Unit 2: The 5 days that changed Britain

This is your task for the Spring Break. Check out the presentation, then watch the video. It is long, but it does highlight issues such as Prime Ministerial power, coalition governments, constitutional affairs and generally, how governments work.

The coalition - 5 Days that changed britain from mattbentley34

Five days that changed britain bbc documentary (student question sheet) from mattbentley34

Unit 4: Infographic on the EU.

The economics team at Deutche Bank have produced this infographic on aspects of the EU single market. Useful for extra background on the EU economy.

Unit 3: No lesson today - Strike action!

Apologies, but click here to see why I am 'downing tools'. Marching on, comrades!

Unit 1: Question for homework

(a) Distinguish between a mandate and a manifesto.
(5)
(b) Explain the workings of three electoral systems used in the UK.
(10)
(c) Should the Westminster electoral system be reformed?
(25)

http://politics-blog.ashbournecollege.co.uk/unit-3-key-themes-in-political-analysis/route-auk-eu-issues/economic-policy/

http://politics-blog.ashbournecollege.co.uk/unit-3-key-themes-in-political-analysis/route-auk-eu-issues/economic-policy/

Unit 4: EU seals closer ties with Ukraine

Is this political, economic or just posturing by the EU. Click here for article. From purely a Unit 4, EU perspective, what are the possible advantages of this further enlargement and do they outweigh the potential issues. A poignant point!

Unit 3: Pension Reforms + the 2014 budget

Click on this link to access the BBC article which discusses Labour's response to the recent budget. It is useful as it looks at government policy and what the opposition think about it. Essential when looking at the economy for unit 3.

Unit 4: 45 Markers on EU

Morning all,

I am out today, so please attempt one of these (can two of you do one, and the other two the other)

‘The advantages of the Single Market outweigh its disadvantages.’ Discuss.

(Total for Question 6 = 45 marks)

7 To what extent has EU enlargement slowed down the process of deeper integration?

(Total for Question 7 = 45 marks)

Unit 2: Reforming the House of Lords

Morning all,

below is the power point I promised yesterday, sorry it's late. There is an exam question I woule like you to do for Thursday 27th March.

Reforming the House of Lords from mattbentley34

All students of Politics: This months 'Politics Review'

There are some excellent articles in this months Politics Review. Available in the library right now. There are also lots of back copies with useful tips and revision help, including lots of up to date examples.

Politics review feb 2014 from mattbentley34

Unit 1 & 4: EU Elections

Click here to access a bbc article on the upcoming elections in EU. Essential for all politics students.

R.I.P. Tony Benn

A really sad day today. A true giant of British politics has sadly past away today. Click here to access news article about Tony Benn's life.

Unit 1 & 4: EU referendum timeline....

An interesting article about the complicated relationship between the EU and the UK. It not only highlights the issue of referendums and should we leave / not leave, but also useful for the different parties views on EU. It is one of the few political issues that both the far left and far right in British politics have agreed on.

Unit 1: Democratic elections - North Korean Style

and you thought FPTP created a two party system....well what about the system used in North Korea...I love it!.

Click here to access the BBC article discussing the latest election results in North Korea.

Unit 3: Labour, welfare and the long term unemployed.

Click here for BBC article on Labour's policy to get the long term unemployed back to work. Under the scheme 18 to 24-year-olds who have been out of work for a year will be offered a taxpayer-subsidised job lasting six months - with those who refuse losing benefits.

Q) Will this help people out of welfare dependency?
Q) How will they pay for it?
Q) Will it work?

Unit 4: Catherine Ashton visits Iran

Click here to access a BBC article where the EU's head of foreign policy, Catherine Ashton, is due to begin talks with Iranian leaders in Tehran.

Try and keep up to date with current events regarding the EU and Catherine Ashton. Useful for any question on CFSP.

Unit 4: The Social Chapter

The Social Chapter, signed at Maastricht in 1992 (but not by UK until 1997) contained far reaching regulations on the social rights of workers in the EU.

