the decline of the UK Flashcards
(46 cards)
1979 Margaret Thatcher
spoke about “a feelinf of helpessness that a once great nation has somehow fallen behind”
it is udeniable that the UK has
lost some of its shine since being the world’s leading power in the 19th century
the UK in the 19th century
“the Empire on which the sun never sets”
on the international stage following the SWW
it was objvious the UK was no longer top dog
since then the UK has always tried to
cultivate 3 spheres of influence :
- the Commonwealth
- the Special Relationship (USA)
- Europe
with Brexit
it risks losing one of these 3 circles
the Uk still punches above its wieght
as it is still on the UN Security Council
a member of NATO
jouer dans la cour des grands
to punch above ones wieght
maître incontesté
pièce maitresse
top dog
the city
one of the world’s leading financial centres
if Nicola Sturgeon
gets her wish and Scotland stages another in-out referendum it could spell the end of the UK as an institution
organiser
stage
sonner le glas de qqchose
to spell the end of
the UKS decline is
internal
some of the major pproblemas faced by the nation today
- high unemployment
- binge drinking
- teenage pregnancy
- yob culture
- the “failure” of multiculturalism
- a disastrous rail service
- high housing cost compared to income
- huge student debt and homelessness
the…
- the NHS probably best epitomises the UK’s fall from grace
beuverie
binge drinking
to fall from grace
tomber en disgrâce
- déchéance
the education system
also embodies the decline of the UK according to many
Recent PM have tried to stop the rot
- Tony Blair
- Cameron
Tony Blair
always spoke of his priorities as “education, education, education”
- created blair’s academies,
blair’s academies
state-funded but independent schools
sponsored by business charities parents or teachers
Cameron
- Cameron free’s school took the idea even further
Free schools
are part of Cameron’s Big Society project
