{"id":11,"date":"2025-08-07T19:30:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T19:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/politicsuk\/?p=11"},"modified":"2025-10-20T17:04:47","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T17:04:47","slug":"chapter-1","status":"publish","type":"content","link":"https:\/\/staging.routledgelearning.com\/politicsuk\/part-1-context\/chapter-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\tHome<\/a>\n<\/span>\u203a<\/span>\n\tPart 1 \u2013 Context<\/a>\n<\/span>\u203a<\/span>\n\tChapter 1\n<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 1<\/h1>\n\n\n

Turbulence and Realignment: Understanding Contemporary Politics in the United Kingdom<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Chapter Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/sup> century and the major events that have shaped the direction of British politics, including the financial crash of 2008, the MPs\u2019 expenses scandal in 2009, the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, the Brexit referendum of 2016 and the General Elections during that period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Learning Objectives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To explain:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • 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\u2019 expenses scandal plus the ending of the postwar consensus on political ideas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • how British voting behaviour has undergone a fundamental realignment since the late part of the 20th century.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • How all these factors contributed to the electoral volatility after 2010 and the huge event of the June 2016 Brexit vote.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • How some authors have offered their own explanations of recent political turbulence in democracies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • To provide an idea of why people in the UK enter the world of politics, their ambition and sometimes hubris.   <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    Quizzes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Test your knowledge with the Chapter 1 quizzes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Quiz<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n