A General Survey of the United Kingdom Teaching Material: The society and Culture of Major English-Speaking Countries-An Introduction(By Higher Education Press) Teaching Objectives: This course is main ly to make known to the students the British politics, culture as well as society at large, and its position in the world as far as its long history is concerned (t might be difficult for the studen ts to understand the British political system, its people and its cultural differences because of religious reasons. Thus, some emphasis should be laid on its religious background. he United Kingd Time Allocation: 4 periods Focal Points: The Country of today, Understanding of Different Names I. General Introduction Great Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century cy and in advanci literature and science. At its zenith(极盛时期, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two World Wars. The second half witnessed the dismantling(FLf)of the Empire and the uk rebuild ing itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. (Read the first paragraph on P2) As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council( China, France Russian Federation, United Kingdom and United States), a founding member of NATO(North Atlantic Treaty Organization), and of the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy; it currently is weighing the degree of its integration with continental Europe. A member of the EU(European Union), it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union for the time being
1 A General Survey of the United Kingdom Teaching Material: The Society and Culture of Major English-Speaking Countries—An Introduction (By Higher Education Press) Teaching Objectives: This course is mainly to make known to the students the British politics, culture as well as society at large, and its position in the world as far as its long history is concerned. (It might be difficult for the students to understand the British political system, its people and its cultural differences because of religious reasons. Thus, some emphasis should be laid on its religious background.) Introduction: The United Kingdom Time Allocation: 4 periods Focal Points: The Country of today, Understanding of Different Names I. General Introduction Great Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century, played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith (极盛时期), the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two World Wars. The second half witnessed the dismantling (瓦解) of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. (Read the first paragraph on P2) As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and United States), a founding member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), and of the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy; it currently is weighing the degree of its integration with continental Europe. A member of the EU (European Union), it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union for the time being
Constitutional reform is also a significant issue in the uK The scottish parliament the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland assembly were established in 1999, but the latter is suspended due to bickering(argue)over the peace Bergen ORWAY osto stavanger Arendal AIbo berdeen burgh ATLANTIC OCEAN castlebar run RELAND NITED KINGDOM Osnabruck Trale a Waterford Norwicl Cork swan oxford Ipswich Bristol London usse Bournemouth% Southampton、 O BELGIU个2pre cluxembout ..FRANCE Geography United Kingdom Location Western Europe, islands includ ing the northern one-sixth of the island of ireland between the north atlantic ocean and the North Sea, northwest of france total: 244, 820 sq km land: 241, 590 sq km water:3, 230 sq km
2 Constitutional reform is also a significant issue in the UK. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999, but the latter is suspended due to bickering (argue) over the peace process. Geography United Kingdom Location: Western Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, northwest of France Area: total: 244,820 sq km land: 241,590 sq km water: 3,230 sq km
Land boundaries: total: 360 km border countries: Ireland 360 km People United Kingdom Population 60,441457(July2005) Age Structure 0-14 years:17.7% male 52490,592 female 5,229,691) 1564 years:665%(male20,329,272/ female 19855862) 65 years and over: 15.8%(male 4,063, 357/female 5472,683)(2005) Population growth rate: 0.28%(2005 Population Density: 250 persons per sq km(2004 estimate) 646 persons per sq mi(2004 estimate) Birth rate: 10.78 births/1,000 population(2005) Death rate: 10.18 deaths/1, 000 population(2005) Life expectancy: total population: 78.38 years male: 75.94 years female: 80.96 years(2005) Urban-rural urban 89. 5% rural 10.5% Sex distribution male 49. 09% female 50.91% Ethnic groups: white 92.1%, black 2%, Indian 1.8%, Pakistani 1.3%,mixed 1. 2%, other 1. 6%(2001 census) Official language: English English, Welsh(about 26% of the population of Wales), Scottish form of Gaelic(about 60,000 in Scotland) Official religion: Churches of England(Protestantism)and Scotland"established (Protected by the state, but not"official" )in their respecti
