INTRODUCTION
Is it the change in political culture that generates the greatest challenge for democracy in the United Kingdom? That was the question I was asked to answer for this paper and through my research, I have concluded that the political culture provides the greatest challenge for the democracy because it is always changing on the basis of imperialist ideals, the problems with the class system and the changes that Tony Blair made.
DEFINITIONS
Social cleavages are divisions that can come from religion, ethnic diversity, race, and economic class that in turn interact with the political system. It is measured by how many people are getting along with each other, how people react towards policy; the number of revolts or riots in the country can also measure it. This affects the democracy in the United Kingdom, however, not enough to be considered the main reason for problems.
Inherited institutions are described as what is inherited from the previous regimes. For the United Kingdom, this is described as imperialism, colonization and even the monarchy. It can be measured in Britain and Northern Ireland by how much influence these institutions still have on the country. These institutions play a large part in the challenge of democracy, but not by themselves. They show through the microscope of political culture.
Political culture can be described as the set of beliefs and opinions people share about their government and social responsibilities. In the United Kingdom, it can be measured by what people think of the government and what they are doing to improve it. These problems play the largest role in the challenges because they are affected by all three compartivist ideas.
As you can see thro...
... middle of paper ...
...he one thing that is ever changing: political culture.
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Scottish devolution, with its advantages and disadvantages, is the best example of how great political and social changes can be achieved not through bloody revolution but with the patience, intelligence and hard work of a united country but is still a work in progress.
A Political Culture is a set of beliefs and practices held by how a person shapes their political behavior, and a person’s attitude about how the government should function. This includes moral judgment, political myths, beliefs, and ideas about what makes a good society.
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The United Kingdom is formally called “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.” Government in the United Kingdom is considered to be Parliamentary. Although it is parliamentary, it is also described as being “majoritarian.” Parliament in the UK works a little different than the United States; the people of the U.S. are allowed to elect their president. In the parliamentary system the people elect who will be in the legislature, and the legislature then selects who the next prime minister will be. Then, once the prime minister is selected he choses members of the cabinet. This system creates a quick and easy political decision-making by popular majority. In this essay we will discuss the strengths and limitations the majoritarian government of the UK. One of the strengths of majoritarian government is perhaps that it is the fastest to pass or veto legislation, however there are limitations or weaknesses also like it lacks checks and balances from the House of Lords, and the disadvantage that the smaller parties have when it comes to elections, and not having a set calendar date for elections.
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The political culture of a country is the basic values, attitudes, beliefs, and ideas of the people t...
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