Democracy in Britain
Title | Democracy in Britain PDF eBook |
Author | Matt Cole |
Publisher | Edinburgh University Press |
Total Pages | 192 |
Release | 2006-04-03 |
Genre | Political Science |
ISBN | 0748626697 |
This textbook brings together an introduction to the political theory of democracy since Ancient times and a critical picture of its place in Britain today.The author examines the work of Plato and Aristotle, Rousseau and Mill, Marx and Weber, and locates them and others in the debate about what democracy means. He then scrutinises Britain's claim to be a developing democracy, from the power of the Prime Minister and the role of political parties to the influence of pressure groups and the media, as well as recent constitutional changes.In the context of declining public trust in political institutions and increasing reluctance to vote, crucial questions are tackled: do we have a democracy, and why does it matter? Key Features:*A wide-ranging, accessible introduction to the place of Democracy in Britain today*Divided into two halves: on democratic theory (reflecting its history, development, and key concepts) and democratic practice (examining political institutions)*Offers examples of documentary material to illustrate the ideas presented*Up-to-date: includes material written after the 2005 General Election
The UK's Changing Democracy
Title | The UK's Changing Democracy PDF eBook |
Author | Patrick Dunleavy |
Publisher | LSE Press |
Total Pages | 521 |
Release | 2018-11-01 |
Genre | Political Science |
ISBN | 1909890464 |
The UK’s Changing Democracy presents a uniquely democratic perspective on all aspects of UK politics, at the centre in Westminster and Whitehall, and in all the devolved nations. The 2016 referendum vote to leave the EU marked a turning point in the UK’s political system. In the previous two decades, the country had undergone a series of democratic reforms, during which it seemed to evolve into a more typical European liberal democracy. The establishment of a Supreme Court, adoption of the Human Rights Act, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish devolution, proportional electoral systems, executive mayors and the growth in multi-party competition all marked profound changes to the British political tradition. Brexit may now bring some of these developments to a juddering halt. The UK’s previous ‘exceptionalism’ from European patterns looks certain to continue indefinitely. ‘Taking back control’ of regulations, trade, immigration and much more is the biggest change in UK governance for half a century. It has already produced enduring crises for the party system, Parliament and the core executive, with uniquely contested governance over critical issues, and a rapidly changing political landscape. Other recent trends are no less fast-moving, such as the revival of two-party dominance in England, the re-creation of some mass membership parties and the disruptive challenges of social media. In this context, an in-depth assessment of the quality of the UK’s democracy is essential. Each of the 2018 Democratic Audit’s 37 short chapters starts with clear criteria for what democracy requires in that part of the nation’s political life and outlines key recent developments before a SWOT analysis (of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) crystallises the current situation. A small number of core issues are then explored in more depth. Set against the global rise of debased semi-democracies, the book’s approach returns our focus firmly to the big issues around the quality and sustainability of the UK’s liberal democracy.
Political Participation and Democracy in Britain
Title | Political Participation and Democracy in Britain PDF eBook |
Author | Geraint Parry |
Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
Total Pages | 532 |
Release | 1992-01-16 |
Genre | History |
ISBN | 9780521336024 |
The results of a survey on the level and patterns of political involvement in Britain.
Citizenship, Democracy and Belonging in Suburban Britain
Title | Citizenship, Democracy and Belonging in Suburban Britain PDF eBook |
Author | David Jeevendrampillai |
Publisher | UCL Press |
Total Pages | 228 |
Release | 2021-10-12 |
Genre | Social Science |
ISBN | 1800080530 |
A study of the conditions of being a citizen, belonging and democracy in suburban Britain, this book focuses on understanding how a community takes on the social responsibility and pressures of being a good citizen through what they call ‘stupid’ events, festivals and parades. Building a community is perceived to be an important and necessary act to enable resilience against the perceived threats of neoliberal socio-economic life such as isolation, selfishness and loss of community. Citizenship, Democracy and Belonging in Suburban Britain explores how authoritative knowledge is developed, maintained and deployed by this group as they encounter other ‘social projects’, such as the local council planning committee or academic projects researching participation in urban planning. The activists, who call themselves the ‘Seething Villagers’, model their community activity on the mythical ancient village of Seething where moral tales of how to work together, love others and be a community are laid out in the Seething Tales. These tales include Seething ‘facts’ such as the fact that the ancient Mountain of Seething was destroyed by a giant. The assertion of fact is central to the mechanisms of play and the refusal of expertise at the heart of the Seething community. The book also stands as a reflexive critique on anthropological practice, as the author examines their role in mobilising knowledge and speaking on behalf of others. Citizenship, Democracy and Belonging in Suburban Britain is of interest to anthropologists, urban studies scholars, geographers and those interested in the notions of democracy, inclusion, citizenship and anthropological practice.
Representative Democracy in Britain Today
Title | Representative Democracy in Britain Today PDF eBook |
Author | Colin Pilkington |
Publisher | Manchester University Press |
Total Pages | 308 |
Release | 1997 |
Genre | Democracy |
ISBN | 9780719048180 |
In the aftermath of the Scott Report and the Nolan Committee this new study looks at the declining accountability of government in Britain, and the growth of quangos and agencies as well as the Monarchy and House of Lords are examined.
The American Experiment and the Idea of Democracy in British Culture, 1776–1914
Title | The American Experiment and the Idea of Democracy in British Culture, 1776–1914 PDF eBook |
Author | Dr Ella Dzelzainis |
Publisher | Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. |
Total Pages | 411 |
Release | 2013-11-28 |
Genre | Literary Criticism |
ISBN | 1409473120 |
In nineteenth-century Britain, the effects of democracy in America were seen to spread from Congress all the way down to the personal habits of its citizens. Bringing together political theorists, historians, and literary scholars, this volume explores the idea of American democracy in nineteenth-century Britain. The essays span the period from Independence to the First World War and trace an intellectual history of Anglo-American relations during that period. Leading scholars trace the hopes and fears inspired by the American model of democracy in the works of commentators, including Thomas Paine, Mary Wollstonecraft, Alexis de Tocqueville, Charles Dickens, John Stuart Mill, Richard Cobden, Charles Dilke, Matthew Arnold, Henry James and W. T. Stead. By examining the context of debates about American democracy and notions of ‘culture’, citizenship, and race, the collection sheds fresh light on well-documented moments of British political history, such as the Reform Acts, the Abolition of Slavery Act, and the Anti-Corn Law agitation. The volume also explores the ways in which British Liberalism was shaped by the American example and draws attention to the importance of print culture in furthering radical political dialogue between the two nations. As the comprehensive introduction makes clear, this collection makes an important contribution to transatlantic studies and our growing sense of a nineteenth-century modernity shaped by an Atlantic exchange. It is an essential reference point for all interested in the history of the idea of democracy, its political evolution, and its perceived cultural consequences.
Political Power and Democratic Control in Britain
Title | Political Power and Democratic Control in Britain PDF eBook |
Author | David Beetham |
Publisher | Routledge |
Total Pages | 544 |
Release | 2002-09-11 |
Genre | Political Science |
ISBN | 1134864116 |
Democratic Institutions and Practices is the second study carried out under the Democratic Audit of the UK. This volume explores the formal institutions and processes of the liberal democratic state: including the executive, elections, parliament and the civil service.