Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An electoral discourse approach to state decentralisation: State-wide parties’ manifesto proposals on Scottish and Welsh devolution, 1945–2010

  • Original Article
  • Published:
British Politics Aims and scope

Abstract

This article examines the electoral discourse associated with state decentralisation. It offers an original perspective that complements existing studies by detailing the discourse-based dimension of policy agenda-setting associated with Scottish and Welsh devolution in UK state-wide parties’ general election manifestos 1945–2010. Innovative aspects include a combined quantitative (issue-salience) and qualitative (policy framing) methodological technique transferable to other (quasi-)federal jurisdictions. The present UK findings reveal policy on devolution to be part of a fluid and contested discursive process. Concerned to maintain the union-state, the principal parties present a ‘punctuated narrative’ as they shift policy positions on the exact nature of devolution for the two nations; only the Liberals/Liberal Democrats maintain a broadly consistent stance. With a trend of increasing salience that extends over seven decades, ‘identity’ and ‘autonomy’ are revealed as the most salient pro-devolution tropes. The ‘demise of the union-state’ and ‘promoting nationalism’ are foremost among oppositional frames. Following constitutional reform in 1999, analysis shows that the future trajectory (and end point) of devolution continues to be a vexed and salient electoral issue.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Where necessary, only the hardcopy versions of early manifestos were transcribed. The software used was Nvivo 9.

  2. http://manifestoproject.wzb.eu/.

  3. This used two categories of the Comparative Manifesto Project's standard coding frame (domain 3, political system, 301 decentralization – positive; and 302 decentralization: negative). For a discussion see for example – Wüst and Volkens, 2003.

  4. This involved a total of seven incidences.

  5. Where D1, and so on is a given decade, as measured by the all-party total references to a given frame in the manifestos, and n is the number of decades.

  6. Throughout such references include the SDP-Liberal Alliance.

References

  • Andrews, L. (1997) Wales Says Yes! The Inside Story of the Referendum Campaign. Bridgend, UK: Seren.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aughey, A. (2001) Nationalism, Devolution and the Challenge to the United Kingdom State. London: Pluto Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balsom, D. and McAllister, I. (1979) The Scottish and Welsh devolution referenda of 1979: Constitutional change and popular choice. Parliamentary Affairs 32 (1): 394–409.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bell, S. (2002) The limits of rational choice: New institutionalism in the test bed of central banking politics in Australia. Political Studies 50 (3): 477–496.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blumer, H. (1969) Symbolic Interactionism. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, A. (2000) Designing the Scottish parliament. Parliamentary Affairs 53 (3): 542–556.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bryant, C. (2008) Devolution, equity and the English question. Nations and Nationalism 14 (4): 664–683.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bulmer, S., Burch, M., Carter, C., Hogwood, P. and Scott, A. (2002) British Devolution and European Policy-Making: Transforming Britain into Multi-Level Governance. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Chaney, P. (2011) Education, equality and human rights: Exploring the impact of devolution in the UK. Critical Social Policy 31 (3): 431–453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaney, P. and Fevre, R. (2001) Ron Davies and the cult of inclusiveness: Devolution and participation in Wales. Contemporary Wales 14: 21–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conservative Party. (1950) This is the Road: The Conservative and Unionist Party's Policy. London: Conservative Party.

  • Conservative Party. (1951) Conservative Party Manifesto. London: Conservative Party.

  • Conservative Party. (1955) United for Peace and Progress: The Conservative and Unionist Party's Policy. London: Conservative Party.

  • Conservative Party. (1959) The Next Five Years. London: Conservative Party.

  • Conservative Party. (1964) Prosperity with a Purpose. London: Conservative Party.

  • Conservative Party. (1970) A Better Tomorrow. London: Conservative Party.

  • Conservative Party. (1979) Conservative Manifesto. London: Conservative Party.

  • Conservative Party. (1992) The Best Future for Britain. London: Conservative Party.

  • Conservative Party. (1997) You Can Only Be Sure with the Conservatives. London: Conservative Party.

  • Conservative Party. (2001) Time for Common Sense. London: Conservative Party.

  • Conservative Party. (2005) It's Time for Action. London: Conservative Party.

  • Conservative Party. (2010) Invitation to Join the Government of Britain. London: Conservative Party.

