Hollowed out state Flashcards
What and who argues the Hollowed out state
Rhodes argues that the state has been hollowed out. Power has moved upwards to institutions such as the United Nations, World trade organisation, and downwards because of devolution and increased local government power and independent of the bank of England.
If we focus too much on the executive and parliament we will get a incomplete idea of where power lies, highlighting three trends in which the state has been hollowed out.
Fragmenting services
Traditionally the Westminster Whitehall relationship was separate, civil servants were not accountable to Westminster, providing policy expertise, neutral. Clear neat divide between the two.
Rhodes looks beyond these institutions, 1908s reforms, increased participation of non-governmental actors in public policy making and delivery.
Devolution
Decentralisation of power away from Westminster, greater powers to the devolved nations, government of Wales act, good Friday agreement, Scotland act.
Different parties across the UK, changes in the system such as the use of proportional representation systems in Scotland AMS, Northern Irelands STV.
Devolution is less important
Gender reform bill and the EU referendum, secretary of state for Scotland vetoed legislation based on section 35 of the Scotland Bill, because of its adverse effect on the Equality act 2010.
Europeanisation
Entering the EU in 1973, in the event of conflict between EC law and domestic law in the UK the former was to prevail.
De-Europeanisation
But has de-Europeanisation reinforced the Westminster model.
Executive dominance over parliament and single part majority government, downplays devolution.
Internationalism
Growth of internationalism, many of the most important issues in the last decades have occurred across national boundaries, for example environment, financial crisis, pandemic and major conflicts.
Increase in the role of supranational institutions and agencies, impact on policy making and delivery, for example WHO, NATO, UN, ICC etc.
Internationalism is less important
However their influence is limited, for example the UK illegal migrant bill in 2023 was passed by the commons had several incompatibilities with international law.
