Political Institutions
Explain the symbolic role of the monarchy.
The monarchy has residual power, which is mostly ceremonial. They can technically appoint bishops of the Church of England, confer titles and honours, but most of this is symbolic : the monarchy serves as a symbol of continuity and stability of an old, prestigious nation.
Name the Five Giant of Evil. Where were they named for the first time ?
The Five Giant of Evil were identified by Lord Beveridge in his report published after WW2. They are : Idleness, Want, Disease, Ignorance and Squalor. The Beveridge Report was a best-seller, creating expectations for a better world.
Define "Britishness"
A British identity, that goes above all internal differences, such as ethnicity, origin or religion. It is tied to history and symbols, such as the monarchy, the culture, arts, and even the scenery and British architecture.
What was the starting point of Brexit? Name two of its main actors in the beginning.
Brexit was the result of two things: the rise of euroscepticism fed by UKIP and its leader, Nigel Farrage, and the political gamble of David Cameron, former Tory PM who promised to renegotiate the terms of the EU membership if reelected in 2015. He was reelected, and had to keep his promise of a referendum.
In your own words, define the concept of Commonwealth Realms
The Commonwealth Realms have King Charles as a monarch. There are 15 of them.
Describe the constitution of the UK: what is its format? Can you name some of its most important components?
The British Constitution is uncodified, it is not a single text but a cumulative process of legislation. We can cite the Magna Carta (1215) which lays out the liberties of sovereigns, noblemen and commoners, the Habeas Corpus (1679) which protects against arbitrary imprisonment, or the Parliament Act (1911) which limits the power of veto of the HoL to a suspension for 2 years.
Describe the current state of the Welfare state, comparing it to its beginnings.
The current Welfare State is quite limited by political decisions. The United Kingdom is a country of stark inequality, and the austerity politics started with David Cameron in 2010 (especially after the economic crisis of 2008) have greatly weakened the impact of the Welfare State and its ability to help impoverished people. Despite this, British people are still very attached to those institutions, especially the NHS (which is also facing its own financial crisis)
Describe the post-war immigration policy.
First instance of mass immigration in the UK, because of the need for reconstruction labour, and because of decolonisation, as many decide to come live in the UK after the independence of colonies.
For the first time, a majority of non-white migration, raising questions of race relations within the main islands.
The immigration was one "open door", with those newcomers descending from colonies, regarding England as their motherland.
Give some examples of the "dis-unity" brought about by Brexit
- The Northern Irish Protocol: an exception within the UK.
- Different votes, different populations: Age groups, regions... The Leave/Remain vote was extremely divisive.
- A divided parliament: different general elections with shifting majorities, the Prorogation in 2019, the long, paralyzed proceedings under May, and the lack of political consensus during the referendum.
- A bitter campaign: harsh rhetoric leading to violence in some cases.
What is the Commonwealth? What are its main institutions?
The Commonwealth is an association of nations based on free and equal co-operation. Some of its countries have no historical ties to the British Empire. It has 56 members. Its goals are the promotion of democracy, economic development through partnerships, and military support. It does not tolerate undemocratic practices, and some countries have been suspended.
It is organised by institutions such as the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, as well as the CW Foundation and the CW of Learning.
What is the Bill of Rights? When was it implemented, and why?
It is a law put in place in 1689. It limits the powers of the monarchy and places it under the control of Parliament. It was brought upon by the Glorious Revolution against the tyrannical King James, replaced by William III and Mary II.
List some of the measures taken during the post-war consensus to create the Welfare State.
Ignorance: Education Act (1944, under War Cabinet)
Idleness: Nationalisations (46 - 49), lowers unemployment to only 2%
Want: National Insurance Act (46), providing social benefits such as unemployment or maternity, child, sick leave, and pensions.
Squalor: New Towns Act (46), eradicating inner-city slums.
Disease: NHS (48)
Give 3 examples of the push against immigration and / or multiculturalism started in the last few years.
- "Stop the Boats": Illegal Immigration Bill, march 23. Detaining people arriving in the UK, disallowing claims of asylum, deportation. Response to the rise in immigration from Channel crossings, with a record number of 84 000 asylum seekers in 2023.
-The Rwanda Plan: in 2022 by BoJo, treating asylum seekers from Rwanda as criminals and sending them back to Rwanda. Deemed not in compliance with the Geneva Convention, and blocked by the UK Supreme Court, eventually scrapped by Keir Starmer.
-The Windrush Scandal: immigrants that had arrived legally between 1948 and 71 from colonies of CW would be considered illegals. Those migrants, mostly from the Caribbean, faced deportation, lost their jobs and healthcare... despite being in the UK legally.
-Brexit...?
Why and when did Theresa May resign? Who is her successor, and what did he do differently?
