Chapter 3

Chapter Summary

This chapter has examined the major social and economic features of contemporary British politics. It did so in the belief that although politicians still have major choices to make, they make such choices within certain social and economic contexts and constraints. In order to adequately make sense of the social and economic context of British politics, it was necessary to look at wider international developments as Britain is no longer an isolated country, if indeed it ever was. Britain is a mid-ranking power with an economic structure and historical legacy which makes it particularly susceptible to changes from outside of its political borders.

In the course of the chapter it has been apparent that both the British economy and society have changed dramatically. In terms of its social structure, the class system has become more fragmented and self-perceptions of the importance of class have declined. In turn this has impacted on the political parties, who have to appeal for votes from a more complex electorate. Other social distinctions have become more important. These include changing gender roles, an ageing society, ethnicity and multiculturalism and changing perceptions of nationhood in the constituent parts of the United Kingdom.

The economic context in Britain has been shaped by the idea of decline since at least the late 1950s and the longer-term transition from a manufacturing economy to a service-based economy with a particular stress on the financial services sector. Periods of boom have been interspersed with periods of recession but the recession, following the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-8 was a particularly deep one and the future is uncertain, especially in the context of Brexit and the coronavirus outbreak over the past decade.

Learning Objectives

• To examine the changing social and economic structures in Britain, setting them in their historical context.
• To discuss the major characteristics of British society and the impact they have on British politics including class, national identity, ethnicity and multiculturalism, age and gender.
• To examine the nature of British economic decline in a long-term perspective since 1945, and especially the economics of austerity since the banking crisis in 2008, the pandemic and Brexit.

Quizzes

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Discussion Questions

1. Social class has historically been a defining feature of the divisions within British society. In what ways can class be distinguished in the British class system? And in what ways have politicians and political parties put forward policy to either enforce or dismantle the system?
2. In today’s globalised world, British politics can rarely be studied in isolation from the international context. To what extent have events at the global level effected the social and economic context at the domestic level in the UK?

Weblinks

Office for National Statistics (ONS) – The UK’s national statistical institute providing key economic and social data. (www.ons.gov.uk)

Full Fact – An independent fact-checking organization that verifies claims made by politicians and the media. (https://fullfact.org)

Statista – A global statistics database providing demographic and economic data. (https://www.statista.com)

British Social Attitudes Survey – A long-running study tracking changes in public opinion in Britain. (https://natcen.ac.uk/british-social-attitudes)

Migration Observatory – A research centre analysing UK migration trends and policies. (https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/migrants-in-the-uk-an-overview/)

Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) – An independent think tank analysing economic policy and public finances. (www.ifs.org.uk)

OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) – An international body providing economic and social policy analysis. (www.oecd.org)

World Economic Forum – A global organization focusing on economic research and policy discussions. (www3.weforum.org)

Office for Budget Responsibility – The UK’s fiscal watchdog assessing public finance sustainability. (https://obr.uk)

House of Commons Library – A research service providing impartial information for MPs and the public. (https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk)

Flashcards

Refresh your knowledge of key terms with this chapter’s flashcards.

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Timeline

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