Why was Britain gripped by widespread social disorder during 1919, and why were the country's ethnic and racial minorities so often the victims of that disorder?

Why was Britain gripped by widespread social disorder during 1919, and why were the country's ethnic and racial minorities so often the victims of that disorder? ' In 1919, against a background of worldwide violence and unrest involving people of African dissent, there occurred in Britain a series of racial riots and incidents, which in their severity and extent were unlike anything that had gone before'1. There were riots in; Barry, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Newport and South Shields. The motives behind these race riots are hard to establish because there are so many different crucial factors for the social disorder in 1919. I intend to divide the question up based on the key words or phrases in the question, I will particularly focus on the race riots in Liverpool. It will always be difficult regardless of the period to try and understand peoples mental motivations for things such as riots and racial attacks when one is not in that society, just as today we find it hard to understand or sympathize with racial attacks. However there are elements that could and presumably did contribute to the heightened tensions of 1919 that reached its zenith with the race riots in the summer months, including; the First world war, popular opinion, jealously and innate and socialized racism. In the year 1919 the nation was literally 'in turmoil', the period itself was a

  • Word count: 3236
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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An Introduction to Pressure Groups.

An Introduction to Pressure Groups This essay will offer a thorough definition of Pressure Groups. It will distinguish between specific types of Pressure Group and will highlight a number of detailed factors which make these political groups so successful. A thorough Definition Generally speaking, there are two accepted categories capable of defining the pressure group...first, there's the 'interest group' or 'protection group' whose strategy is to act on behalf of individual people in particular roles, such as doctors or miners. Second, there's the 'promotional group' or just simply the 'pressure group'. The differences are usually displayed within the remits adopted by each branch. Pressure groups do not seek to acquire power in the electoral sense, aiming instead to influence decisions and policies made within government. Political parties and pressure groups are concomitant factors within society's structure as both agencies reverberate with the People's voice as they hear it from their own angle. Pluralistic According to the pluralists (people who believe that society is a multi-party political arena, consisting of individual people chasing diverse political ideals) pressure groups are an essential factor of inter-party politics and are able to force issues that are sometimes swept under the carpet or, as on occasion, genuinely omitted from discussion.

  • Word count: 1232
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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Critically assess Dicey's arguments in relation to Ireland.

Essay submitted to Professor Paul Bew by J. G. Colm Power Critically assess Dicey's arguments in relation to Ireland In his monumental review of Twentieth century Irish history, Joe Lee begins his first chapter by stating that: 'The Parliament Act of 1911 broke the power of the House of Lords to defy the popular will as represented in the House of Commons.' 1 This statement encapsulates in a sense the constitutional dichotomy with which Albert Venn Dicey was faced when he challenged the legitimacy of the Westminster parliament granting home rule to Ireland in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The whole basis and ethos of the House of Commons was experiencing a traumatic shift. The last bastion of direct political control still in the hands of the landed oligarchy had been emasculated by the Parliament Act. The House of Commons was dominated by factions and special interest groups; the most important being the Irish Parliamentary Party, with its demand for home rule about to be placed on the statute book. Ferdinand Mount described Dicey's opinion of the Liberal administration in these terms: '...the demoralising and degrading kind of government under men like Asquith...' 2 and though an avid defender of the primacy and efficacy of Parliamentary sovereignty - Dicey proposed the extension of the democratic process where changes to the British constitution

  • Word count: 3312
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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Public Accountability and Transparency: The Imperatives of Good Governance.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY: THE IMPERATIVES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE By Madhav Godbole Madhav Godbole's book, 'Public accountability and transparency: the imperatives of good governance' deals with the contemporary political, administrative, social scenario in the country. It also addresses the issues relating to the largely untouched areas of judiciary, media and corporate governance. It presents a well documented analysis of the current milieu and all agencies involved in the functioning of the state. In this book, the author gives a balanced and constructive criticism. He identifies the problem areas and gives his own solutions to those issues. In his first chapter, 'We the people' he analyses the working of the Parliamentary committees, privileges and lists the specific failures of parliament which have 'contributed to the erosion of the confidence of the people in its capacity to deliver'. In his chapter on the 'Unfinished Agenda', the author has minutely scrutinized the electoral reforms. In his inimitable style he has also drawn attention to the weaknesses of the Election Commission of India and has criticized the infructuous expenditure incurred by it on certain schemes. In the chapter, '......'the author traces the history of representation of the Muslims in Government and parliament. He opines that to address the urgent problems facing the Muslims in

  • Word count: 1084
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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How did the tsar survive 1905.

How did the tsar survive 1905 First of all to understand how the Tsarist regime survived in 1905 it is necessary to answer the question what happened in 1905. Then it is possible to identify how the Tsar solved the significant problems. In the years before 1905 there was increasing social chaos caused by rapid industrialisation. There was no legal way of expressing political views (no Parliament), the working class were discontent and were oppressed, they were desperate and poverty stricken as they had to work in very poor working conditions, for very long hours and for very little pay. The middle classes were also discontent because of the absence of a political voice for the vast population. The peasants were poor because they owned no land they had poor harvests, the policy of heavy taxing had severe effects, as they could not cope with the demands. They were also frustrated with the Tsar as they used this just to pay for industrialisation thus not meeting the society's needs. Consequently most sectors of Russian society were in opposition to the state. However they were few groups that supported the regime and remained loyal this was the army, the state-dependant industries, the members and staff of the Imperial Council of Russia. A revolution was created through the discontent of society and so they began to rebel and protest against Tsar's policies. Furthermore, it

  • Word count: 1217
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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What do you consider to be the proper functions of a second chamber in the constitution of this country? What reforms are necessary?

