Post-War British Politics of Consensus Essay Example Essay Example

Post-War British Politics of Consensus Essay Example Paper Post-War British Politics of Consensus Essay Introduction The post-war period was an extremely difficult period in the history of Great Britain. In fact, after the end of the World War II the country was practically ruined in the result of the regular bombings from the part of the German aviation and the entire infrastructure of the country was in a very poor condition. What is more important, traditional partners of the UK in international relations both political and economic, European countries, such as France, were also affected dramatically by the war and the entire continent had to recover from the disastrous consequences of the World War II. At the same time, all the countries, including the UK, perfectly realized that they would not be able to survive another military conflict of such a scale as the world war. In this respect, it was vitally important to prevent the growing tension within the society in order to decrease the threat from the part of extremist parties similar to Nazi party in Germany. As a result, the socially oriente d politics targeting the minimization of tension between different classes and solution of the problem of poverty was one of the major trends in the UK politics of the post-war era. This is why this politics was called the politics of consensus since it focused on the search of compromise which could create conditions of the prosperity of all classes of British society. Post-War British Politics of Consensus Essay Body Paragraphs However, despite noble goals British governments attempted to achieve in terms of the politics of consensus, it is still possible to argue that this politics did not lead to the consensus but rather to attempts to ignore actual problems of British society which eventually resulted in the collapse of politics of consensus by 1979 (Robbins, 2004). Politics of consensus Basically, it is traditionally believed the after the end of the World War the official politics of the British government was characterized by consensus. It is necessary to underline that supporters of such a point of view on the British post-war politics argue that this was a characteristic of all post-war governments, i. e. governments of Labor and Conservative parties, which replaced each other in post-war era (Keylor and Bannister, 2004). In fact, this means that the politics of consensus was the general strategy of the development of the UK accepted by both major political forces of Great Britain, the Labor Party a nd its opponent, the Conservative party. In general, the politics of consensus was the logical choice the political elite of the UK had made just after the end of the war. It was obvious that country needed a fast and effective reconstruction in order to overcome the economic crisis which inevitably followed the end of the war because the country was dramatically affected by military actions of Germany and allies and needed some time to recover from the effects of the war. At the same time, there was a real threat of the profound crisis within British society caused by the numerous economic problems resulting from the World War II. In such a situation, the government, whether represented by the Labor Party or the Conservative Party, had to prevent the growing tension in society. Otherwise, the growing poverty would lead to the marginalization of the large part of society that could lead to its radicalization or even social revolution. Anyway, the growing poverty was one of the major reasons of the World War II. As a result, the UK government formed by the Labor Party started the politics which was defined as the politics of consensus. Basically, this politics incorporated some ideas of social justice and division of national welfare in such a way that the government could prevent the marginalization of large classes of British society. In order to meet this goal and appease the growing antagonism between rich and poor, the UK government launched a socially-oriented politics, which could be defined as the politics of consensus (Heilbroner and Milber, 2002). In practice, this politics resulted in the creation of numerous social programs which targeted the improvement of the position of ordinary British people, especially those in need. In this respect, it is possible to single out the creation of the National Health Service which made health services more accessible to the wide public and, in fact, eliminated barriers to health services of a relatively high qual ity to all people, regardless their social status. Furthermore, this politics was based on the idea of the increasing role of the state in the national economy. It was obvious that numerous social programs needed funds. This is why major industries were nationalized in order to increase their effectiveness and provide the government with the essential funds to finance its social programs. Obviously, the economic politics of the UK governments after the end of the World War II was based on Keynesian principles that made the government a significant player in the national economy. Finally, in terms of the politics of consensus the government attempted to create the welfare state where all people had access to basic services, such as health care and education, which were amply supported by the government (Keylor and Bannister, 2004). As a result, the government increased its presence and interference in the national economy and attempted to redirect wealth in such a way that it would b e possible to provide all citizens of the UK with high quality of life meeting the modern standards of the welfare state. The lack of consensus However, many specialists argue that the politics of consensus had practically nothing in common with consensus itself (Heilbroner and Milber, 2002). In this respect, it is necessary to underline that the politics of the UK government after the end of the World War II was basically determined by the objective need to improve the life of the vast layers of British society which were in a poor position. To put it more precisely, millions of British people lived close or even beyond the poverty ceil that naturally forced the government to undertake certain steps to prevent the marginalization of these people. As a result, this politics could be characterized rather as the struggle with poverty than efforts for the consensus. Objectively speaking, the term consensus implies that the principle of social justice or agreement involves all members o f British society. This means that the improvement of the position of the lower classes should occur due to certain compromise with upper classes. In the case of the UK, in the post-war era, the government simply nationalized the major industries in such a way, taking responsibility for the welfare of the lower classes of British society, while the upper classes, i. e. the former owners of the major industries, simply received the compensation from the government for their property and, in fact, did not lose anything. At any rate, the losses of the upper classes were incomparably lower than the investments made by the government to guarantee the welfare of all citizens of the UK. Furthermore, even after the nationalization, the UK government did not change the economic relationships that was another important condition of the prosperity and that should be a part of the politics of consensus. What is meant here is the fact that the government simply replaced the private owners of the major industries and practically became the larger owner and the main player in the national economy replacing private owners. In such a way, the government could redirect the national wealth as the major player in the national economy while its politics could not always the interests of both upper and lower classes (Robbins, 2004). As a result, it is hardly possible to speak about the real politics of consensus but, instead, it would be more precise to estimate that it was the politics of the government imposing its will to its citizens. Even though the government attempted to improve the position of the lower and middle class of the UK, it still did not make any compromises to make upper classes to share their wealth with representatives of the lower classes. Instead, the government simply attempted to redirect the national welfare according to its own will, while lower classes did not get any effective tools to improve their position considerably. In other words, instead of rece iving effective economic tools to improve their position, representatives of lower classes should simply count for the support of the government that made them totally dependent on the government they elect, while the position of upper classes had not deteriorated considerably since the end of the World War II as they had not share their wealth with the rest of British society. Conclusion Thus, taking into account all above mentioned, it is possible to conclude that the politics of the UK government can be characterized as the politics of consensus only partially because, in spite of the efforts of the government to create a welfare state it failed to make radical changes in socio-economic relationships giving ordinary people direct access to the national wealth, such as ownership of large companies, for instance, which were nationalized, but ordinary people could hardly influence their work or benefit somehow from them. As a result, the government increased its role nd interference in the national economy attempting to close the gap between rich and poor through the state support of the latter but not the compromise with the former. Works cited: Bauer, E. The History of World War II. New York: New Publishers, 1996. Harms, W. Poverty definition flawed, more accurate measure needed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995. Heilbroner, R. L. and W. S. Milber. The Making of Economic Society. London: Princeton Hall, 2002. Keylor, W. R. and J. Bannister. The Twentieth Century World. New York: Random House, 2004. Robbins, R. Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism. New York: Allyson and Bacon, 2004. We will write a custom essay sample on Post-War British Politics of Consensus Essay Example specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Post-War British Politics of Consensus Essay Example specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Post-War British Politics of Consensus Essay Example specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

