Political+Culture




 * //__ GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES __//**

Political culture in England have always reflected a feeling of seperation from the rest of the European Continent, This feeling, known as **Insularity**, have caused many discords between Britain and the European Union today.

__Britain as an Island__: Due to Britain's geographic distance and stucture, Britain has been able to protected herself from European hosilities with a strong navy. However, Britain is still close enough to be apart of the European culture.

__Britain's Small Size__//:// The size of Britain has contributed to limited resources and efforts in the past to colonize and become an imperial power.

__Britain's Lands__: The British land suffers from a short supply of fetile soil and short growing seasons. Those reasons have limited the population growth in Britain. However, Britain does not suffer from any major geographic barriers that would hamper transportation or communication in the country.

__Britain's Climate__: Temperate, but cold, chilly and raining for 50% of the year.

__Britain's Population__: The population density in Britain is one of the highest in the world but generally lower in its northern regions.



__Article: Independent.CO.UK: Always someone else's fault A rising tide of insularity__

The sense of insularity in Britain continues despite it's strong position in the European Union. This sense has been reflected in disputes with other european nations over trade. Public opinion has also been more pro-Britain than pro-EU. The issue has become an important debate in the Parliament over how to properly react to EU decisions and actions from other EU member nations.

The article highlights a growing backlash against the EU and a growing sense of British patriotism. This backlash will be an important factor of Parliamentary decisions.

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__**// SOCIAL CLASS //**__

__Nobliesse Oblige__//:// The duty of the upper classes to take responsibility for the welfare of the lower classes is a very important tradition in Britain. Although, not as strong as it was in the past, the tradition still continues on today.The custom dates back to the feudal times where serfs worked for lords in return for land and protection. Today, the tradition is reflected in the collective consenses of the British people to accept the welfare state. In recent past decades, however, Margaret Thatcher and John Major have cut many of the social services begining in the 1980s. Many of those services have since been restored.

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__ Article: Telegraph.CO.UK: The Queen Mother and Princess Diana: Noblesse Oblige Versus the Me Generation __

Two generations of the royal family reflect the changing values in the British aristrocracy. Queen Elizabeth the Second reflected the old tradition of Nobliesse Oblige, doing one's duty to the British citizen. On the other hand, Princess Diana reflected the newer generation of youthful aristrocracy shining in the limelight with a culure of "Me".

This article highlights the changing nature of the Nobliesse Oblige tradition in the English society. Having always been an important aspect of Britain's political culture, the decline of the aristrocracy's important in England may signify a chaning political culture as well.

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 * // __MULTI-NATIONALISM__ //**

__The State:__ Generally, the United Kingdom has a large amount of cultural homogeneity. Britain's boundaries include England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Each of the the boundaries were once their own nations in history.

__The Language:__ English is the common language but is spoken in places with different dialects.

__The Religion__: Britain is 90% Anglican. Major religious differences between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland continues today despite efforts to reconcile.

__Identity:__ National identities are still strong today and greatly effect the functions of the political system.

__Article: LA Times:__ __ Ingenious were the peacemakers in Northern Ireland __ The centuries of discrimination against Catholics led up to the civil war in the late 1960s. The war in Northern Ireland has already claimed 3000 lives. Efforts by both Britain and the Republic of Ireland since the 1970s have been fruitless due to sectarianism and bickering. Recent efforts, though, such as the Good Friday Agreement have helped efforts to end the widespread violence and have led to better relations for a pluralistic political system in North Ireland. Just recently, the Irish National Liberation Army and two others have announced that they have disarmed. Efforts to engage in peaceful pluralistic government have so far been sucessful. It remains to be seen though, whether the peace can last.

The article highlights the problems with multi-culturalism in Nothern Ireland. The sides, Catholics and Protestant in the region continue to fight over the disputed land and it's ties Ireland and Britain. The political culture in Britain continues to be shaped by such regional conflicts.

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