The Maastricht Treaty of 1992 heralded an era of the intensification of European integration which served to amplify divisions within the Conservative Party. Using the case studies of John Major and David Cameron’s respective grapples with party division over Europe, this study looks at the intractability of the so-called ‘Europe Question’ for the Conservative Party. Policies of party management adopted by both Major and Cameron have proven to be unsuccessful, ultimately leading to an in/out referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union which was won by the leave campaign on 23rd June 2016. This study argues that the divisions over the ‘Europe Question’ within the Conservative Party have become increasingly ideological and will therefore persist following the referendum in relation to the nature of the Brexit negotiations and the nature of the UK’s new relationship with Europe.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Literature Review
Chapter One: The struggles of Maastricht
Chapter Two: “Stop banging on about Europe”
Chapter Three: Why the “Europe Question” has been intractable and the future
Conclusion
Bibliography
Objectives & Research Themes
This research investigates the persistent intractability of the ‘Europe Question’ within the British Conservative Party, arguing that internal ideological divisions have rendered the issue unresolvable despite the 2016 EU membership referendum.
- The role of party management strategies under John Major and David Cameron.
- The impact of deepening European integration on Conservative internal cohesion.
- The evolution of ideological factionalism from the Maastricht Treaty to the Brexit era.
- The relationship between parliamentary politics, grassroots sentiment, and the ‘Europe Question’.
- An assessment of whether the Brexit vote effectively resolves the long-standing divisions within the party.
Excerpt from the Book
Chapter One: The struggles of Maastricht
The so-called ‘Europe Question’ has repeatedly dogged a plethora of Conservative Party leaders, both in power and in opposition for several decades. From Margaret Thatcher in the late 1980s right through to Theresa May today, each Conservative leader in this period has, despite efforts to stay clear of the issue, experienced the divisions caused by questions of European involvement and further integration. Indeed, the ‘Europe Question’ has been the intractable issue of the Conservative Party for nearly four decades. The downfalls of Margaret Thatcher, John Major and David Cameron are all rooted in the issue of Europe.
Following the resignation of Margaret Thatcher in 1990, John Major took up the mantle of Conservative leader and thus Prime Minister. The following years came to be dominated by party divisions on Europe as the process of ratifying the Maastricht Treaty drove the Conservatives into twelve years in the political wilderness as a rejuvenated Labour Party took full advantage of Conservative civil war over Europe. This chapter will examine the circumstances and outcomes of the Conservative Party divisions on Europe during this period in an attempt to illustrate how party management, the postponement of conflict and the increasingly ideological division on the issue of Europe were reoccurring themes in the following Cameron era, and will continue to persist as Theresa May embarks upon negotiating Brexit. The chapter is divided into divisions in a European context, a domestic context and a party context.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the research argument that Conservative divisions over Europe are deeply ideological and persist despite the 2016 referendum result.
Literature Review: Examines academic discourse surrounding the party's internal struggles, identifying the research gap regarding why the ‘Europe Question’ became an intractable issue.
Chapter One: The struggles of Maastricht: Analyzes how the ratification process of the Maastricht Treaty intensified internal conflict and defined the party's subsequent long-term divisions.
Chapter Two: “Stop banging on about Europe”: Investigates David Cameron’s attempt to manage party divisions by sidelining European issues, which ultimately failed to prevent internal conflict.
Chapter Three: Why the “Europe Question” has been intractable and the future: Explores the ideological roots of the conflict within Conservatism and argues that these divisions will persist into the post-Brexit political landscape.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, reiterating that party management tactics only postponed conflict rather than resolving the fundamental ideological disagreements.
Keywords
Conservative Party, Europe Question, Maastricht Treaty, David Cameron, John Major, Brexit, Euroscepticism, European Integration, Party Management, Parliamentary Sovereignty, Ideological Division, Factionalism, Political Crisis, Referendum, UK Politics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research examines why the ‘Europe Question’ has remained a persistent and unresolvable issue for the Conservative Party over the last several decades, focusing on its impact on party leadership and unity.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The study covers the history of Conservative internal conflict regarding European integration, the strategies used by leaders to manage these rifts, and the ideological nature of the divide.
What is the central research question?
The work aims to explain why the ‘Europe Question’ is intractable for the Conservative Party and argues that the 2016 referendum will not end these deep-seated divisions.
Which methodology does the author employ?
The study uses a qualitative case study method, analyzing the leadership tenures of John Major and David Cameron alongside contemporary scholarly literature and journalistic sources.
What does the main body of the work address?
The main chapters detail the historical development of the divisions during the Maastricht era, the failed efforts of David Cameron to suppress the issue, and the underlying ideological tensions within Conservative thought.
How can this work be characterized by its keywords?
It is characterized by terms such as party management, ideological factionalism, European integration, and the intractability of the ‘Europe Question’.
How did John Major's approach to the Maastricht Treaty influence later leadership?
Major's reliance on party management and his ‘balancing act’ set a precedent that failed to address ideological roots, a strategy that David Cameron subsequently mirrored with similarly unsuccessful results.
Why does the author argue that Brexit will not settle the 'Europe Question'?
The author argues that because the underlying ideological differences—such as varying perspectives on sovereignty and the role of the state—remain unchanged, the party will continue to be divided even in a post-Brexit context.
- Quote paper
- Joshua Norton (Author), 2017, Why the ‘Europe Question’ remains intractable for the Conservative Party despite leave, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/431121
