Suchergebnisse

FROM 1967 UNTIL THE REFERENDUM, THE DEBATE ON THE COMMON Market in Britain produced a vast amount of literature devoted to the economic, political and social ramifications of joining. The main economic issues debated were the cost of entry and its effect on Britain's balance of payments, prices and the standard of living. The other problems centred around the tax system, including VAT, the flow of capital, unemployment, technological development, the value of the pound, the Community's agricultural policy, its regional policy, the volume of exports and labour mobility. In the social field the main concern was the standard of the social services, especially the National Health Service. In the political field debate centred around the undemocratic and bureaucratic nature of the EEC decision-making system; Britain's sovereignty, especially as regards the ability of Parliament to pursue independent economic, social and foreign policies; the connections between Britain and the Cornmon wealth, EFTA, the USA, Eastern Europe and developing countries. In addition the Treaty of Rome itself and the ideological, social and political nature of the Communities were debated.

The debate surrounding Britain's entry into the Common Market raised questions about the social, political, & economic ramifications. The Labour Party experienced a shift in the balance of power between 1967 & 1974. When it is in power & when elections are impending, the factions compromise for party unity. When in opposition, the extremes in ideology are more apparent & more able to affect policy. In November 1966, Prime Minister Wilson stated that Britain was ready to negotiate entry into the Common Market. The party divided into five groups: (1) promarketeers, (2) those in favor of entry with clarification of the terms of the agreement, (3) neutrals, (4) those against entry unless stringent terms were met, & (5) antimarketeers. The last two groups were composed mainly of the left wing of the party, & the first two were made up of the right wing & the center. During 1968 & 1969 the debates lessened. In the summer of 1969, they began again when the government decided to reopen the negotiations. The left wing & antimarket forces became stronger, but the balance of power remained with those right of center. The Labour Party lost the election in 1970, which created more intense ideological battles within the party. The debate climaxed in 1971. The controversy over entry into the Common Market provides an opportunity to understand the power struggles & ideological influences with the Labour Party. C. DeCicco.

Observations about British politics are here derived from a study of relations between ideology & policy in the debate concerning comprehensive schools in Britain (1944-70). The issues of consensus, adaptability, influence of professionalism on ideology & policy, ideological change, & the Labour & Conservative party images are treated. An inevitable connection between ideology & politics is demonstrated. Particularly in education, arguments prevail in which centrality is given to moral prescriptions, because of the close relation between fundamentals bearing on education & the overall ideological orientation. Both parties dislike fundamental principles, just as they avoid creating a long-lasting gap between policies & ideologies. On emergence of a gap, each party hastened to close it; if possible by adapting policies to ideologies. The consensus which prevailed at short periods was a result of pragmatic considerations & was limited to the policy level. AA.