Connaissance du pays

Connaissance du pays

Christine Michaux2009-2010

AIMS

(1) Understand the various aspects of British society and culture=> Understand culturally dependent concepts

(2) Know about the current issues British society is facing today

MPs tell Brown to purge his Scots(Timesonline, 1June 2008)

Gordon Brown is under pressure to axe the so-called Scots mafia who dominate his cabinet and to promote the ‘English voices’ into more high-profile roles.

Amid concerns that Labour is risking a landslide general election defeat, Brown is being urged to give key jobs to ministers who can reach out to middle-class voters in England’s marginal seats.

The PM is braced for harsh scrutiny about his recent performance as Labour backbenchers return to the Commons tomorrow for the first time since the disastrous Crewe by-election.

Keith Vaz, a member of Labour’s ruling national executive committee, called for Brown to appoint an English deputy PM.

This would mean an effective demotion for Alistair Darling, Chancellor of the Exchequer and a Scot, who has been accused of failing to understand the concerns of English taxpayers.

Current issues

• Upcoming elections (on or before 3 June 2010)

• Constitutional reform• Foreign policy and Defence (+ Investigation

into Tony Blair’s motivations for sending Britain to war)

• Floods and water management• Etc.

Bibliography

In our library:

BROMHEAD (P.) Life in Modern Britain, Harlow, Longman, 1986.

MUSMAN (R.) Britain Today, London, Longman, 1979.

O’ DRISCOLL (J.) Britain. The Country and its People: an Introduction for learners of English, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1995.

The Official Yearbook of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Bibliography

Useful tools:

• FRAENKEL (A.), HAIL (R.) and O’ RIORDAN (S.) English Language, Life and Culture, Oxon, Teach Yourself Books, 2002.

• CROWTHER (J.) Oxford Guide to British and American Culture for Learners of English, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

BibliographyWebsites:

• http://www.direct.gov.ukDirectgov: the official website of the UK government (public services all in one place)

• http://www.statistics.gov.uk/hub/index.html Gateway to UK national statistics

• http://www.parliament.uk/Official website of the UK Parliament

• http://www.number10.gov.uk/The official website of the Prime Minister’s Office

• http://projectbritain.com/ Woodlands Junior School project about British life and culture.

International perceptions about Britain (British Council/MORI survey in 1999)

(1) British people are seen asConventionalBackward-lookingHaving outdated respect for their traditions

(2) The country is perceived through images of monarchy, kilts, castles, aristocracy, quaint behaviour.

(3) Its economy is seen as stagnating and risk-averse

Historical context

- From 600BC till AD1066: invasions + settlements

- From AD1066 on: military expansionism + dynastic unions + political unions

=> today’s United Kingdom

From 600BC till AD1066

• Celtic tribes + Romans + Germanic tribes + Scandinavians + Normans

ÞDifferences between the peoples of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland

+ 20th century immigration movements=> today’s multi-ethnic population

From AD 1066

Developments within the islands- Expansionism: Ireland (12th) and Wales (13th)- Dynastic union: Scotland in 1603- Political unions:

- England + Wales + Scotland in 1707- Great Britain + Ireland in 1801

- Political disunion in 1921

Consequences

• Centralised unitary state:Britain: less than a centuryEngland: about a thousand years

• Gradual creation of the UK state is based on English models (=> English dominance)

Characteristic feature (1)

• No revolution from the people against their leaders=> Famous “British pragmatism”, “stiff upper lip”

• Periods of ideological conflicts: royalist battles, civil wars, national revolts against the English, struggles with European nations, religious ferment, social dissension

Characteristic feature (2)

Rarely invaded but often invaders

- No successful external military invasion of the islands since AD 1066! => insular and conservative mentalities

- Military expansionism overseas (16th - 19th)=> maritime and military strength

18th century

Agricultural revolution< Mechanization + selective breeding

=> Increase in agricultural productivity=> Unprecedented population growth

=> Larger workforce

=>Industrial revolution (19th)

19th centurySeries of industrial revolutions and inventions• industrial and largely urban country• early manufacturing and financial base.

=> Britain is now known for its economic and industrial strength

• Model in law, business, liberty, capitalism, parliamentary democracy and civil society.=> Imperial position in the world => All 4 component nations identified with the powerful institutions of the state (monarchy, law, Parliament and Protestant religion).

20th century

• After 1918:- Troubles in Ireland- Suffragettes

• After 1945:- 1945-1979 Labour had the power (PM Clement Attlee)- 1979-1997: the Conservatives had the power (PM: Margaret Thatcher + John Major)- 1997-2007: Labour had the power (PM Tony Blair)

1945-1979

• “post-war consensus” between the 2 main parties• What? Rebuild Britain economically and socially• How? Close control of the economy.

=> Nationalisation of industries and services central to the economy=> Full employment=> Welfare state

• BUT by 1975, unemployment had doubled and Britain’s share of world trade had fallen from 14 to 10%. =>In 1979, Labour lost the general elections.

1979-1997

• The Iron Lady• What?

- free-market economy unconstrained by government- end to socialism- centralisation of power (less power to local governments)

• She too failed: - the share of world trade fell to 6% - unemployment rose (doubled) to reach 13% of the work force.

Consequences of Thatcherism

• Nation now divided - geographically (south is wealthy (agriculture), north is poor (industries))- socially (the gap between the richest and the poorest is growing).

• She resigned when she lost the support of her own party members.

• But the Conservatives won the next general election in 1992 => John Major became the next PM.

John Major (1992-1997)

• He had to face a few deep crises:

- Economic recession- Conflict between MPs about

- further integration into the EU - joining the European Monetary Union

- Majority in Parliament was so reduced that it depended on the vote of extremists MPs

1997-2007

• Tony Blair • What?

- joining the European Monetary Union- constitutional reform to decentralize power - devolution- Belfast Agreement (Good Friday Agreement) in 1998- socialism: tuition fees for higher education + minimum wage

• 2007: Tony Blair resigned and replaced by his Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown.

Consequences of Britain’s decline (1)

Within the country:

• Stronger national identities => constitutional changes:- 1921: the partition of Ireland- 1998 and 1999: devolution in S, W and NI

• Other changes:- House of Lords, House of Commons, executive monarchy- 2 World Wars + the dismantling of imperial global power

=> economic strength seriously reduced

Consequences of Britain’s decline (2)

External relationships:

- Before Britain’s outlook was westward (USA) and worldwide (colonies). Now, new contact with Europe.

- BUT the relationship between Britain and Europe remains problematic and isolationism still appears to condition many British people in their attitudes to the outside world.

21st century

• The British have learned that isolationism is NOT a viable option in a globalised world:

- They are involved in overseas military action in Bosnia, Kosovo, etc.

- They are involved in the Iraq war and in Afghanistan

- They have been under terrorist threat for a few years

If isolationism is not an option, what is the option?

=> Series of new debates:

• National identity (Britishness)• Immigration• The constitution

Conclusion so far

=> Britain is a politically united country

=> BUT the idea that British society is homogeneous must be qualified by cultural + social + economic variations