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Mind the gap: political analysis, public expectations and the parliamentary decline thesis

Mind the gap: political analysis, public expectations and the parliamentary decline thesis
Mind the gap: political analysis, public expectations and the parliamentary decline thesis
The parliamentary decline thesis formed the dominant theory and narrative of legislative behaviour and capacity during the 20th century. And yet in analytical terms the thesis provides a relatively blunt instrument for dissecting complex socio-political relationships. The bluntness of this tool has not been remedied by the lazy thinking and unconscious theorising that has too often dominated research in this field. The central argument of this article is that the dominant public, media and academic perception of an eviscerated and sidelined parliament provides a misleading caricature of a more complex institution. Moreover the constant promotion and reinforcement of this caricature by scholars arguably perpetuates and fuels public disengagement and disillusionment with politics.

gap analysis, parliamentary decline, legislative studies, professional responsibilities
249-268
Flinders, Matthew
d4982871-f267-4c51-a12b-1e0340ed4465
Kelso, Alexandra
e9f198bb-27f8-412a-9360-aff01d578096
Flinders, Matthew
d4982871-f267-4c51-a12b-1e0340ed4465
Kelso, Alexandra
e9f198bb-27f8-412a-9360-aff01d578096

Flinders, Matthew and Kelso, Alexandra (2011) Mind the gap: political analysis, public expectations and the parliamentary decline thesis. The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 13 (2), 249-268. (doi:10.1111/j.1467-856X.2010.00434.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The parliamentary decline thesis formed the dominant theory and narrative of legislative behaviour and capacity during the 20th century. And yet in analytical terms the thesis provides a relatively blunt instrument for dissecting complex socio-political relationships. The bluntness of this tool has not been remedied by the lazy thinking and unconscious theorising that has too often dominated research in this field. The central argument of this article is that the dominant public, media and academic perception of an eviscerated and sidelined parliament provides a misleading caricature of a more complex institution. Moreover the constant promotion and reinforcement of this caricature by scholars arguably perpetuates and fuels public disengagement and disillusionment with politics.

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Published date: May 2011
Keywords: gap analysis, parliamentary decline, legislative studies, professional responsibilities
Organisations: Politics & International Relations

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Local EPrints ID: 182987
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/182987
PURE UUID: 7f0ca768-2123-4d22-b30b-e7dc619081db

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Date deposited: 28 Apr 2011 13:00
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 03:01

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Contributors

Author: Matthew Flinders
Author: Alexandra Kelso

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