The Gulf War Essays

The Gulf War Essays The Gulf War Essay The Gulf War Essay The Persian Gulf war was launched on January 6, 1991, after international diplomatic efforts and sanctions had failed to force Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait, which was ilegally invaded on August 2, 1990, by the january 15th deadline set by the united nations. The 31-nation military moved against Iraq, commanded by U.S. general H. Norman Schwarzkopf, included forces from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Britain, Syria, and France. Japan, Germany, and others aided the war effort financially. The war, code-named Desert Storm, began as a massive air strike carried out on key Iraqi military targets. The allies quickly gained air superiority; many Iraqi planes were flown to Iraq because it was a neutral area and they stood a less chance of being shot down. Iraq launched scud missle attacks on Israel in an effort to bring them into the war, and weaken the side of the allies. The ground war started when Saddam Hussein ignored a February 23 U.S. deadli ne to begin moving out of Kuwait immediately, but it only lasted about 100 hours. Allied casualties totaled at 147 killed in action and 407 wounded. The Iraqi casualties numbered to be 100,000 dead and 300,000 wounded. Allied military operations were suspended at midnight on February 27. Iraq agreed on February 27-28 to accept the United Nations terms. the UNs decision to terminate the ground war was later criticized because Saddan Hussein was still in power and could still supress post war revolts iraqis. In 1992 the United States, France, and Britain estabished a no fly zone to end Iraqi air attacks on Shiites in southern Iraq. Among the postwar priorities were the re-building of Kuwait, the destruction of Iraqs chemical and nuclear weapons capabilities, and the negotiation of a broad Middle East peace accord. The war was notable for the prominent