The main provisions are as follows:

• A maximum working week (48 Hours)
• A minimum working age of 16
• Equality of pay & conditions for all 
• Protect rights of disabled workers
• Protect right to join a trade union
• Pension rights for workers
• Rights for maternity & paternity leave
• Rights to training
• Rights to redundancy payments
• Right to work flexible hours

Click here for an article written in the Independent newspaper in 1993 to see why John Major and the Conservatives were against it.

Click here to read an article written in 2007 from the Guardian newspaper about Cameron's view on the Social Chapter.

Click here for another article written in 1996 on why Blair wanted to sign but the Conservatives were still against.

What are the arguments for & against the Social Chapter?

Exam Question: What is the Social Chapter, and why has it been controversial? (15 Marks)

All students: Check out the header

Just posted a great quote from one of the truly great presidents. Just in case you forget to look at the header.....

Q) How could you incorporate the quote into an essay?

Q) Who are the four US Presidents?

Unit 1: Link to Politics presentations

Click here to access several politics presentations from tutor2u. They are relatively old, but still useful when looking at theories.

Unit 4: CFSP - An EU perspective

The European Union has its own foreign and security policy, which has developed gradually over many years and which enables it to speak – and act – as one in world affairs.
Acting together as the EU, the 28 member countries have far greater weight and influence than if they act individually, following 28 different policies.

Exam question: How significant is the post of High Representative for Foreign Policy, as established in
2009? (15 Marks)

The EU's common foreign and security policy has been further strengthened by the 2009 Lisbon Treaty, which created the post of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. At the same time, it created a European Diplomatic Service – the European External Action Service (EEAS).
Peace and security
The role of the EU's foreign and security policy is to preserve peace and strengthen international security; to promote international cooperation; and to develop and consolidate democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

EU election monitors in Sierra Leone, 2012. The EU promotes democracy & human rights worldwide

Diplomacy and partnership

The EU is a key player in international issues – from global warming to the conflict in the Middle East. The EU’s common foreign and security policy is based on diplomacy – backed where necessary by trade, aid and security and defence – to resolve conflicts and bring about international understanding. The Union is the largest donor of Development Aid Internationally and this leaves it in a unique position to reach out in cooperation with developing countries.

The sheer size of the 28-nation EU – in economic, trade and financial terms – makes it a major force in the world. It is the world’s biggest trader, with the world’s second currency, the euro. The EU plays an important role in global affairs – and its weight is growing as EU countries increasingly make collective foreign policy decisions.

The EU maintains partnerships with all the world's key players – including new ones – each with their own world views and interests. It seeks to ensure that its partnerships are based on mutual interests and benefits, in which both parties have rights as well as duties.

The EU holds regular summits with the United States, Japan, Canada, Russia, India and China. Its relations with these and other countries span many fields, including education, the environment, security and defence, crime and human rights dialogues.

Peacekeeping missions

The EU has sent peacekeeping missions to several of the world’s trouble spots. In August 2008, the EU helped broker a ceasefire between Georgia and Russia, deployed EU observers to monitor the situation (EU monitoring mission in Georgia) and provided humanitarian aid to people displaced by the fighting.

The EU also has a leading role in the Balkans, where it is funding assistance projects in seven countries to help them build stable societies. In Kosovo, the EU deployed a 1900-strong police and justice force (EULEX Kosovo) in December 2008 to help ensure law and order.

Officer from EULEX Mission in Kosovo distributes info on EU role in rebuildng Western Balkans

The means to intervene

The EU has no standing army. Instead, under its common security and defence policy (CSDP), it relies on ad hoc forces contributed by EU countries for:

• joint disarmament operations
• humanitarian and rescue tasks
• military advice and assistance
• conflict prevention and peace-keeping
• tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peace-making and post-conflict stabilisation.

All these tasks may contribute to the fight against terrorism, sometimes by supporting non-EU countries in combating terrorism on their soil.

In Afghanistan, the EU supports training for judiciary & police officers

Over the last decade, the EU has launched 23 civilian missions and military operations on 3 continents. These were in response to crises – post-tsunami peace building in Aceh, protecting refugees in Chad and fighting piracy off Somalia and the Horn of Africa. 

The EU's role as a security player is expanding.

Since January 2007, the EU has been able to undertake rapid-response operations with two concurrent 1500-strong single-battle groups and, if required, to launch both operations almost simultaneously. Deployment decisions are taken by national ministers from EU countries meeting in the Council of the EU.

