post war consensus Flashcards
outline the term consensus
the term consensus can be defined as a broad agreement exists between parties on important areas of policy
to what extent was a consensus reached
it will be argued that there was indeed agreement between the major parties on fundamental issues. However, the parties often differed in terms of attitude and approach, thus suggesting that ‘consensus’ is too strong a word to describe this period.
assess the degree of consensus in regard to three key areas:
economic policy; social policy
commitment to full employment
nationalisation of key industries
commitment to welfare state
outline the consensus in economic policy
Perhaps the most significant area in which to measure the extent of political consensus is through the assessment of economic policy in the post-war period.
example of consensus in economic policy (nationalisation)
Crucially, it was a Labour government responsible for the nationalisation of coal, gas, electricity, iron and steel in the 1940s
while the Conservatives remained opposed to such measures, pledging to reverse the statutes and return the industry to the private sector
to what extent did economic policy demonstrate consensus between the two major partys
it would be too simplistic to make the assumption that this meant a consensus had been reached. Rather,it suggests that a compromise, as opposed to agreement, was reached, with the Conservatives accepting public ownership “unwillingly”because they sought to avoid causing further disruption.
why did the conservatives want to avoid disruption by reversing labours policys
what did this mean for the extent of consensus
contextually both partys shared the priority of not returning to 1930s unemployment levels (2.5m)
therefore it is clear that, at least until the early 1970s, public ownership remained a point of consensus between the two main parties; However unwilling the Conservatives may have been
what is another strategy which initially points towards a consensus between the two main parties.
strategy towards employment is arguably another key aspect of post-war economic policy which initially points towards a consensus between the two main parties.
outline the context of mass unemployment during interwar period
Following the mass unemployment which characterised the inter-war period, the Second World War virtually eradicated this problem.
Understandably, both Labour and the Conservatives sought to maintain this at the end of the war
when was the commitment ro full employment achieved by labour gov
labour government achieved it priority in first four years between 1947-51 in which unemployment remained below 300,000
continuation of commitment to full employment lasted over how many decades?
The belief in Keynesianism and commitment to full employment was maintained for three decades, with unemployment averaging less than 3 per cent between 1945 and 1970
What does this reveal about the consensus between parties
undeniably, this revealed a clear consensus between both parties as full employment was indeed maintained
although this may have been in aim of being re elected and benefits for economy/ public morale
what is A further key area, which is essential to discuss in order to assess the extent to which there was a consensus in post-war British politics?
is social policy, with particular reference to the National Health Service, welfare, and education
how can it be argued that there was a consensus in regards to the maintenance of the welfare state?
A strong argument can be made to support the assertion that there was indeed a great deal of consensus between the two main parties regarding the welfare state. By the fall of the Labour government in 1951, the foundations were arguably complete
but, crucially, if the newly-elected Conservative government had reversed Labour’s plans, the NHS and welfare state would not have come into existence.
what does conservatives acceptance of welfare state imply about the consensus
The very fact that the Conservatives chose to continue with Labour’s plans implies a mutual appreciation and “acceptance of the key principles” which underpinned welfare provision.
In fact, every government, regardless of party, committed to “maintaining and improving” [19] the welfare state, except for the Heath government between 1970 and 1972.
even though they had no plans to expand the welfare state as dramatically as labour would have hoped, this is a key demonstration that a consensus had been reached