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Great Britain

GOVT 122: Comparative Politics
Sweet Briar College
Instructor: Dr. Andrew Clem
For use of enrolled SBC students ONLY.

Years Leader(s)
1950- Churchill
1955- Eden, MacMillan
1960- MacMillan
1965- Wilson
1970- Heath
1975- Wilson, Callaghan
1980- Thatcher
1985- Thatcher
1990- Major
1995- Blair
2000- Blair
2005- Blair, Brown

Years indicated above are approximate. For more detail, see the Foreign Leaders page, with a year-by-year chronology.

Basic facts:
Political system:Parliamentary monarchy
National leader:P.M. Gordon Brown (2007-)
Structure:Unitary
Regime founded:1688
Democracy:Established
Population:59 million
Per capita GDP:$20,520

Distinctive features:

  • Parliamentary sovereignty -- Westminster regime
  • Adam Smith & David Ricardo: Classical economic liberals
  • Politicized trade unionism, Fabian socialism
  • Keynesian economic policies to cure capitalist boom & bust
  • Nationalization vs. privatization tug of war
 Britain map

To see a continental-scale map, roll the mouse over the map above.
Click on it to see a key that explains the map symbols.

Political parties:

Name Labour Other Lib. Dem. Conservative
Seats* 356 31 62 197

NOTES: * Seats in lower house.
SOURCES: Mark Kessleman, et al., Introduction to Comparative Politics; CIA World Factbook, various newspapers.

Web links

Tony Blair - Last Question and Answer Session (youtube.com)

Introduction to the British Parliament

David Cameron meets Angela Merkel (youtube.com)

Gordon Brown welcomes Angela Merkel to Downing Street (youtube.com)