an advantage? The British class system: the aristocracy and the working class. Was “deference” crucial in sustaining a society with extreme inequality?
Industrial
The Social Arts: Anger at Political & Economic Decline
Back in Anger (Book, 1956; movie, 1958). The Entertainer (1960) .. is set during Suez invasion (1956). Room at the Top (1959) Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (book, 1958; movie, 1962.) This Sporting Life (1963).
Look
The “British Disease”
Definition and Description Products Britain didn’t manufacture. Products Britain didn’t export. 4 Hypotheses 1. Aristocratic Hypothesis. 2. Working Class Hypothesis. 3. Welfare State Hypothesis. 4. End of Empire Hypothesis.
Ideology in Britain: Conservatism
Conservatives Share 1. Belief in private property. 2. Role of government is to secure property rights. 3. Human inequality is natural and inevitable. Emphasis on philanthropy. 4. Human nature is aggressive.
Views
Views that Divide Conservatives
Conservatism. (Edmund Burke) 1. Reason alone cannot be trusted. 2. Society is an organic fabric: avoid violence against existing classes. 3. Institutions are evolutionary: presumption is test of time. 4. Law of unanticipated consequences. 5. Belief in limited government.
Tory
British Political Parties
1.
A “single” left-right political spectrum.
– The stabilizing nature of “left-right” issues.
No “anti-constitutional” extremes. 3. No major third parties: practically every government formed of one party.
2.
Views that Divide Conservatives (2)
Conservatism. 1. Society is individualistic, not a fabric. 2. Rational self-interest is both guide and explanation of behavior. 3. Government should promote free markets and private property. 4. Poverty is the fault of the individual.
Whig
Views that United Labour
Purpose of Government is to assist the less fortunate. 2. Inequality arises out of particular economic systems; it is not a result of human differences. 3. A strong presumption in favor of government intervention in economy and society.
1.
British Political Ideology: Labour
Labour 1. Historic commitment to public ownership. (Clause 4.) 2. Social classes are inherently in conflict. 3. Role of government is to aggressively redistribute wealth. 4. Therefore, need for progressive tax system and pro-active state.
“Old”
British Political Ideology
“New” Labour (Tony Blair).
1. Abandon commitment to public ownership. 2. Redistribution of wealth to be balanced by “business-friendly” and consumption- friendly policies. Inter-class cooperation can replace class conflict. 3. Valid privatizations of Thatcher period should be preserved. 4. Tax system: balance taxation with consumption and investment.
British General Elections of 1992 and 1997
1992 PARTY LABOUR CONSERVATIVE LIBERALDEMOCRAT % OF VOTE 34.39 41.93 17.85 # OF SEATS 271 336 20 % OF VOTE 43.2* 30.7 17.2 1997 # OF SEATS 418 165 46 CHANGE +146 -178 +28
Elections of 1997 and 2001
1997 % of Vote 43.2 30.7 # of Seats 418 165 46 % of Vote 40.7 31.7 18.3 2001 # of Seats 413 166 52 Change
Party
Labour Conservative
-5 +1 +6
Liberal- 17.2 Democr at
Elections of 1997 and 2001 Why Did Labour Win?
Conservatism fatigue including scandals: in power since 1979. 2. Exhaustion of neo-liberal paradigm. 3. New Labour (like new Democrats).. appeal to new middle class and younger people. 4. Globalization fears: Labour represents greater social security.
1.
Tony Blair Voting
with Cherie Blair
A Rural Polling Station
Voting in a Museum
Conservative Party Poll Watchers
The Fox Hunt Vote
Ian Paisley, Democratic Unionist Party
Bethnal Green and Bow
Oona King
Black Jewish Woman Elected in 1997 and 2001, 10,000 vote plurality New L abour: known as pragmatic left. Supports War in Iraq and Blair policy.
Bethnal Green and Bow
George Galloway White Male Old Labour – expelled from Labour Party, 2003: considered doctrinaire. Formed Respect Party (was SWP). Critic of Iraq War: enemy of Tony Blair
Bethnal Green and Bow: Result
+/%
Name George Galloway
Party Respect-Unity Coalition
Votes
%
15,801
35.9
+35.9
Oona King
Labour
14,978
34.0
-16.5
Shahagir Faruk
Conservative
6,244
14.2
-10.1
Syed Dulu
Liberal Democrat
4,928
11.2
-4.3
John Foster
Green
1,950
4.4
+0.1
BRITISH GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1992 & 1997
1992
% OF VOTE PARTY # OF SEATS
1997
% OF VOTE # OF SEATS CHANGE
LABOUR
CONSERVATIVE LIBERALDEMOCRAT
34.39
41.93 17.85
271
336 20
43.2*
30.7 17.2
418
165 46
+146
-178 +28
BRITISH GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1997 & 2001
1997
Party Labour Conservative
Lib-Dem % of Vote # of Seats % of Vote
2001
# of Seats Change
43.2 30.7
17.2
418 165
46
40.7 31.7
18.3
413 166
52
-5 +1
+6
British Elections of 2001 and 2005
2001 % Votes Party
Labour Conservative Lib-Dem. 41 32 18 412 166 52 35 32 22 356 197 62 -56 +35 +10
+1
# Seats
2005 % Votes # Seats
Change
Other
10
29
10
30
What Do We Conclude?
Great stability of voting patterns in UK. Labor lost only 4% despite salience of Iraq war. Why?
– Role of social class in Britain. – Economic prosperity. – Role of institutions? National campaigns but intimate politics.
1.
What Do We Conclude? (2)
Small shifts in voting can result in large shifts in parliamentary representation: 4% loss in Labour vote = 11.1% loss of its parliamentary seats. 3. Both Labour and Conservative parties now sorting out relations between internal philosophies.
2.