7 Globalisation and post-industrialisation
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Mark Doidge
Abstract
The biggest political and social crisis in recent British memory has been the decision to leave the European Union (EU). On Thursday 23 June 2016, of those that voted in the referendum, 52 per cent voted for the UK to leave the EU. The following day, Prime Minister David Cameron stood on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street and announced that he would take responsibility and resign. While noble, this decision ignited chaos. The Conservative Party turned inwards and the leadership battle that had been latent for months came to the fore. Theresa May emerged as prime minister and was immediately confronted with trying to unite her party and the country. The Official Opposition, the Labour Party, was also beset with internal divisions with centrist and pro-European MPs battling with their new left-wing and suspiciously anti-EU leader, Jeremy Corbyn. These party-political battles have continued through to the ascension of Boris Johnson to the prime ministerial role, and are likely to continue beyond, whatever trajectory Brexit takes.
This chapter looks at the role of political economy: the relationship between the state and the economy. Through an overview of the foundations of political economy through to its impact on globalisation, we will see how the UK has shifted from an industrial to a post-industrial society and how this has affected the country, before assessing how this could account for the divisions exposed during and since the referendum on EU membership. The referendum reignited conversations about the impact of globalisation. Under-investment, poverty and migration were all factors for many people voting to leave.
Abstract
The biggest political and social crisis in recent British memory has been the decision to leave the European Union (EU). On Thursday 23 June 2016, of those that voted in the referendum, 52 per cent voted for the UK to leave the EU. The following day, Prime Minister David Cameron stood on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street and announced that he would take responsibility and resign. While noble, this decision ignited chaos. The Conservative Party turned inwards and the leadership battle that had been latent for months came to the fore. Theresa May emerged as prime minister and was immediately confronted with trying to unite her party and the country. The Official Opposition, the Labour Party, was also beset with internal divisions with centrist and pro-European MPs battling with their new left-wing and suspiciously anti-EU leader, Jeremy Corbyn. These party-political battles have continued through to the ascension of Boris Johnson to the prime ministerial role, and are likely to continue beyond, whatever trajectory Brexit takes.
This chapter looks at the role of political economy: the relationship between the state and the economy. Through an overview of the foundations of political economy through to its impact on globalisation, we will see how the UK has shifted from an industrial to a post-industrial society and how this has affected the country, before assessing how this could account for the divisions exposed during and since the referendum on EU membership. The referendum reignited conversations about the impact of globalisation. Under-investment, poverty and migration were all factors for many people voting to leave.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of boxes and figures v
- About the authors vii
- Preface ix
- Introduction: the sociology of everyday life 1
- Lifestyle and consumption 19
- Race, ethnicity and migration 39
- Class 65
- Gender 85
- Relationships and intimacy 105
- Globalisation and post-industrialisation 125
- The UK in the future 153
- References 159
- Index 169
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of boxes and figures v
- About the authors vii
- Preface ix
- Introduction: the sociology of everyday life 1
- Lifestyle and consumption 19
- Race, ethnicity and migration 39
- Class 65
- Gender 85
- Relationships and intimacy 105
- Globalisation and post-industrialisation 125
- The UK in the future 153
- References 159
- Index 169
