Comparing Westminster
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Product details:
- Publisher OUP Oxford
- Date of Publication 7 July 2011
- ISBN 9780199695584
- Binding Paperback
- No. of pages276 pages
- Size 234x164x17 mm
- Weight 450 g
- Language English 0
Categories
Short description:
This book explores how governmental elites understand the Westminster systems of Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. It concludes that Westminster is a flexible family of ideas that is useful for many purposes and survives and, even thrives, because of its varied uses to elite actors.
MoreLong description:
Comparing Westminster explores how the governmental elites in Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa understand their Westminster system. It examines in detail four interrelated features of Westminster systems. Firstly, the increasing centralisation in collective, responsible cabinet government. Second, the constitutional convention of ministerial and collective responsibility. Third, the role of a professional, non-partisan public service. And finally, parliament's relationship to the executive. The authors explain the changes that have occured in the Westminster model by analysing four traditions: royal prerogative, responsible government, constitutional bureaucracy, and representative government. They suggest that each tradition has a recurring dilemma, between centralisation and decentralisation, party government and ministerial responsibility, professionalisation and politicisation, and finally elitism and participation. They gone on to argue that these dilemmas recur in four present-day debates: the growth of prime ministerial power, the decline in individual and collective ministerial accountability, politicisation of the public service, and executive dominance of the legislature. They conclude by identifying five meanings of - or narratives about - Westminster. Firstly, 'Westminster as heritage' - elite actors' shared governmental narrative understood as both precedents and nostalgia. Second, 'Westminster as political tool' - the expedient cloak worn by governments and politicians to defend themselves and criticise opponents. Third, 'Westminster as legitimising tradition' - providing legitimacy and a context for elite actions, serving as a point of reference to navigate this uncertain world. Fourth, 'Westminster as institutional category' - it remains a useful descriptor of a loose family of governments with shared origins and characteristics. Finally, 'Westminster as an effective political system' - it is a more effective and efficient political system than consensual parliamentary governments. Westminster is a flexible family of ideas that is useful for many purposes and survives, even thrives, because of its meaning in use to élite actors.
full of interesting insights and stories, and is rich in detail of the operation of the political system in the chosen countries. The way in which politicians appeal to the term Westminster is revealing.
Table of Contents:
Preface and Acknowledgements
List of Tables
List of Abbreviations
Looking for Westminster
Comparing Westminster
Living Traditions
Executive and Cabinet
Ministerial Responsibility
The Public Service
Parliaments and Representation
The Meanings of Westminster
Bibliography
Index