3 Land boundaries: total: 360 km border countries: Ireland 360 km People United Kingdom Population: 60,441,457 (July 2005) Age Structure: 0-14 years: 17.7% (male 5,490,592/female 5,229,691) 15-64 years: 66.5% (male 20,329,272/female 19,855,862) 65 years and over: 15.8% (male 4,063,357/female 5,472,683) (2005) Population growth rate: 0.28% (2005) Population Density: 250 persons per sq km (2004 estimate) 646 persons per sq mi (2004 estimate) Birth rate: 10.78 births/1,000 population (2005) Death rate: 10.18 deaths/1,000 population (2005) Life expectancy: total population: 78.38 years male: 75.94 years female: 80.96 years (2005) Urban-rural: urban 89.5%; rural 10.5%. Sex distribution: male 49.09%; female 50.91%. Ethnic groups: white 92.1%, black 2%, Indian 1.8%, Pakistani 1.3%, mixed 1.2%, other 1.6% (2001 census) Official language: English. Languages: English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of Wales), Scottish form of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland) Official religion: Churches of England (Protestantism) and Scotland "established" (Protected by the state, but not "official") in their respective
countries. no established church in Northern Ireland or Wales Religions Christian(Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 71.6%, Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified none 23. 1%(2001 census) Government United Kingdom Official name. The United K ingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Form of government: Constitutional monarchy Legislature Bicameral legislature with two legislative houses 1. House of Lords [675 members(cons isting of approximately 500 life peers, 92 hered itary peers and 26 clergy) 2. House of Commons(646 seats since 2005 elections members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms unless the house is d issolved earlier Note: 1)Elections: House of Lords- no elections, House of Commons- last held 5 May 2005(next to be held by May 2010) 2)Election results: House of Commons-percent of vote by party -Labor 35.2%. Conservative 32.3%. Liberal Democrats 22%. other 10.5%: seats by party-Labor 356, Conservative 197, Liberal Democrat 62, other 31 Capital London, England National holiday: the uk does not celebrate one particular national holiday Constitution unwritten;partly statutes, partly common law and practice Chief of state Sovereign(君主) Present Queen Elizabeth ii e February 1952); Head of government: Prime minister
4 countries; no established church in Northern Ireland or Wales. Religions: Christian (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 71.6%, Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified or none 23.1% (2001 census) Government United Kingdom Official name: The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Form of government: Constitutional monarchy Legislature: Bicameral legislature with two legislative houses 1. House of Lords [675 members (consisting of approximately 500 life peers, 92 hereditary peers and 26 clergy); 2. House of Commons (646 seats since 2005 elections; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms unless the House is dissolved earlier) Note: 1) Elections: House of Lords - no elections; House of Commons - last held 5 May 2005 (next to be held by May 2010) 2) Election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party - Labor 35.2%, Conservative 32.3%, Liberal Democrats 22%, other 10.5%; seats by party - Labor 356, Conservative 197, Liberal Democrat 62, other 31 Capital: London, England. National holiday: the UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice Chief of state: Sovereign (君主). Present Queen: Elizabeth II (since February 1952); Head of government: Prime Minister
Present Prime Minister: Anthony(Tony) Blair(since 2 May 1997)(Labor Party) Cabinet Cabinet of ministers appointed by the prime minister; National Anthem: God Save the King(Queen) God Save the Queen God save our gracious Queen Long live our noble Queen God save the Queen Send her victorious Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us o lord God arise Scatter our enemies, And make them fall Confound their knavish tricks On you our hopes we fix Not in this land alone But be god's mercies known From shore to shore ord make the nations see That men should brothers be And form one family. The wide world ov'er From every latent foe, From the assasins blow God save the queen O'er her thine arm extend For Britain's sake defend Our mother, prince, and friend God save the Queen! Thy choicest gifts in store On her be pleased to pour, L ong may reI
5 Present Prime Minister: Anthony (Tony) Blair (since 2 May 1997) (Labor Party) Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the prime minister; National Anthem: God Save the King (Queen) God Save the Queen God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen! Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the Queen! O lord God arise, Scatter our enemies, And make them fall! Confound their knavish tricks, Confuse their politics, On you our hopes we fix, God save the Queen! Not in this land alone, But be God's mercies known, From shore to shore! Lord make the nations see, That men should brothers be, And form one family, The wide world ov'er From every latent foe, From the assasins blow, God save the Queen! O'er her thine arm extend, For Britain's sake defend, Our mother, prince, and friend, God save the Queen! Thy choicest gifts in store, On her be pleased to pour, Long may she reign!