From Collectivist Consensus to 21st Century Neoliberalism: Orders and Eras in Postwar Britain
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Donley T. Studlar
There have been three discernible political eras and political orders in post-World War II Britain: (1) the collectivist consensus (social democracy, Butskellism), 1945-1970; (2) turmoil, 1970-1979; and (3) neoliberalism, 1979-2007. After discussing how to discern a new political era (overall policy orientation) and a political order (institutional arrangements), this article elaborates how the three periods developed. The key ingredient in changing a political era and a political order is change in the governing ideas and assumptions of the political elite. While in the first two periods the political era and political order changed together, in the third period the era changed first, followed by the order. The movement toward a neoliberal economy under Conservative governments largely has been supported by New Labor, but the latter has also introduced constitutional changes. Even though much has changed, there are still continuities, such as the basic welfare state. Furthermore, the linchpins of the British constitutional order, strong central executive authority and the single member plurality electoral system, remain in place.
©2011 Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Article
- Notes from a New Editor
- A Blair Era? The Political Order of Modern Britain
- From Collectivist Consensus to 21st Century Neoliberalism: Orders and Eras in Postwar Britain
- Where Are We in History? Political Orders and Political Eras in the Postwar U.S.
- The Grand Coalition and a Changing Political Order: Shifting Alliances and a New Era in German Politics
- Political Orders and Political Eras in France: Can There be a Sarkozy Era?
- Listening to the Coalition Merchants: Measuring the Intellectual Influence of Academic Scribblers
- The Utility of Staying on Message: Competing Partisan Frames and Public Awareness of Elite Differences on Political Issues
- Review
- Those Wild and Wooly Seventies
- The Great Society in Education: A Persistent National Consensus?
- Book Review: A Divider, Not a Uniter
- Poles Apart: The Effect of George W. Bush on the American Electorate--Review of A Divider, Not a Uniter: George W. Bush and the American People: The 2006 Election and Beyond
- Review of A Divider, Not a Uniter
- Saving Us from Liberals: A Commentary on Who Really Cares
Articles in the same Issue
- Article
- Notes from a New Editor
- A Blair Era? The Political Order of Modern Britain
- From Collectivist Consensus to 21st Century Neoliberalism: Orders and Eras in Postwar Britain
- Where Are We in History? Political Orders and Political Eras in the Postwar U.S.
- The Grand Coalition and a Changing Political Order: Shifting Alliances and a New Era in German Politics
- Political Orders and Political Eras in France: Can There be a Sarkozy Era?
- Listening to the Coalition Merchants: Measuring the Intellectual Influence of Academic Scribblers
- The Utility of Staying on Message: Competing Partisan Frames and Public Awareness of Elite Differences on Political Issues
- Review
- Those Wild and Wooly Seventies
- The Great Society in Education: A Persistent National Consensus?
- Book Review: A Divider, Not a Uniter
- Poles Apart: The Effect of George W. Bush on the American Electorate--Review of A Divider, Not a Uniter: George W. Bush and the American People: The 2006 Election and Beyond
- Review of A Divider, Not a Uniter
- Saving Us from Liberals: A Commentary on Who Really Cares
