1 Introduction
Since Margaret Thatcher’s radical influence on the economic policy of the United Kingdom (UK) during the 1980s, many state-owned industries, but also municipal utilities have been deregularised and privatised in order to diminish the government’s influence on economy. Today, the UK is a leading trading power and one of the most important financial centres worldwide. Moreover, the rate of unemployment in the UK is lower than in many other European countries. Although the British government has reduced its efforts to advance the growth of the so-called Welfare State since the 1980s, the present government under Tony Blair still follows most of the Welfare State’s main ideas to ensure health, education, employment and social security for its citizens.
However, the modern UK still has to face a couple of problems which endanger a harmonious social life, although the British people live in one of the most prosperous societies in the world. Hooliganism, nationalism, vandalism and excessive alcohol misuse are certainly the most prominent national problems, which have already become part of the everyday life in some British communities. Since all these problems are certain forms of anti-social behaviour, which is usually based on a lack of self-respect or respect for others, Tony Blair presented his long-awaited respect agenda on the 10th of January this year. He introduced his Respect Action Plan, which is about his political initiative to tackle the causes of anti-social behaviour, “which lie in families, in the classroom and in communities.” (Respect Task Force 2006: 1).
Nevertheless, Blair’s approach to ‘eradicate’ anti-social behaviour from society is rather controversial. Many critics claim that Blair’s concept tackles the wrong causes for the loss of respect and therefore, they question the success of Blair’s respect campaign.
In order to get a little more insight into the topic of anti-social behaviour and Blair’s concept to re-establish respect in the UK, this essay will first try to work out how come that the respect has gone and morals have been brutalised in parts of the British society. Then, Tony Blair’s Respect Action Plan to fight anti-social behaviour will be highlighted in more detail by pointing out its major aims and aspects, and finally, it will be considered whether Blair’s concept can be a success or is condemned to fail.
Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Reasons and causes for the loss of respect
- 3 Tony Blair's Respect Action Plan
- 3.1 Main points and aspects
- 3.2 Critical reflection and Blair's prospects of success
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay aims to investigate the decline of respect in British society and analyze Tony Blair's Respect Action Plan as a response. It explores the historical context of this decline, focusing on the impact of Thatcherism and its consequences for social cohesion and individual values. The essay also examines the plan's main strategies and critically evaluates its potential for success.
- The decline of respect in British society
- The impact of Thatcherism on social values
- Tony Blair's Respect Action Plan and its core components
- Critical assessment of the Respect Action Plan's effectiveness
- The role of family, education, and community in fostering respect
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by contrasting the UK's economic success with persistent social problems like hooliganism and vandalism. It introduces Tony Blair's Respect Action Plan, designed to address the root causes of anti-social behavior, which Blair identifies as lying within families, classrooms, and communities. The chapter also hints at the controversial nature of Blair's approach and previews the essay's structure, outlining its intention to explore the reasons for the loss of respect, detail Blair's plan, and ultimately assess its viability.
2 Reasons and causes for the loss of respect: This chapter delves into the historical context of the decline in respect, tracing it back to Margaret Thatcher's economic policies. It argues that Thatcherism, with its emphasis on a free market economy and privatization, led to a more competitive and individualistic society, eroding social cohesion and undermining traditional values. The chapter uses Thatcher's famous quote, "There is no such thing as society," to highlight this shift. It connects the resulting insecure employment and increased performance pressures to Richard Sennett's analysis in *The Corrosion of Character*, linking these conditions to a loss of respect and the rise of anti-social behavior. This chapter challenges Blair's assertion that the causes are solely familial and community-based, proposing that deeper economic factors are at play.
3 Tony Blair's Respect Action Plan: This chapter details Blair's Respect Action Plan, focusing on its main aspects. It describes the existing Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) as insufficient, arguing that they only address the symptoms, not the underlying lack of respect. The chapter outlines the plan's three main areas of focus: parenting, schools, and communities. Specific initiatives like family support schemes ("sin bins"), a national parenting academy, stricter school discipline, community support officers, and increased surveillance via the "Community Safety Channel" are described. The chapter also incorporates perspectives from government officials justifying these measures.
Keywords
Respect, anti-social behavior, Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher, Thatcherism, social cohesion, family, education, community, Respect Action Plan, ASBOs, economic policies, social breakdown, meritocracy, self-esteem.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Tony Blair's Respect Action Plan
What is the main topic of this essay?
The essay analyzes the decline of respect in British society and critically examines Tony Blair's Respect Action Plan as a response to this societal issue. It investigates the historical context, focusing on the impact of Thatcherism, and evaluates the plan's effectiveness and potential for success.
What are the key themes explored in the essay?
Key themes include the decline of respect in British society, the impact of Thatcherism on social values, the components of Tony Blair's Respect Action Plan, a critical assessment of the plan's effectiveness, and the roles of family, education, and community in fostering respect.
What is the historical context discussed in the essay?
The essay explores the impact of Margaret Thatcher's economic policies and the resulting societal changes. It argues that Thatcherism's emphasis on individualism and free markets led to decreased social cohesion and a decline in traditional values, contributing to the loss of respect. The essay connects insecure employment and increased performance pressures to the rise of anti-social behavior.
What are the main components of Tony Blair's Respect Action Plan?
The Respect Action Plan focuses on three main areas: parenting, schools, and communities. Specific initiatives include family support schemes ("sin bins"), a national parenting academy, stricter school discipline, community support officers, and increased surveillance via the "Community Safety Channel". The essay argues that existing ASBOs (Anti-Social Behaviour Orders) were insufficient, addressing only symptoms, not root causes.
What is the essay's critical assessment of the Respect Action Plan?
The essay critically evaluates the plan's potential for success. It challenges the notion that the causes of the decline in respect are solely familial and community-based, suggesting deeper economic factors are at play. The essay questions whether the plan's measures adequately address the underlying issues contributing to the loss of respect.
What are the key words associated with this essay?
Keywords include: Respect, anti-social behavior, Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher, Thatcherism, social cohesion, family, education, community, Respect Action Plan, ASBOs, economic policies, social breakdown, meritocracy, and self-esteem.
What is included in the provided preview of the language?
The preview provides the title, table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What are the chapter summaries included in the preview?
The preview includes summaries of three chapters: an introduction setting the context and outlining the essay's structure; a chapter detailing reasons for the loss of respect, connecting them to Thatcherism; and a chapter describing Blair's Respect Action Plan and its key initiatives.
- Quote paper
- Master of Education Thomas Schachtebeck (Author), 2006, The Importance of Respect, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/165047
