Unit 4 Politics, class and race

TheSocietyandCultureofMajorEnglish-SpeakingCountriesTheUnitedKingdomUnit4Politics,classandracePartySystemApoliticalpartysystemconsistsofallthepartiesinaparticularnationandthelawsandcustomsthatgoverntheirbehavior.Threetypesofpartysystems:MultipartysystemTwo-partysystemOne-partysystemThreemajornationalparties:(1)TheConservativeParty(2)TheLaborParty(3)TheLiberalDemocratsPoliticsinBritainisnowbasedonthetwopartysystem.TheConservativePartyTime:themiddleof19thcentury(Emergedin1830sfromthe‘Tory’)Characteristics:standingforprivateenterpriseandfreedomfromstatecontrolSupporters:middleandupper-middleclassPeopleofhigherpositionTheLaborPartyTime:In1900sCharacteristics:TheystandfornationalandcommunalgrowthSupporters:WorkingclassandcommonpeoplerelativelypoororunderprivilegedItisformedin1906.1924firstLaborgovernmentcametopower.By1929,ithadreplacedLiberalsasoneoftwomajorparties.In1945GeneralElection,itgainedspectacularvictory,anditsgovernmentintroducedseveralimportantsocialreforms:Nationalhealthservice(NHS),socialsecuritysystem,masseducation,nationalizationofseveralleadingindustries.ItwonpowerunderWilsonfrom1964to1970andinofficeagainfrom1974to1979,spentmajorityoftimeinoppositionuntil1997.Thethirdwayissomethingdifferentanddistinctfromliberalcapitalismwithitsunswervingbeliefinthemeritsofthefreemarketanddemocraticsocialismwithitsdemandmanagementandobsessionwiththestate.ThethirdWayisinfavorofgrowth,entrepreneurship,enterpriseandwealthcreationbutitisalsoinfavorofgreatersocialjusticeanditseesthestateplayingamajorroleinbringingthisabout.TheLiberalDemocratsAmergeroftheoldLiberalPartyandtheSocialDemocraticParty,thelatterbeingabreakawaygroupfromLaborParty,formedin1981AdvocatingpoliciesbasedonfreedomoftheindividualsRemainingaminoritypartywhichdrawssupportfromvotersdissatisfiedwithToryorLaborApartyofprotestratherthanarealalternativeforgovernmentImageofpartymoderateandappealspredominantlytomiddleclasspeople,ofteninruralareasGeneralElectionWhyaretheGeneralElectionsimportant?Theelectionisseenasanopportunityininfluencefuturegovernmentpolicy—or,lesspositively,thatwhateverelsethefailingsofthepoliticalsystem,atleasttheelectionprovidestheopportunityto“kicktherascalsout”!WhendoElectionsOccur?TheGeneralElectionsareheldeveryfiveyears.ButthePrimeMinistercancallanelectionsoonerthanfiveyearsonthefollowingcondition:(1)iftheGovernmentisdefeatedintheCommonsontheissue;(2)ifthePrimeMinisterwantsto.WhocanstandforelectionasanMP?AnycitizencanbecomeacandidateforelectiontotheHouseofCommons.But,(1)certainclassesofpeopleareforbiddentositintheHouse;(a)judges,(b)civilservants,(c)membersoftheregulararmedforces,(d)fulltimepoliceofficers,(e)membersofmanypublicboardsandcommissions.(2)Heorshemustget10electorsintheconstituency.(3)Heorshemustpayadepositof￡500,whichhelosesifhefailstoget5%ofthevotesattheelection.Whathappensinanelection?(1)Thevoterreceivesavotingcardtellinghimtheexacttimeandplacetovote;(2)Thepoliticalpartiesarecampaigningthrough:(a)Advertisementinnewspapers(b)Doortodoorcampaigning(c)Postaldeliveriesofleaflets(d)“Partyelectoralbroadcasts”onthetelevision(3)Thevotervotesontheelectionday;(4)Teamsofvolunteerscheckthevotingcardsandcountthevotes;(5)Theresultisannouncedthroughtelevisionstations.2010GeneralElectionDavidWilliamDonaldCamerontheLeaderoftheConservativeParty(sinceDecember2005)GordonBrown(1951-)PrimeMinister(sinceJul.2007)NicholasWilliamPeterClegg(7/1/1967)(18/12/2007,leaderoftheLiberalDemocrats)ClassandraceintheUKInthepast……peopleinheritedtheirclassLimitedsocialmobilityUpperclassUpperlandedclass:controlledmostlandandwealthnobility,oraristocracykeypoliticalrolesonthemonarch’scouncilsintheHouseofLordsinParliamentinlocalgovernmentOftenpoliticallyconservativeMoneyandmaterialpossessionsasalessimportantfactorTheirchildrenbroughtupathomebyaNannyforthefirstfewyearsoflifeuntiloldenoughtoattendawell-establishedprepschoolsecondaryeducationusuallyinoneofBritain'sprestigiouspublicschools:WestminsterSchool,EtonCollege,HarrowSchool,andAmpleforthCollegeThentoOxbridge,ImperialCollegeandother'traditional'universitiesEtonCollegeLowerupperclassAnadditionallowerupperclassStilllandedNothavingthesameprivilegesasthenobilityknights,squires,gentry,orcountrygentlemenelectedtotheHouseofCommonsamajorroleInparliamentInlocalpoliticsThePrincipleofprimogenitureThefirst-bornson,astheprimeinheritor,gainsthetitle.HissiblingshaveonlycourtesytitlesDosomethingoffoftheestategoverningacolony,servingasageneralinthearmy,orplayingapartinpoliticsreligiouscareersForthelowerupperclassesThefirst-bornsoninheritedtheestateyoungersonssoughtotheroccupationsdoctors,lawyers,orwritersintoprofessionsmixedwiththemiddleclass(possiblydownwardsocialmobility)Importanceofmarriagestothenobilityincreaseafamily’sprestigeorinfluenceFamiliesusuallytookastronghandinarrangingmarriagesThemiddleclassinthe17thand18thcenturiesfarmers,merchants,clergy,andmilitaryofficers(17thcentury)evolvedandexpandedrapidlyduringthe18thcenturyrangedfromhumbleclerkstobankersandfac