3. The UK government

UK Politics ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 45-67
Author(s):  
Andrew Blick
Keyword(s):  
Political System ◽  
Civil Service ◽  
Civil Servants ◽  
Uk Government ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Way

This chapter concentrates on the UK government, the part of the UK political system responsible for creating policy and putting it into effect. The chapter looks at the nature of the UK government, and the way it is made up of ministers, and civil servants and departments. The chapter also looks at the types of ministers, their legal and political powers, and the rules applying to them. The chapter assesses the constitutional position of the civil service, and its relationship with ministers and Parliaments. It also describes the departmental structure of the UK government and the so-called arm’s-length bodies within it. The chapter presents a number of perspectives on the way in which power operates within government and considers how the various ideas play out in reality. The chapter revisits the issue of Brexit but this time in the context of the civil services and ministers.

scholarly journals The Solution to Safety Crisis in Railways after Privatisation

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Hiroki Ito
Keyword(s):  
Critical Role ◽  
Railway Track ◽  
Financial Health ◽  
Track Maintenance ◽  
Governmental Intervention ◽  
Uk Government ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Way

Privatisation of infrastructure is expected to improve the effectiveness of operation, whereas it is possible to cause excessive rationalization. Especially in the field of railways, excessive rationalization causes fewer investments in the maintenance of assets and undermines safety. Railways play a critical role to develop the economy in a sustainable way and have a significant impact in the region, but their safety must be prioritised. In fact, the UK government privatised British Rail and founded Railtrack, which was specialised in the railway track maintenance, but the Hatfield accident raised awareness for safety and led to the renationalising Railtrack into Network Rail. Likewise, in Japan, National Railways was privatised and divided into separate companies (JR), but among them JR Hokkaido has been causing a large number of accidents and troubles. Based on the review of the process and outcomes of the privatisation of railways in the UK and Japan, this paper discusses the way to improve their safety sustainably. In conclusion, it validates the intervention of governments in railway companies suffering from poor financial health.  Keywords: Privatisation, Railways, Safety, British Rail, Railtrack, Network Rail, Governmental intervention

scholarly journals Rethinking the Role of International Civil Service on Sustainable Development in Africa: Issues, Challenges and the Way Forward

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 101
Author(s):  
C.J Igbokwe-Ibeto ◽  
I.L Nnaji
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Political Development ◽  
Civil Service ◽  
Civil Servants ◽  
Common Interest ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
The People ◽  
The World ◽  
The Way ◽  
Group Interests

International civil servants are expected to provide leadership that could translate into practical gains for all human societies across the globe. They are to use their creative talents, knowledge and experience to bring these goals to pass in the life of the people of the world, particularly in developing countries. While they have embraced these goals, the extent to which they have accomplished them is still a matter of debate. Therefore, within the framework of structural-agency theory, the paper examined international civil service (ICS) and sustainable development in Africa with the aim of identifying issues, challenges and the way forward. The article employed the methods of qualitative research design as well as exploratory and descriptive perspectives. The researchers also consulted different sources to ensure quality of the article. Subsequently, relevant sources of this research were fairly and professionally scrutinised, understood and tested with the available literature for the purpose of the research. Inter alia, it included scan-reading, comprehensive and critical reading and writing down ideas. Authoritative scholarly sources were reviewed, during a desktop study. The aim was to identify the relevant publications and apply them in the research. This article argues that international civil servants are expected as a philosophy to pursue the corporate interests of the people rather than their own personal or group interests. This is why they are fondly called servants of the state and the world community respectively.  However, it appears personal and group interests have found its way into common interest. It concludes that if the ICS is to make any impact on the campaign for rapid socio-economic development of the world, the ICSs need to be proactive and interventionist in order to arrest the increasing decline in socio-economic and political development across the globe and most especially in Africa.

4. Parliament

UK Politics ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 69-93
Author(s):  
Andrew Blick
Keyword(s):  
Political System ◽  
House Of Commons ◽  
The People ◽  
House Of Lords ◽  
Parliamentary Reform ◽  
Basic Functions ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Way

This chapter looks specifically at the UK Parliament as this is the central institution of the UK political system. It describes the people in Parliament, its internal makeup, and the way in which it is changing. The chapter examines the roles of members of the House of Commons and House of Lords. It considers the four basic functions of Parliament: providing a basis of government, holding government to account, producing legislation, and interacting with the wider public. The chapter describes three practical examples to help illustrate some of its themes. These are the following: the 2010–15 coalition government’s attempts to reform the House of Lords; the 2009 Wright Committee proposals for parliamentary reform and their implementation; and the practice of pre-appointed hearings conducted by parliamentary committees.

2. The Cabinet and the prime minister

UK Politics ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 19-43
Author(s):  
Andrew Blick
Keyword(s):  
Political System ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Collective Responsibility ◽  
Historical Material ◽  
System P ◽  
Basic Characteristics ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Way

This chapter examines two closely connected institutions that lie at the epicentre of UK politics and these are the Cabinet and the Prime Minister (PM). The chapter considers the basic characteristics of both. It describes the way in which they operate, including policy, the functions of the Prime Ministerial role, the supporting staff, and the place of both in the UK constitution and system of government. The principle of the collective responsibility of ministers is touched upon. The chapter gives some practical examples of how selective PMs have worked with their Cabinets to demonstrate how these theories can play out in practical terms. The chapter also provides historical material to illuminate the background to the issues it considers. Finally, the chapter asks: is collective government, that is, government by a group rather than a single leader, the right approach for the UK today? The chapter also touches on the issue of Brexit and questions what we have learnt from the Brexit experience in terms of the UK political system.