Theresa May had to resign when she failed to get her agreement with the EU approved by UK Parliament multiple times. The Tories had lost their majority in Parliament, and some of them even considered the deal too "soft". She resigns in early 2019 and is replaced by Boris Johnson in July.
Helped by a conservative majority after the General Election in December 1919, BoJo is able to get the Withdrawal Agreement officially agreed on by Parliament, leading to a total Brexit on January 1 2021.
What was the 1st British Empire? How many colonies did it have?
The First British Empire was established in 1763, after the Seven Years' War opposing France and Great Britain. British colonial expansionism began with North America (Canada being the first overseas colony, established in 1583 for Queen Elizabeth the First), India, and some small islands.
Describe the British Parliament: how many houses? What are they? Can you name 5 parties, and say which one is in power, and which one is the current opposition?
The Parliament is held in Westminster palace. It debates and makes laws. It is bicameral, split between the House of Commons (650 elected MPs) and the House of Lords (780 MPs, mostly appointed for life). The current Parliament is led by Keir Starmer, from the Labour Party, and the Opposition is Conservative, led by Rishi Sunak.
Give some examples illustrating the economic conditions of people in Britain today.
-The Working Poor: housing costs and inflation have risen far above wages, and the lack of legislation has led to 13.4mil people living in poverty (20%), with 12.5% of workers left with less than 60% of the median income after housing cost.
-Income Distribution: Just like Victorian Society, Britain remains a deeply unequal society, with the top 10% of the population holding more than a third of the total GDP, while the bottom 50% holds roughly 20%
-Breadline Britain: the amount of family relying on food banks is rising drastically, a figure exacerbated by economic impacts of COV19.
List some of the choices made to encourage multiculturalism. Has it been a success?
- Race Relation Acts in the 60s and 70s
- Decision to preserve cultural diversity and impose tolerance through education and legislation.
-Promotion of the idea that all cultures and communities should live together and contribute to British identity.
Has it been a success ? The UK still prides itself on being multi racial / faith, and tensions remain rare. Many prestigious personalities, in culture and politics, descend from minority ethnicities. BUT inequalities and racial discrimination remain, while some racial tensions exist, fueled by some institutions and the rise of terrorism.
In your own words, describe the historical relationship between the UK and the EU
UK did not join the EEC after the war and was rejected by De Gaulle when it tried to join in the 60s. Was finally accepted in 1973, and confirmed in 1975. Its influence on policies was limited, and Thatcher was famously focused on "value-for-money" policies, leading to an "à la carte" treatment of EU agreements.
Describe some steps taken to put an end to the Empire.
The cost was the Empire was judged too great by some economists such as Adam Smith or Richard Cobden.
- Devolution of Imperial power: Canada becomes a Dominion (1857), followed by Australia (1901), New Zealand (1907), South Africa (1910) and Ireland (1922)
- Statute of Westminster: 1931, guarantees equality between dominions and Britain.
-India becomes independent in 1947.
-In 1949, Republics are welcome in the CW.
Explain some of the criticisms against the British parliamentary monarchy.
1 - Since the death of QE2, the monarchy has been increasingly the target of criticism. Its popularity is fluctuating, depending on who is in power, and the different scandals plaguing the royal family.
2 - For some people, especially the youth, monarchy represents an obsolete system and a republic would be preferable.
3 - Some people criticize the amount of power given to the Prime Minister, sometimes described as an "elective dictatorship".
Who is Margaret Thatcher? What was her influence on the Welfare State?
Margaret Thatcher became PM in 1979. She led the Tories towards the "New Right", mocking the culture of the "Nanny State" and of Trade Unions, repressing workers' strike, cutting spending and implementing austerity measures.
Her political philosophy is neo-liberalism, which can be described as an emphasis on free trade, deregulations, privatization, and principles of economic laissez-faire.
Explain the concept of systemic racism.
Systemic racism: "Institutional racism, also known as systemic racism, is a form of institutional discrimination based on race or ethnic group and can include policies and practices that exist throughout a whole society or organization that result in and support a continued unfair advantage to some people and unfair or harmful treatment of others. It manifests as discrimination in areas such as criminal justice, employment, housing, healthcare, education and political representation."
What are some of the consequences of Brexit? How do people feel about Brexit in general?
The word "Bregret" has come to define the popular opinion, with a majority of people thinking it was the wrong decision, and struggling to identify positive consequences of Brexit.
However, Brexit has been replaced as the main topic of debate by other more pressing issues, such as health (COV19), the economy (cost of living crisis), or immigration.
In your own words, what is the future of the CW?
The future of the CW is uncertain, with many countries questioning the legitimacy of the United Kingdom, especially since the death of Queen Elizabeth 2. Some would like to de-center the UK from the governance of the CW. Some countries are re-considering their membership, with Zimbabwe withdrawing in 2003, Jamaica questioning the validity of monarchy as a symbol, and Canada thinking about a potential referendum. One thing is certain: the CW will have to adapt to a modern world order.