Topic 58 Political, economic and social development in the United Kingdom and Ireland since 1945. Presence in the European Union. Literary scenario.

Why is the study of literature from 1945 to the present challenging?

The study is challenging due to the vast changes in society during this period, including transformations in the world and the UK, which shifted from being a world power to a fragmented nation seeking and achieving independence from Europe.

How has the United Kingdom changed from 1945 to the present?

The UK changed from being a world power to a fragmented nation, seeking and achieving independence from Europe.

What is said about the literature of the period (1945-present)?

The literature is eclectic, reflecting a wide variety of themes and styles.

Why can’t every important author from the UK and Ireland be covered in the study of this period?

It would be impossible to cover every important author because the literature of the period is vast and diverse.

What will be the focus in the study of British and Irish literature from 1945 to the present?

The focus will be on the most important writers from the UK and Ireland during this time.

What major political changes occurred in Britain after World War II under Clement Attlee’s Labour government?

Britain established a welfare state and the National Health Service (NHS). The Bank of England, railways, and coal mining were nationalized.

Which colonies gained independence after World War II?

Several colonies, including India, gained independence after World War II.

What role did Britain play in the Cold War after World War II?

Britain became a strong anti-Soviet force in the Cold War and helped to found NATO in 1949.

After World War II, Britain, under Clement Attlee’s Labour government, established

established a welfare state and the National Health Service. The Bank of England, railways and coal mining were all nationalised.

Meanwhile, several colonies, e.g. India,

gained independence.

Britain became a strong anti-Soviet force in the Cold War, helping

to found NATO in 1949

In which year did Britain help to found NATO?

1949

First government after world War II Britain

Clement Attlee’s Labour government

What did the Conservative government maintain after returning to power in 1951?

The Conservatives maintained most of Labour’s post-war reforms but introduced NHS prescription charges.

How long did the Conservatives preside over economic stability, and what event diminished Britain's global influence?

The Conservatives presided over 13 years of economic stability but faced diminished global influence after the Suez Crisis of 1956.

What significant social reforms did Labour, under Harold Wilson, implement in 1964?

They implemented the partial decriminalization of homosexuality and abortion.

What was a significant development during Edward Heath’s Conservative government (1970-1974)?

During this government, Britain joined the European Economic Community and managed the height of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Edward Heath’s Conservative government YEARS

1970-1974

The Conservatives returned to power in

1951

The Conservatives returned to power in 1951, maintaining most of Labour’s post-war reforms but introducing

NHS prescription charges.

The Conservatives presided over 13 years of economic stability but faced a diminished global influence after

the Suez Crisis of 1956.

The Suez Crisis YEAR

1956

In 1964, Labour, under

Harold WIlson

In 1964, Labour, under Harold Wilson, implemented significant social reforms such as

• The partial decriminalization of homosexuality

• And abortion

Edward Heath’s

Conservative government (1970-1974)

During Edward Heath’s Conservative government (1970-1974) Britain

joined the European Economic Community and managed the height of the Troubles in North Ireland

What challenges did Labour face after returning to power in 1974?

They faced challenges such as the Winter of Discontent, which led to them losing their majority in Parliament.

Who became Prime Minister in the 1979 general election and what was one of her key policies?

Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister in 1979 and initially privatised many of Britain’s nationalised companies, such as British Telecom and British Gas.

What controversial policy led to Margaret Thatcher’s removal as Prime Minister in 1990?

The Controversial Poll Tax

What did John Major replace the Poll Tax with?

He replaced the Poll Tax with the Council Tax.

Who did replace the Poll tax with the Council Tax?

John Major

What events contributed to Labour’s victory under Tony Blair in 1997?

Events like Black Wednesday, internal divisions over the EU, and scandals within the Conservative Party.

In 1974, Labour returned to power but faced challenges including

the Winter of Discontent.

As a result of the Winter of discontent,

Labour lost its majority in Parliament and in the 1979 general election, Margaret Thatcher became PM.

Thatcher initially privatised many of Britain’s nationalised companies such as

British Telecom and British Gas.

The controversial Poll tax led to her removal as Prime Minister in

1990

Thatcher’s successor

John Major

Conservatives won in 1992 but the events of

• Black Wednesday

• Internal divisions over the EU

• and scandals

  led to Labour’s victory under Tony Blair in 1997

Labour’s victory under Tony Blair in

1997

How did Labour shift its policies under Tony Blair?

Labour shifted its policies closer to the political centre under the new slogan ‘New Labour.’

What key reforms were implemented under Tony Blair's government ?

The Bank of England gained independence over monetary policy, and the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly were created.

Under Tony Blair, Labour shifted its politics closer to the political centre, under the new slogan

‘New Labour’

The Bank of England

gained independence over monetary policy

the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly

were created.

Which major conflicts did Tony Blair lead Britain into?

He led Britain into the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars.

Who succeeded Tony Blair as Prime Minister in 2007?

He was succeeded by his Chancellor, Gordon Brown.

Who was Gordon Brown?

Tony Blair’s chancellor and successor as PM

A Global recession YEAR

2008-2010

What event contributed to Labour's defeat in the 2010 election?

The global recession (2008-2010)

What type of government was formed after Labour's defeat in 2010, and who led it?

A Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition was formed, led by David Cameron.

What was one of the key policies implemented by David Cameron’s government?

David Cameron’s government implemented spending cuts to reduce the budget deficit.

What was the outcome of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum?

Scotland voted 55% to 45% to remain part of the UK in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

What event in 2016 led to David Cameron's resignation and who succeeded him as Prime Minister?

The UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016, which led to David Cameron's resignation, and Theresa May became Prime Minister.

A Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition under

David Cameron

a Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition under David Cameron, who implemented

spending cuts to reduce the budget deficit.

Who became Prime Minister after Theresa May resigned in 2019?

Boris Johnson

What caused Boris Johnson to resign in 2022?

Several ethics scandals.

Who succeeded Boris Johnson as Prime Minister in 2022?

Liz Truss who became the shortest-serving Prime Minister, lasting only 44 days.

Who became Prime Minister after Liz Truss?

Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister but he resigned in 2024.

Who became Prime Minister on July 5, 2024?

Keir Starmer, a Labour human rights lawyer

Which PM was a Labour human rights lawyer?

Keir Starmer

Theresa May resigned and in 2019, Boris Johnson became Prime Minister.

However, after several ethics’ scandals, he resigned in 2022.

Liz Truss succeeded him, becoming

the shortest-serving Prime Minister, lasting only 44 days.

After Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister

but resigned in 2024.

Finally, on July 5, 2024, Keir Starmer

a labour human rights lawyer became Prime Minister.

What was the situation in Britain in the late-1940s after the Second World War?

It was an age of austerity in Britain, in which many necessities like housing and bread in short supply.

How did the United States assist Britain after the Second World War?

It provided financial assistance through loans and the Marshall Plan.

How did immigration contribute to British society after the war?

It laid the foundations for today’s multicultural British society.

After the Second World War, the late-1940s was an age of austerity in which

many necessities like housing and bread were in short supply.

The United States provided financial assistance through

loans and the Marshall Plan.  

Immigration laid the foundations for

today’s multicultural British society

What was the economic situation in Britain during the 1950s?

Prosperity returned to Britain, but it had lost its superpower status.

What political consensus existed between the Labour and Conservative parties in the postwar period?

There was a postwar consensus between Labour and Conservative parties supporting Keynesian policies.

How did the discovery of North Sea oil impact Britain’s economy?

It eased some financial pressures for Britain.

What economic challenges did Britain face in the 1970s?

This period saw slow economic growth and rising unemployment.

Despite economic challenges, what role did London play in the 1970s?

London became the leading financial centre in Europe.

Prosperity returned to Britain in the 1950s; however,

it had lost its superpower status.

There was a postwar consensus between Labour and Conservative parties supporting

Keynesian policies

The discovery of North Sea oil eased some financial pressures, but the 1970s saw

slow economic growth, rising unemployment.

Despite these difficulties, London became

the leading financial centre in Europe

How did higher education change in postwar Britain?

It expanded rapidly and attracted an international clientele.

What was the status of women in Britain after the Second World War?

It slowly improved after the war.

What youth culture emerged in the 1960s in Britain?

They had iconic international celebrities such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Princess Diana.

What were the economic repercussions of the UK leaving the European Union?

Leaving the EU triggered a prolonged economic crisis with significant social and political consequences

Higher education expanded rapidly and attracted an international clientele and

the status of women slowly improved.

A youth culture emerged from the 1960s with such iconic international celebrities as:

The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Princess Diana.

Due to the decision of leaving the EU, the UK experienced economic repercussions, triggering

a prolonged economic crisis with significant social and political consequences.

What significant change occurred in Ireland in 1949?

In 1949, Ireland became a republic under the Republic of Ireland Act, ending its membership in the British Commonwealth.

When did Ireland join the European communities?

Ireland joined the European communities in 1973.

What claim did the Irish constitution make from 1937 to 1998 regarding Northern Ireland?

The Irish constitution claimed Northern Ireland as part of its territory.

What role did the Irish government take in response to the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) during the Troubles?

The Irish government opposed the IRA and used its security forces against armed groups trying to unite Ireland by force.

How did the Irish government work to resolve the Troubles in Northern Ireland?

From 1968 to the late 1990s, Irish governments worked to resolve the Troubles, with the British government formally involving Ireland in negotiations through the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement.

What was the outcome of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement for Ireland’s claim on Northern Ireland?

It removed the constitutional claim on Northern Ireland and granted Irish citizenship to all island residents who wished to have it.

In which years did the Irish Constitution claimed Northern Ireland?

From 1937 to 1998

From 1937 to 1998, the Irish constitution

claimed Northern Ireland as part of its territory.

However, the state opposed and used its security forces against those armed groups,

particularly the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), who tried to unite Ireland by force.

In which years did the Irish governments worked to resolve the Troubles in Northern Ireland?

From 1968 to the late 1990s

From 1968 to the late 1990s, Irish governments worked to resolve the Troubles in Northern Ireland, with the British government

formally involving Ireland in negotiations through the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement.

In which Agreement did the British government formally involved Ireland in negotiations?

In the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement

The 1998 Good Friday Agreement

removed the constitutional claim on Northern Ireland and granted Irish citizenship to all island residents who wished to have it