starter activity

“Political culture is the set of values within which a system operates” What

values (characteristics) of British political life are unique to this country?

Think about how politics operates in this country

compared with our European and

transatlantic partners.Media

Monarchy

Civil service

Military

Law

NHS

British political culture: British political culture: some key features.some key features.

Neutrality of TV v. political bias of mediaNeutrality of TV v. political bias of media Freedom of pressFreedom of press High moral standards expected of MPs & High moral standards expected of MPs &

public officialspublic officials Monarchy is apoliticalMonarchy is apolitical Independence of civil serviceIndependence of civil service Military is the servant of the stateMilitary is the servant of the state Respect for the rule of lawRespect for the rule of law Respect for public institutions, e.g. NHS Respect for public institutions, e.g. NHS

What is political What is political culture ?culture ?

Your taskYour taskThe UK’s political culture is the product of a variety The UK’s political culture is the product of a variety of factors. Look at the factors on the cards, and of factors. Look at the factors on the cards, and prioritise them according to your own opinion. prioritise them according to your own opinion. Which has the greatest influence on our political Which has the greatest influence on our political culture? What evidence have you got to support culture? What evidence have you got to support this? Complete the table below once you have this? Complete the table below once you have ranked the characteristics:ranked the characteristics:

CharacteristiCharacteristicc

EvidenceEvidence Contrasts with Contrasts with other countriesother countries

HistoryHistory

GeographyGeography

DemocracyDemocracy

ReligionReligion

PoliticsPolitics

CharacterCharacter

Your taskYour task

How has political culture in Britain How has political culture in Britain changed since 1945? Read Roberts, changed since 1945? Read Roberts, p.14-15 (section 1.15-1.16) and list p.14-15 (section 1.15-1.16) and list the key changes in political culture in the key changes in political culture in the country. Use these headings to the country. Use these headings to help you:help you:

Thatcher eraThatcher era New LabourNew Labour Post-modernismPost-modernism

Changes in political Changes in political cultureculture

Thatcher era: breakdown of post-Thatcher era: breakdown of post-war consensus; self-reliance, war consensus; self-reliance, enterprise & market valuesenterprise & market values

New Labour: Third Way; New Labour: Third Way; constitutional reform; constitutional reform; responsibilities alongside rightsresponsibilities alongside rights

Post modern: partisan Post modern: partisan dealignment; social & religious dealignment; social & religious pluralism; globalisationpluralism; globalisation

Civic cultureCivic culture

‘‘The Civic Culture: Political Attitudes The Civic Culture: Political Attitudes and Democracy in Five Nations’and Democracy in Five Nations’ (1963) (1963)

Deference – support for authority, rule Deference – support for authority, rule of law, establishment etc.of law, establishment etc.

Consensus – importance attached to Consensus – importance attached to peaceful resolutionpeaceful resolution

Homogeneity – strong sense of Homogeneity – strong sense of communitycommunity

Gabriel Almond

Sydney Verba

How far do you agree with Almond & Verba? What

evidence have you got their interpretation is now wrong?

Civic cultureCivic culture

Evidence Britain’s civic culture is under Evidence Britain’s civic culture is under threat:threat:

Lack of confidence in political institutionsLack of confidence in political institutions Social tensions – e.g. race riots, BNPSocial tensions – e.g. race riots, BNP Breakdown of traditional class structuresBreakdown of traditional class structures Public apathy – e.g. low turnoutPublic apathy – e.g. low turnout Desire for constitutional reform – e.g. Desire for constitutional reform – e.g.

devolutiondevolution

Denis.Kavanagh

Your taskYour task

Imagine you are the ambassador for a Imagine you are the ambassador for a foreign country. Write a brief summary of foreign country. Write a brief summary of Britain’s political culture for your Britain’s political culture for your government. Think about the following government. Think about the following features:features:

Key characteristics of British political Key characteristics of British political cultureculture

How they differ from other nationsHow they differ from other nations Changes in its culture since the warChanges in its culture since the war Present threats to the culturePresent threats to the culture

How do people How do people become ‘political become ‘political

animals’? animals’? primacy v. recency modelsprimacy v. recency models

When are our political views and opinions

shaped? When we are very young or when we

are much older?

Your taskYour task

Read Roberts, p.15 and write a brief Read Roberts, p.15 and write a brief definition of the two key models of definition of the two key models of political socialisation:political socialisation: The primacy modelThe primacy model The recency modelThe recency model

Which do you think is more accurate?Which do you think is more accurate?

Your taskYour taskWhich of the following has the greatest Which of the following has the greatest influence on shaping our own political influence on shaping our own political values? Rank them in order of importance.values? Rank them in order of importance.

• familyfamily• peer groupspeer groups• religionreligion• educationeducation• mass mediamass media

Look at the picture and the commentary Look at the picture and the commentary on p.15-16, and create a spider diagram on p.15-16, and create a spider diagram to summarise the key points. to summarise the key points.

Is Britain a Is Britain a classless society?classless society?

How has class been defined? Study the three main How has class been defined? Study the three main models for studying class in Roberts on p.21: models for studying class in Roberts on p.21:

ModelModel StrengthsStrengths WeaknessesWeaknessesRegistrar General’s Registrar General’s occupational occupational definitiondefinition

Office of National Office of National StatisticsStatistics

the IPA. the IPA.