Reaching out eastwards

As with Russia, the EU is moving to strengthen ties with Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus. The August 2008 Russia-Georgia war, which ended in an EU-brokered ceasefire and the deployment of an EU monitoring mission in Georgia, raised concerns over the region’s stability. 

The EU offers considerable funding for these countries, as well as the prospect of free-trade agreements if they undertake political and economic reforms to strengthen democracy.

Closer ties: Mediterranean and Middle East

In the wake of the Arab Spring in 2011, the EU re-launched its European neighbourhood policy to express its solidarity with those calling for democracy. Designed to strengthen the EU’s relations with its neighbours to the east and south, the policy offers political association, economic integration and increased mobility. The re-launch promised more EU support for those neighbours committed to political and economic reform, and more interaction with the people living in these neighbouring countries.

An EU-Tunisia Task Force is in place to coordinate European and international support intended to help Tunisia as it makes the transition to democracy and restarts its economy. A similar EU-Egypt Task Force was launched in November 2012.

The EU is providing support of a different kind to international efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. A two-state arrangement in which the Palestinian state lives side-by-side with Israel is the EU’s objective, and it is working with the UN, the US and Russia (together comprising the ‘Quartet’) to encourage both sides to reach an agreement.

The EU has an equally active role in Iran, where it is leading negotiations aimed at encouraging the country to scale back its nuclear programme.

Asia and Latin America

The EU is intensifying relations with regional groups, particularly in Asia and Latin America. With its fast-developing Asian partners, the EU has created ‘enhanced partnerships’ – agreements which balance the economic, political, social and cultural elements of the relationships.

EU members-in-waiting: the Balkans

Croatia became the 28th EU member in July 2013, whilst the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Montenegro and Serbia have been officially accepted as candidates for EU membership. Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina have applied.

Kosovo declared itself independent from Serbia in 2008, but there is still no international agreement on its status. The EU is actively seeking a diplomatic solution by leading the Pristina-Belgrade dialogue, while providing practical help.

Decision-making in EU foreign policy

The ultimate decision-making body in the European Union is the European Council, bringing together Heads of State and Government from the 28 member countries. The Council meets four times a year to define the principles and general guidelines of policy.

EU High Representative Catherine Ashton meets UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon - supporting peace through multilateral cooperation

The role of High Representative Catherine Ashton is to bring more coherence to the EU's foreign policies. Accordingly, she chairs the monthly meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council where the 28 EU Foreign Ministers meet. The High Representative also attends the European Council and reports on foreign affairs issues.

Most foreign and security policy decisions are taken by unanimity – all EU countries have to agree on a decision.

The role of the External Action Service (EEAS) is to support the role of the High Representative. It functions as the EU's diplomatic service, with a network of over 140 Delegations and Offices around the world responsible for promoting and protecting Europe's interests.

Unit 4: Presentations on C.A.P

Below are a couple of useful resources to help you understand how CAP reform is working. Remember, it is essential that you understand and discuss the controversy surrounding CAP reform. Which countries are pro and which are against and why....and how does this effect reform?

Cap powerpoint presentation March 2013 from mattbentley34

Click here for a website straight from the European Union.

This additional webpage (Click here) gives you a brief insight into what thew French are thinking.

Unit 4: EU Policy - C.A.P.

Common Agricultural Policy

Past Questions

To what extent has the Common Agricultural Policy been reformed since 1992? (15 Marks)

Has the Common Agricultural Policy been effectively reformed since 1992? (45 Marks)

Assess the impact of the reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy. (15 Marks)

‘Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy is always doomed to fail.’ Discuss.(45 Marks)

Questions for you to focus on today are the following:

When was it established?

What are/were the aims?

Why does/did it need reform?

What are the issues with reform?

What reforms have actually happened?

McSharry & Agenda 2000

Decoupling (Single Farm Payments – SFP’s)

Doha trade talks

2007-13 proposals

When looking for evidence, please ensure you have actual proposals and some factually based material to refer to, so as to effectively answer questions like the ones above.

Use your text book, course companion and this link to help you.