Parliamentary Authority and British Political Culture in the Long Nineteenth Century
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Ben Griffin
Abstract
During Britain’s great political crisis of the 1830s, governing elites responded to radical criticisms of the constitution by reforming parliament in such a way that it made new claims to political authority. The reformed parliament claimed to be more responsive to public opinion and more genuinely representative of the nation than ever before. As a result, political elites were subjected to unprecedented scrutiny. This chapter examines how parliamentary reporting increased rapidly to meet the enormous public appetite for parliamentary news; it then examines the kinds of performances that MPs engaged in as they tried to meet public expectations. The chapter argues that this parliamentary culture rested on the exclusion of women and on the construction of certain kinds of ‘whiteness.’ It concludes by showing how parliament lost its central place in British political culture, with important consequences for British democracy.
Abstract
During Britain’s great political crisis of the 1830s, governing elites responded to radical criticisms of the constitution by reforming parliament in such a way that it made new claims to political authority. The reformed parliament claimed to be more responsive to public opinion and more genuinely representative of the nation than ever before. As a result, political elites were subjected to unprecedented scrutiny. This chapter examines how parliamentary reporting increased rapidly to meet the enormous public appetite for parliamentary news; it then examines the kinds of performances that MPs engaged in as they tried to meet public expectations. The chapter argues that this parliamentary culture rested on the exclusion of women and on the construction of certain kinds of ‘whiteness.’ It concludes by showing how parliament lost its central place in British political culture, with important consequences for British democracy.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Staging Authority: Introduction 1
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Traditional and New Forms of Authority
- Charisma and Authority 27
- Napoleon III: The ‘People’s King’ 51
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The Diversification of Authority: New Actors among Old Elites
- The Social Promise of Scientific Progress: Technical Experts and the Quest for Authority 91
- Clergy, Mystics, and Religious Leaders 125
- Mass Media: Intimacy at a Distance 155
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Presenting Authority on the Political Stage
- Architecture, Space, and Emotions: Forging Connections between Government and Public 191
- Parliamentary Authority and British Political Culture in the Long Nineteenth Century 225
- Monarchical Entries in Nineteenth-Century Germany: Emperor Wilhelm I, 1848-1888 259
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Nationalism and Empire as Modes of Hegemony
- Mapping Empire 303
- Imperial Reach: European Explorers and Imperial Agents in the Middle East 339
- Modern Monarchic Visibility in Eurasian Empires 363
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Taking Possession of Public Spaces
- Civil Society and the Embodiment of Authority 395
- Cultural Tourism and Royal Tours: Possession and Place-Making 417
- Uncivilized and Noisy: Disciplining Listening in Nineteenth-Century Colombian Cities 455
- List of Illustrations 487
- Authors’ Biographies 491
- Index 495
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Staging Authority: Introduction 1
-
Traditional and New Forms of Authority
- Charisma and Authority 27
- Napoleon III: The ‘People’s King’ 51
-
The Diversification of Authority: New Actors among Old Elites
- The Social Promise of Scientific Progress: Technical Experts and the Quest for Authority 91
- Clergy, Mystics, and Religious Leaders 125
- Mass Media: Intimacy at a Distance 155
-
Presenting Authority on the Political Stage
- Architecture, Space, and Emotions: Forging Connections between Government and Public 191
- Parliamentary Authority and British Political Culture in the Long Nineteenth Century 225
- Monarchical Entries in Nineteenth-Century Germany: Emperor Wilhelm I, 1848-1888 259
-
Nationalism and Empire as Modes of Hegemony
- Mapping Empire 303
- Imperial Reach: European Explorers and Imperial Agents in the Middle East 339
- Modern Monarchic Visibility in Eurasian Empires 363
-
Taking Possession of Public Spaces
- Civil Society and the Embodiment of Authority 395
- Cultural Tourism and Royal Tours: Possession and Place-Making 417
- Uncivilized and Noisy: Disciplining Listening in Nineteenth-Century Colombian Cities 455
- List of Illustrations 487
- Authors’ Biographies 491
- Index 495