  • Creed, W., Langstraat, J. and Scully, M. (2002) A picture of the frame: Frame analysis as technique and as politics. Organizational Research Methods. 5 (1): 34–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dale, I. (ed.) (2000) Conservative Party General Election Manifestos 1900–1997. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edelman, M. (1988) Constructing the Political Spectacle. Chicago, IL: Chicago University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elazar, D. (1987) Exploring Federalism. Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, J. (2006) Devolution in Wales: Claims and Responses, 1937–1979. Cardiff, UK: University of Wales Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischer, F. (2003) Beyond empiricism: Policy analysis as deliberative practice. In: M.A. Hajer and H. Wagenaar (eds.) Deliberative Policy Analysis: Understanding Governance in the Network Society. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallagher, T. (2009) Labour and the Scottish national party: The triumph of continuity in a changing Scotland. The Political Quarterly 80 (4): 533–544.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geekie, J. and Levy, R. (1989) Devolution and the Tartanisation of the Labour Party. Parliamentary Affairs 42 (3): 399–411.

  • Ghanem, S. (1997) Filling in the Tapestry: The second level of agenda setting. In: M. McCombs, D. Shaw and D. Weaver (eds.) Communication and Democracy: Exploring the Intellectual Frontiers in Agenda-setting Theory. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorenburg, D. (1999) Regional separatism in Russia: Ethnic mobilisation or power grab? Europe-Asia Studies 51 (1): 245–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guibernau, M. (2006) National identity, devolution and secession in Canada, Britain and Spain. Nations and Nationalism 12 (1): 51–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harmel, R. and Janda, K. (1994) An integrated theory of party goals and party change. Journal of Theoretical Politics 6 (3): 259–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hazell, R. (2007) The continuing dynamism of constitutional reform. Parliamentary Affairs 60 (1): 13–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heald, D. and Geaughan, N. (1998) Financial arrangements for UK devolution. Regional & Federal Studies 8 (1): 23–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heinisch, R. (2003) Success in opposition – Failure in government: Explaining the performance of right-wing populist parties in public office. West European Politics 26 (3): 91–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heller, P. (2001) Moving the state: The politics of democratic decentralization in Kerala, South Africa, and Porto Alegre. Politics & Society 29 (1): 131–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirst, P. (1994) Associative Democracy. Cambridge, MA: Polity Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoppe, R. (1993) Political judgement and the policy cycle. In: F. Fischer and J. Forester (eds.) The Argumentative Turn in Policy Analysis and Planning. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howe, S. (2003) Internal decolonization? British politics since Thatcher as post-colonial trauma. Twentieth Century British History 14 (3): 286–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joffe, D. and Yardley, H. (2003) Content and thematic analysis. In: D. Marks and H. Yardley (eds.) Research Methods for Clinical and Health Psychology. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kay, A. (2005) Territorial justice and devolution. British Journal of Politics and International Relations 7 (4): 544–560.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kettl, D.F. (2000) The transformation of governance: Globalization, devolution, and the role of government. Public Administration Review 60 (1): 488–497.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohler Riessman, C. (2008) Narrative Methods for the Human Sciences. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krippendorff, K. and Bock, M. (2008) The Content Analysis Reader. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kymlicka, W. (1997) Multicultural Citizenship: A Liberal Theory of Minority Rights. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Labour Party. (1955) Forward With Labour: Labour's Policy for the Consideration of the Nation. London: Labour Party.

  • Labour Party. (1959) Britain Belongs to You: The Labour Party's Policy for Consideration by the British People. London: Labour Party.

  • Labour Party. (1964) The New Britain. London: Labour Party.

  • Labour Party. (1966) Time for Decision. London: Labour Party.

  • Labour Party. (1974) Let Us Work Together – Labour's Way Out of the Crisis. London: Labour Party.

  • Labour Party. (1983) The New Hope for Britain. London: Labour Party.

  • Labour Party. (1992) It's Time to get Britain Working Again. London: Labour Party.

  • Labour Party. (1997) Because Britain Deserves Better. London: Labour Party.

  • Labour Party. (2001) Ambitions for Britain. London: Labour Party.

  • Labour Party. (2005) Britain Forward Not Back. London: Labour Party.

  • Leyland, P. (2011) The multifaceted constitutional dynamics of U.K. devolution. International Journal of Constitutional Law 9 (1): 251–273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liberal Democratic Party. (1992) Changing Britain for Good, Liberal Democrat Election Manifesto. London: Liberal Democratic Party.

  • Liberal Democratic Party. (2001) Freedom, Justice, Honesty. London: Liberal Democratic Party.

  • Liberal Democratic Party. (2005) The Real Alternative. London: Liberal Democratic Party.

  • Liberal Democratic Party. (2010) Change that Works for You. London: Liberal Democratic Party.

  • Liberal Party. (1945) 20 Point Manifesto of the Liberal Party. London: Liberal Party.

  • Liberal Party. (1951) The Nation's Task. London: Liberal Party.

  • Liberal Party. (1970) What a Life! London: Liberal Party.

  • Liberal Party. (1979) The Real Fight is for Britain. London: Liberal Party.

