United Kingdom

THE BROAD POLITICAL beliefs, values, and ideals of the British people are set in the context of a constitutional monarchy that has evolved into a modern political system on the basis of democracy and the rule of law. Thus, while there is an everpresent strand of deferential and traditional conservatism in the British political culture, there is also a deep-rooted liberal tradition that underpins participatory democracy, human rights, and a range of freedoms. There is also a strong socialist heritage in the United Kingdom (UK), manifest in the longevity of the British Labour Party as well as the growth of the British welfare state.

Like other western nation-states, the UK (comprising England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) has experienced major shifts in its political culture over ...