Pre-reading guesses
1. From your point of view, what characterises the British political system?
2. Do you think the British democracy can be called stable? Why/why not?
3. What attitude do the British people have to politicians in comparison with
Russia?
Political unity, stability and a tradition of independence have long been
regarded as characteristics of the British political system. So too has consensus – the
preference for agreement, cooperation and moderation. The majority of British
people have long preferred cooperation to confrontation and party politicians, once in
office, have acknowledged this and for much of the time avoided confrontationalism.
A political consensus prevailed in the post-war era through to the late 1970s, but the
procedural consensus – broad agreement about the means of conducting political
debate – has a much longer history.
British governments usually command a parliamentary majority following their
election victory. This provides them with a legitimate right to govern. The British
appear to favour strong government by leaders of united parties and often punish
divided parties at election time. Defenders of the First Past the Post electoral system
have traditionally emphasised the importance of effective and stable government by a
single party, in preference to any notions of fairness to small parties. Other than after
a result which has been particularly distorted and harsh on the Liberals or some other
third party, there has been until relatively recently little demand for change in the way
we elect our MPs.
Many people like to be led by politicians who know what they are doing and
who lead parties which are broadly in agreement about what needs to be done and the
manner and timing of doing it. Leaders such as Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair
have both been seen as 'strong leaders', prepared to ignore the dissident voices of
some of their backbenchers and even carry out unpopular social policies. In both
cases, too, they have relished the role of war leader and statesperson on the global
stage. Such has been the power of British administrations in the post-war era that
writers have claimed we have an 'elective dictatorship'. British government has a
reputation among commentators for being powerful and centralised, so that
opposition in the House of Commons can be ignored – particularly if the majority is a
large one. Ministers can use the government majority to push through fundamental
changes in British life, if it is their will so to do.
Yet alongside the preference for strong government, there is also an attitude of
tolerance towards the expression of alternative and minority opinions, with a clear
recognition of the right – duty – of the Opposition to oppose. The existence of an
official Opposition party in the House symbolises a commitment to free speech and
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the rights of personal liberty. Individual freedom is a much-cherished value.
Whenever suggestions are made which appear to make an inroad into that attachment,
there tends to be an outcry that is not just confined to civil libertarians. In a more
dangerous age, people have had to get used to more security checks at airports, but
issues such as alleged tapping of telephones, proposals for greater police surveillance,
speed cameras to control the way we drive, the abandonment of juries in some court
trials and the possible introduction of ID cards cause such resentment, if not actual
resistance. British people do not like having to prove who they are and the idea of
carrying 'papers' goes 'against the grain'. Neither do they like unnecessary regulations
which deny them access or tell how something should be done.
In spite of the growth of a less deferential, more questioning attitude and a
willingness on occasion to resort to direct action, there is still no great desire on the
part of the majority for radical change. There remains a broad – if declining –
acceptance of the institutions of government and a preference for democratic
methods. Madgwick has described the way in which 'the British people stumble on,
resilient, tolerant, hopeful, confused, but with a remarkable capacity for putting up
with discontent for fear of worse, and defying the political scientists to penetrate the
secret of the ambivalent political attitudes which have sustained their stable
democracy'.
Word study
1. Find the words in the text which mean the following:
a. the quality of doing something within reasonable limits
b. to be common among a group of people or area at a particular time
c. allowed by law
d. to change something from its usual, original, natural, or intended
meaning, condition, or shape
e. a person who publicly disagrees with and criticizes their government
f. to like or enjoy something
g. to intentionally not listen or give attention to
h. to cause a plan or suggestion to be officially accepted or put into use
i. a strong expression of anger and disapproval about something, made by
a group of people or by the public
j. a person who believes that people should be free to think and behave as
they want and should not have limits put on them by governments
k. the feeling of anger because you have been forced to accept someone or
something that you do not like
l. the act of fighting against something that is attacking you, or refusing to
accept something
m. able to quickly return to a previous good condition
n. to tell someone to do something that you think will be impossible
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o. having two opposing feelings at the same time, or being uncertain about
how you feel
2. Find synonyms for the following words from the text:
a. to abstain
b. to control
c. to prefer
d. to discount
e. cardinal
f. to refuse
g. respectful
h. waning
i. unbigoted
j. disoriented
After-reading questions:
1. What characterises the British political system?
2. Why do British politicians try to avoid confrontationalism?
3. Why do the British favour strong governments?
4. What politicians are preferred by many people and why?
5. What reputation does the British government have among commentators?
6. Why is the Opposition party important?
7. What value is much cherished by the British?
8. What causes much resentment among British people?
9. Does there remain a broad acceptance of the institutions of government and
a preference for democratic methods? Why?
10. How are the British described by Madgwick?