Annie Dillard The Chase

In the first paragraph of â€Å"The Chase†, the narrator of the story a seven year old girl is informing the audience about the game of football. She says â€Å"It was all or nothing† (Dillard 121). Basically stating that in football you have got to give all of your effort and not hesitate at all if you want to make the tackle and stop the offense. This do or die attitude is reflected later in the story during the chase scene. It is also the climax of the story. Being that a bunch of kids are together unsupervised, there is going to be some trouble. That is exactly what happens next. The children are all gathered during a winter snowy day making snowballs next to a street throwing them at passing cars. Its wide black door opened; a man got out of it running. He didn’t even close the car door. † This kind of unexpected thrill we can all relate to. Dillard adds even more by putting in the little details that make the reader feel the anger of this man and the feeling of we’re caught by the children that we have all felt as a kid is described in that same quote. By using these details in the story the re ader can put themselves into the shoes of the characters. Dillard uses lots of active descriptions that are very real throughout the chase scene. She uses actual street names like Edgerton Avenue, Lloyd Street, Willard and Lang. This use of actual real names of streets makes the story. The reader can almost get lost in the chase itself with Dillard’s use of rapid transitions like up, around, under, through, down some, across, smashed. After the chase is over and the children are caught the reader feels tired Annie Dillard The Chase In the first paragraph of â€Å"The Chase†, the narrator of the story a seven year old girl is informing the audience about the game of football. She says â€Å"It was all or nothing† (Dillard 121). Basically stating that in football you have got to give all of your effort and not hesitate at all if you want to make the tackle and stop the offense. This do or die attitude is reflected later in the story during the chase scene. It is also the climax of the story. Being that a bunch of kids are together unsupervised, there is going to be some trouble. That is exactly what happens next. The children are all gathered during a winter snowy day making snowballs next to a street throwing them at passing cars. Its wide black door opened; a man got out of it running. He didn’t even close the car door. † This kind of unexpected thrill we can all relate to. Dillard adds even more by putting in the little details that make the reader feel the anger of this man and the feeling of we’re caught by the children that we have all felt as a kid is described in that same quote. By using these details in the story the re ader can put themselves into the shoes of the characters. Dillard uses lots of active descriptions that are very real throughout the chase scene. She uses actual street names like Edgerton Avenue, Lloyd Street, Willard and Lang. This use of actual real names of streets makes the story. The reader can almost get lost in the chase itself with Dillard’s use of rapid transitions like up, around, under, through, down some, across, smashed. After the chase is over and the children are caught the reader feels tired

What is philosophy, and how does in differ form myth and religion Essay

What is philosophy, and how does in differ form myth and religion - Essay Example Quite interestingly, there are no writings of authored by Socrates that propagated during his lifetime. What’s more, his life has been the subject of a bitter ending but needless to say that his tragic ending ended in vain. Though he had not been popular or rich in his endeavors, he was gifted with students who carried with them the teachings of their ostracized and misunderstood teacher. Charged with corrupting the mind of the youth, Socrates came to suffer a painful death. Yet it is his fervent passion in teaching that has transcended the centuries up to this day where the ‘Socratic method is being widely used as the preferred system of teaching among progressive schools. The asking of the ‘why’ in all that we do is the penultimate requisite in all the things we do as he had emphasized. This proves the idea that it is more often in the questions that we ask that we are searching than the answers we provided or are provided that lies where the truth is. And in the process, we figure out who we truly are and why we do the things that we do. According to the Grolier Encyclopedia of Knowledge, Socrates while living in Athens, saw how the children were educated. Sophists, who were paid for their vocation, taught their students on ways to be successful in life (pp. 375-379). How they are to be rich later on in their lives. But they never questioned the right way. Socrates was more intent on showing the right way. He contended that there are general principles that should justify the behavior of man. These principles should be taught and that they must be the main focus of their life’s education in the process. Though without any paper with his name affixed on it, the influence of Socrates can be traced on the writings of Plato. Through him, the teachings of Socrates were passed down through the generations. It is in the ‘’Dialogues’ of Plato that we came to be

