The Context of British Politics

Abstract

British society and British politics often have been discussed in terms of homogeneity and integration. Authors have written about the absence of significant social cleavages other than social class and about the presence of a uniform set of political and social values. Consensus also has been argued to exist on the nature of the political system and about the general policies of government. The impression commonly given is one of homogeneity, stability, and indeed of a rather boring locale in which to study politics. The impression of stability was reinforced by the ability of one political leader—Margaret Thatcher—to remain in power for over a decade and for her party to win the subsequent general election. In reality, the social and political systems of the United Kingdom are substantially more diverse than they are frequently portrayed, and many of the factors that divide other democracies politically also divide the citizens of the United Kingdom. There are differences in religion, language, regions, and perceptions of issues that both mitigate and reinforce the traditionally dominant class divisions in British politics. Those divisive factors have become even more important as immigration, Europeanization, and economic change have tended to generate ever greater social divisions.