Abstract
In 1992, acclaimed American political philosopher Francis Fukuyama entered the global imagination when he prophesied the ‘end of history’. The Cold War had melted. The Berlin Wall had fallen. Free-market liberal democracy had won a permanent victory. Or so it seemed.
Almost three decades on, Fukuyama’s bold prediction looks far from secure. China is still a one-party state ruled by market socialism. Russia is at the centre of an increasingly chilly Cold War. And, most worryingly, democracy itself is being called into question in parts of the Western world.
In a recent Hansard Society survey, 54 per cent of respondents believed that ‘Britain needs a strong ruler willing to break rules’. Support for leaders with pronounced authoritarian tendencies has grown.
Mahrukh Doctor reports from Brazil where Jair Bolsonaro stormed to victory in last year’s presidential election on the back of a radical right message. But will the ‘Tropical Trump’ be able to deliver on his hardline campaign promises in office?
In a thought-provoking analysis of recent books examining the ‘crisis’ in liberal democracy, Bill Jones considers the various factors behind this decline in faith in the system, from economic insecurity to rising nationalism, and finds that for democracy to thrive how we do politics will need to change.
But all hope for democracy might not be lost just yet. Alan Renwick and Michela Palese outline a new approach to political information discourse that could improve democracy by strengthening citizens’ decision-making abilities.
By most measures, one issue above all is currently undermining belief in the British political system: Brexit. The outcome remains unclear at the time of writing, but the process of leaving the European Union has been far from smooth.
One area where the UK government has promised no change is in environmental standards and regulation. Environment Secretary Michael Gove has pledged to deliver a ‘Green Brexit’. But, as Charlotte Burns. Brendan Moore, Viviane Gravey and Andrew Jordan discover, Britain’s post-Brexit environmental policy remains shrouded in uncertainty.
Another focus of post-Brexit doubt is trade. Proponents of leaving the EU often point to Anglophone countries as an obvious replacement for the UK’s relationship with the European Union. Michael Kenny and Nick Pearce explore the history of the Anglosphere and its re-emergence in British politics.
One near constant of the Brexit process has been the role of the Democratic Unionist Party. Kingmakers in Westminster, the DUP has often been a thorn in Theresa May’s side – even though the Prime Minister has relied on the Northern Irish unionists for her majority.
Jon Tonge examines the rise of the DUP from the margins to the heart of British politics and finds a party that owes its success less to its religious roots, and more to uncompromising unionism and fervent opposition to Irish republicanism.
Elsewhere, Paula Keaveney looks at the different rules that British parties have for electing their leaders and finds that most are now trying to involve ordinary members -and even non-members – in the leadership election process, with varying success.
In this issue’s cover feature, Stephen Farrall, Emily Gray and Phil Jones examine the lasting impact of a politician who was, in her lifetime, synonymous with free-market liberal democracy: Margaret Thatcher.
Based on survey research, the authors explore how the first female British Prime Minister has influenced contemporary political attitudes and find that, in many important respects, we are all Thatcher’s grandchildren. Nevertheless, as Guy Miscampbell and Will Tanner argue in the Last Word, the Tory party could perish if they do not attract new, younger voters.
On the other side of the political aisle, Labour has been dogged by accusations of antisemitism. Has the crisis changed attitudes among the party’s Jewish voters, and the wider community? Andrew Barclay examines the evidence and finds a worsening relationship under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.
Away from British politics, Yemen has been engulfed in civil war and an unparalleled humanitarian crisis since 2015. Aaron Edwards explores the political contours of the Middle East’s poorest country. In the regular In Focus slot, Benjamin D. Hennig maps gender inequality around the world and finds that the political sphere is often the most resistant to change.
The challenges facing established political systems around the world are unlikely to recede anytime soon. If you would like to join the debates or contribute to Political Insight get in touch or visit www.psa.ac.uk/insight-plus.