Chapter 1
Turbulence and Realignment: Understanding Contemporary Politics in the United Kingdom
Chapter Summary
The period from 2010 to 2024 represents one of the most turbulent eras in British political history, marked by fundamental shifts in voting patterns, democratic engagement and trust in politicians.
The first section of this chapter provides an overview of the state of contemporary British politics and explores the significant developments since the Second World War which have contributed to the trends and problems of contemporary British politics. There is a particular focus on the 21st century and the major events that have shaped the direction of British politics, including the financial crash of 2008, the MPs’ expenses scandal in 2009, the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, the Brexit referendum of 2016 and the General Elections during that period.
The second part of the chapter explores the importance of ambition in shaping the modern professional politician, and discusses how ambition can transform into hubris, using Margaret Thatcher as a classic example of hubris. Finally, the authors address the problem of cynicism amongst the general public and consider how this affects the careers and actions of political figures.
Learning Objectives
To explain:
- how the context of British politics has undergone drastic change over the past decade: world economic crash, the decline of trust in democracy and its practitioners, made worse by the MPs’ expenses scandal plus the ending of the postwar consensus on political ideas.
- how British voting behaviour has undergone a fundamental realignment since the late part of the 20th century.
- How all these factors contributed to the electoral volatility after 2010 and the huge event of the June 2016 Brexit vote.
- How some authors have offered their own explanations of recent political turbulence in democracies.
- To provide an idea of why people in the UK enter the world of politics, their ambition and sometimes hubris.
Quizzes
Test your knowledge with the Chapter 1 quizzes!
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Discussion Questions
- British politics has undergone drastic change over the past decade. What are some of the main events and factors that have contributed to this change? And what effects has this had on the political context in the UK today?
- The voting behaviour of the British electorate has traditionally been characterised by predicable class-based indicators. In what ways have voters undergone realignment towards the end of the 20th century?
Weblinks
UK Politics – A website providing news, analysis, and historical information on British politics. (https://www.ukpol.co.uk)
ECPR (European Consortium for Political Research) – A leading academic network supporting political science research and conferences. (https://www.essex.ac.uk/ecpr)
Guido Fawkes – A political blog offering commentary on UK politics with a strong libertarian and anti-establishment slant. (http://5thnovember.blogspot.com/)
International Political Science Association – A global network fostering political science research and scholarship. (https://www.ipsa-aisp.org)
Political Science Resources – A collection of academic resources and tools for political science research. (https://www.socsciresearch.com/r12html)
UK Political Studies Association – A professional association promoting the study and understanding of politics in the UK. (https://www.psa.ac.uk)
Flashcards
Refresh your knowledge of key terms with this chapter’s flashcards.
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Timeline
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