Organizing Central Government

2020 ◽  
pp. 123-140
Author(s):  
Caroline Howard Grøn ◽  
Heidi Houlberg Salomonsen
Keyword(s):  
Coming Out ◽  
Civil Service ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Civil Servants ◽  
The Political ◽  
Formal Organization ◽  
Pragmatic Approach ◽  
The Way

With the Danish civil service coming out on top in numerous international ratings, it seems worthwhile considering what characterizes the way it works and the central institutions on which it is built. In this chapter, we argue that the Danish central government is built on a relatively weak, formally institutionalized foundation. Rather, we argue that when looking at questions such as formal organization and interactions between politicians and civil servants, we find pragmatic solutions to some of the central challenges. In terms of the size and organization of central government, we find a number of different solutions. In addition, we find an ongoing adjustment of the way civil servants and politicians interact. We discuss this finding and argue that such a pragmatic approach may come with many advantages in terms of day-to-day effectiveness and responsiveness to changing political needs. However, it also demands a lot from the political and administrative actors in the system to ensure that pragmatism does not turn into ‘anything goes’.

The Beginnings of Islam in Afghanistan

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arezou Azad
Keyword(s):  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Political System ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Eighth Century ◽  
Religious Context ◽  
Early Islam ◽  
History Of ◽  
Initial Conversion ◽  
The Way

Covering the period from 709 to 871, this chapter traces the initial conversion of Afghanistan from Zoroastrianism and Buddhism to Islam. Highlighting the differential developments in four regions of Afghanistan, it discusses the very earliest history of Afghan Islam both as a religion and as a political system in the form of a caliphate.  The chapter draws on under-utilized sources, such as fourth to eighth century Bactrian documents from Tukharistan and medieval Arabic and Persian histories of Balkh, Herat and Sistan. In so doing, it offers a paradigm shift in the way early Islam is understood by arguing that it did not arrive in Afghanistan as a finished product, but instead grew out of Afghanistan’s multi-religious context. Through fusions with Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, early Abrahamic traditions, and local cult practices, the Islam that resulted was less an Arab Islam that was imported wholesale than a patchwork of various cultural practices.

PRACTICAL BASE OF FORMULATING RETRAINING PROGRAMS ON ETHNIC MINORITY AFFAIRS KNOWLEDGE FOR CADRES, CIVIL SERVANTS UP TO 2030

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyen Van Dung ◽  
Giang Khac Binh
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Political System ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Civil Servants ◽  
The Political ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
The Core ◽  
The Past

As developing programs is the core in fostering knowledge on ethnic work for cadres and civil servants under Decision No. 402/QD-TTg dated 14/3/2016 of the Prime Minister, it is urgent to build training program on ethnic minority affairs for 04 target groups in the political system from central to local by 2020 with a vision to 2030. The article highlighted basic issues of practical basis to design training program of ethnic minority affairs in the past years; suggested solutions to build the training programs in integration and globalization period.

BUILDING THE PROGRAM OF TRAINING ETHNIC KNOWLEDGE FOR CADRES, CIVIL SERVANTS AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES UP TO 2030

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyen Van Dung ◽  
Nguyen Ngoc Minh ◽  
Pham Kim Cuong
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Political System ◽  
Civil Servants ◽  
Public Employees ◽  
Target Groups ◽  
Current Period ◽  
Urgent Task ◽  
Practical Research ◽  
Local Levels

Developing a ethnic knowledge training program for cadres, civil servants and public employees according to 04 target groups (Prime Minister, 2018) in the political system from the central to local levels to meet the requirements of ethnic minority affairs up to 2030 is an urgent task. Because the program is “the core” to create a breakthrough in training ethnic knowledge, improving the capacity of the contingent of cadres, civil servants and public employees in formulating ethnic policies and organizing the implementation of Party and State’s policies in the current period. The article analyzes the results of theoretical and practical research on the development of ethnic knowledge training program and provides the results of developing a program that meets the requirements of Vietnam’s ethnic minority affairs from now to 2030.

Menelaah Lebih Dekat “Post Factual/Post Truth Politics, Studi Kasus Brexit” (Analsis Resensi Media)

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eko Wahyono ◽  
Rizka Amalia ◽  
Ikma Citra Ranteallo
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Mass Media ◽  
New Media ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Political ◽  
Political Struggle ◽  
The Real ◽  
The Mass Media ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Way

This research further examines the video entitled “what is the truth about post-factual politics?” about the case in the United States related to Trump and in the UK related to Brexit. The phenomenon of Post truth/post factual also occurs in Indonesia as seen in the political struggle experienced by Ahok in the governor election (DKI Jakarta). Through Michel Foucault's approach to post truth with assertive logic, the mass media is constructed for the interested parties and ignores the real reality. The conclusion of this study indicates that new media was able to spread various discourses ranging from influencing the way of thoughts, behavior of society to the ideology adopted by a society.Keywords: Post factual, post truth, new media

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