History of Industrial Design Final Questions Essay

History of Industrial Design Final Questions - Essay Example Historically, design has been extensively used to address social, environmental concerns. Eco-design projects began in the 1960s and 1970s. Geodesic domes are an example of environmentally responsible designs. Environmental conscious designs promote the development of projects that are eco-friendly. After its arousal in the 1950s; Pop design gained prominence and significantly influenced industrial design in the 1960s and 1970s. The pop movement inspired many designers particularly in fashion, fine arts and furniture industries. For example, pop furniture featured bright primary colours, oversized scale and basic geometries. Bocca or Marilyn sofa is an example a piece of furniture that is designed in an oversized shape of bold red lips. In the 20th century, politics influenced design in numerous ways. In the second half of the 20th century, social unrest led to environmental damage particularly because of pollution and depletion of world resources. Political bodies influenced ‘green design’ to facilitate environmental conservation. In 1970s and 1980s, feminist movements influenced industrial design by fighting for the incorporation of designs for minorities and other larger groups that had been ignored. Designers respond to new socio-cultural, environmental and political trends by creating new designs that meet the needs of consumers. Additionally, they use designs to express their views on various issues and trends. Consumerism and replaceability are the major themes that have been mainly expressed in the contemporary practise of industrial design. Contemporary designers have been focusing on innovation and packaging and appearance of their products. Technology is a trend that has enormously influenced industrial design since the 1980s. The era of consumerism is characterized by production electronic products and focus on consumption. Companies that advocated diversity and experience like Studio Alchymia

The Views of Native Americans and Europeans Essay -- Compare Contrast

The Views of Native Americans and Europeans During the 16th and 17th centuries, when the Europeans started to come over to the new world, they discovered a society of Indians that was strikingly different to their own. To understand how different, one must first compare and contrast some of the very important differences between them, such as how the Europeans considered the Indians to be extremely primitive and basic, while, considering themselves civilized. The Europeans considered that they were model societies, and they thought that the Indians society and culture should be changed to be very similar to their own.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Europeans and the Indians had very contrasting ideas of personal wealth and ownership. The Europeans believed that only the rich should own land, and strongly followed the practice that when you passed away, the land stays in the family to keep the family honor and pride alive. In European society, what one owned decided one's identity, political standpoint, wealth, and even independence. The Indians believed that property was part of a tribe, not a personal possession to own. One of their beliefs was that the land was sacred, and each family should have a piece of the whole. As a general rule, the Indians followed their belief that states that everything on the earth is given to all, and each person deserves their own share. In 1657, a French Jesuit said that, "Their kindness, humanity and courtesy not only makes them liberal with what they ha...

Marketing research report: using SPSS indentify case study Essay

The Questionnaire having 19 key questions to extract consumer’s perception about Auto Online website and the important factors which motivated for consumer to buy online. The research objective is try to identify the important factors motivating to buy online, for consumers and to take action plans further to improve consumer’s needs. The survey mainly concentrating on the following aspects; Consumer’s view on use of Internet, Awareness of Auto Online website, Security, Convenience while making a purchase etc. All these questions were asked on 1 to 5 Ratings scale, so the data collected on 19 factors is an ordinal. The labels taken as Strongly Disagree (1) to Strongly Agree (5) for all the variables: The most prominent way of analyzing these type of data in Descriptive Statistics is Frequency Tables and Cross Tabulations, also Top 2 Box scores for important factors; where Top 2 Box scores is the Percent of respondents for any particular question answered the Top 2 responses, i.e. Strongly Agree and Agree. It will be the best measure to interpret the respective attribute (In terms of Percentages). The important thing to be consider when interpreting the Ordinal Data is that it does not make any significance if we calculate the average forms like Mean or Median. Below are the Frequency Tables which are basically about how consumer thinks about Internet and Making purchase decisions etc. Marketing research report: using SPSS indentify case study 3 Executive Summary: Auto Online is a very â€Å"convenient† website and motivating respondent to buy products online. Most of the respondents aware about Auto Online through web surfing or any search engine. It will be very good if Auto Online website get innovative so that the overall experience with the site will be stronger than what know it is; since consumer is surfing the net as he is looking more information about Automobile products and he can reduce the strain with dealing car salesmen. Analysis and Interpretation: The following tables are the frequency tables for the questions, in what way the internet would be used by the respondent. Here the key questions for Auto Online are â€Å"I use the internet to research purchases I make†, â€Å"The Internet is a good tool to us when researching an automobile†, The Internet should not be used to purchase vehicles† and â€Å"Online dealership are just another way of getting you into the traditional dealership†. Where no single important factor got more than 50% of respondent saying whether â€Å"strongly agree† or â€Å"agree†. So on average a respondent is using internet to research automobile and of course it does not turning him to purchase online, they are thinking that they should not purchase automobiles on line. Since the Percent of respondents for â€Å"The Internet should not be used to purchase vehicles†Ã‚   got only 40% of Top2 Box Score. So on average not more than 40% of respondents turning their Internet use into online purchase for any automobile products. Following tables are the frequency tables on consumer’s perception about buying a new vehicle and don’t like to hassle with car salesmen.