What do you consider to be the proper functions of a second chamber in the constitution of this country? Does the House of Lords, as now constituted, effectively discharge these functions? If not, what reforms would you introduce? The current system of government in the UK consists of a parliament, which is essentially made up of two chambers: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Members of the House of Commons are elected and its composition determines the party that will form government and is known as the lower house. On the other hand, members of the House of Lords are unelected and is constitutes as the second chamber of the parliament, also known as the upper house. It plays a role in legislation while providing a forum of independent expertise. One of its most important functions is scrutiny of the actions of the government. Although the House of Lords, as now constituted does not discharge its functions in the best possible way, it does have features that are worth keeping. Nevertheless, there are certain reforms that could be introduced to improve the existing upper house. Yet, it must be appreciated that it is indeed a very difficult task to create the ideal second chamber without compromising the other fundamental features that the current system should retain. According to the Government’s proposals for reform of the House of Lords, they identified

  • Word count: 1648
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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What factors determine the influence of promotional interest groups?

What factors determine the influence of promotional interest groups? INTRODUCTION Promotional interest groups make an effort to promote a particular cause, and for this reason also known as cause or attitude groups. Promotional interest groups are not self-interested in that the achievement of their objectives is not necessarily of direct professional or economic benefit to the members of the group. Examples of promotional/cause interest groups are Shelter, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) and Greenpeace. Cause interest groups lobby governments to favour their particular cause or issue. Some are set up for a particular purpose and then fade away or reinvent themselves, while others continue to promote their original concerns. Because cause groups aim to promote a cause - which might potentially be supported by everybody, regardless of their profession or economic position - membership is not usually restricted. However, that does mean that cause groups have or want to have a large membership. Some cause groups have few members but a great deal of influence. For example, Liberty - a group with 5,000 members - put pressure on the Labour Party, in opposition and in government, to make the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law a priority. On the other hand, some cause groups have many members but little influence. Cause groups can be

  • Word count: 1614
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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British European Security Essay. COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE DEFENCE REVIEWS OF THE MID-1960S, 1974 AND 1981

COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE DEFENCE REVIEWS OF THE MID-1960S, 1974 AND 1981 By Jeffrey Peter Bradford Since the beginning of the cold war, Britain has sought to cope with the responsibilities of international security as a Great power, whilst facing up to economic decline, towards status comparable to that of a middle ranking power. With this central premise in mind, it is my intention in this paper to examine the defence reviews of the mid-1960s, focusing primarily on the 1966 Defence white paper, 1974 and the 1981 paper ‘the way forward’ which was also known as the Nott review. In terms of methodology, each review shall be analysed in three parts, firstly by providing a succinct summary of the paper itself, looking specifically at the political emphasis placed on the commitments of the services world-wide, before looking at the changes made to the conventional forces, and finally the place of the strategic nuclear deterrent within the review. Secondly the paper will analyse the issues and arguments which shaped the paper, before lastly bringing in each case, the two parts together into the broader context of Britain's defence policy. After this in conclusion the paper will attempt to assess the significance of these reviews, and their relevance in understanding Britain's capabilities and commitments in the post cold war order. THE 1966 DEFENCE REVIEW The

  • Word count: 4021
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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Does the Media have too much political power in Britain?

86064 Does the Media have too much political power in Britain? The media industry in the UK is by far one of the most influential sectors known as a 'means of communication' for people in Britain. Mass Media can now ultimately control what people see and think. Examples date back to the 20th century where propaganda was recognised as an issue during the second world war and most recently used for political purposes for elections and ect. Since then, Mass Media has been heavily criticized as being the largest industry of scrutiny in the Political radar, and have inevitably become a watchdog of Politics. Many would judge that the 21st century has victimised political decisions through media revolution. The media has grown to publicise, and in most events criticise, many political events that occur on a daily basis. It has been profoundly criticized further for seeking "power, and power without responsibility" (R.Negrine, 1989, 77) through scrutinizing those with political power. The question then arises about the legitimacy of the stories that are reported and how influential they are in moulding an individual's opinion; do the media hold too much political power in Britain? Tony Blair delivered a speech to a meeting of journalists at Reuters on 12 June 2007, describing the contemporary media as a "feral beast" which tears "people and reputations to bits", the effect of this

  • Word count: 2498
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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The General Strike, 1926

The General Strike, 1926 The Conservative Government proclaimed that by undertaking a General Strike the wide variety of essential industries that were threatening to discontinue their work were being unconstitutional. However it was more that the Conservative Government felt threatened by the potential uprising and possible revolutionary action that could result from the growing support of the labor unions. The Conservative Government became justifiably concerned by the fact that the Labor unions were beginning to acquire control of who was able to work and hence had the power to virtually construct a rival Government in opposition to the Conservatives. With such a large following the potential new Government could have brought about revolutionary changes in the Government at the time and hence the Conservatives were threatened. As a result Baldwin believed that a national strike was an unconstitutional attempt to undermine parliamentary democracy and, in response, he broke off negotiations with the Labor unions. The so-called attack on the community that Sir John Simon alluded to (Ln 5) and the fact that the miners had been deprived of sympathy (Ln 6) were respective to the fact that by joining the miners in their plight, various other labor intensive essential industries such as transport and electricity were also depriving the greater community of the essentials to

  • Word count: 349
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Social studies
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