  • Lynch, P. (1996) The Scottish constitutional convention, 1992–5. Scottish Affairs 15: 34–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maines, D. (1993) Narrative's moment and sociology's phenomena: Toward a narrative sociology. Sociological Quarterly 34 (1): 17–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matthes, J. (2009) What's in a frame? A content analysis of media framing studies in the world's leading communication journals, 1990–2005. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly 86 (2): 349–367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy, C. (2004) Changing to gray: Decentralization and the emergence of volatile socio-legal configurations. World Development 32 (7): 1199–1223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McComb, M. and Shaw, D. (1972) The agenda-setting function of mass media. Public Opinion Quarterly 36 (1): 176–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLean, I. (1995) Are Scotland and Wales over-represented in the House of Commons? The Political Quarterly 66 (4): 250–268.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meguid, B. (2008) Party Competition Between Unequals: Strategies and Electoral Fortunes in Western Europe. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, W. (1980) What was the profit in following the crowd? The effectiveness of party strategies on immigration and devolution. British Journal of Political Science 10 (2): 15–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, J. (1998) The evolution of devolution: Labour's home rule strategy in opposition. Government and Opposition 33 (4): 479–496.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, J. (2009) Devolution in the United Kingdom. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, B. (2002) Higher education and regional economic development in Wales: An opportunity for demonstrating the efficacy of devolution in economic development. Regional Studies 36 (1): 65–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, K. and Roberts, E. (1993) The Democratic Deficit: A Guide to Quangoland. Papers in Planning Research No 144, School of City and Regional Planning, Cardiff University.

  • Morgan, K.O. (1999) Welsh devolution: The past and the future. Chapter 9, In: B. Taylor and K. Thompson (eds.) Scotland and Wales: Nations Again? Chapter 9. Cardiff, UK: University of Wales Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller-Rommel, F. and Pridham, G. (1991) Small Parties in Western Europe. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munro, C. (1999) Scottish devolution: Accommodating a restless nation. International Journal on Minority and Group Rights 6 (1–2): 97–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neuendorf, K.A. (2002) The Content Analysis Guidebook. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Neill, M. (2004) Devolution and British Politics. London: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Panebianco, A. (1988) Political Parties: Organization and Power. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters, B.G. (1999) Institutional Theory in Political Science: The ‘New’ Institutionalism. London and New York: Pinter.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, A. and McCabe, A. (1983) Developmental Psycholinguistics. New York: Plenum.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Petrocik, J. (1996) Issue ownership in Presidential Elections, with a 1980 case study. American Journal of Political Science 40 (3): 825–850.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poguntke, T. (2002) Green parties in national governments: From protest to acquiescence? Environmental Politics 11 (1): 133–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rabinowitz, G. and Macdonald, S. (1989) A directional theory of issue voting. American Political Science Review 83 (3): 93–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Remington Graham, J. (2002) Constitutional History of Secession. London: Pelican Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • RePass, D. (1971) Issue-salience and party choice. American Political Science Review 65 (1): 389–400.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ricoeur, P. (1991) Life in quest of a narrative. In: D. Wood (ed.) On Paul Ricoeur. London: Routledge, pp. 20–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riker, W. (1964) Federalism: Origin, Operation, Significance. Boston, MA: Little, Brown.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robert, E., Bohrer, I. and Krutzb, G. (2004) Duverger and devolution: A note on the effects of new electoral rules in the UK. Electoral Studies 23 (2): 315–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodiguez-Pose, A. and Gill, N. (2003) The global trend towards devolution and its implications. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy. 21 (3): 333–351.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schön, D. and Rein, M. (1994) Frame Reflection: Toward the Resolution of Intractable Policy Controversies. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoppa, R. (1977) Province and nation: The Chekiang provincial autonomy movement, 1917–1927. The Journal of Asian Studies 36 (4): 661–674.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharpe, L. (1993) The Rise of Meso Government in Europe. London, New Delhi: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Staffen, H. (2005) The historical school and institutionalism. Journal of Economic Studies 32 (2): 169–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tanner, D., Williams, C. and Hopkin, D. (eds.) (2000) The Labour Party in Wales 1900–2000. Cardiff, UK: University of Wales Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Topf, R. (1994) Party manifestos. In: A. Heath, R. Jovell and J. Curtice (eds.) Labour's Last Chance: 1992 Election and Beyond. Aldershot, UK: Dartmouth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Treisman, D. (2007) The Architecture of Government: Rethinking Political Decentralization. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Volkens, A. (2001) Quantifying the election programmes: Coding procedures and controls. In: I. Budge, H., Klingemann, A. Volkens, J. Bara, E. Tannenbaum, R. Fording, D. Hearl, H. Kim, M. McDonald and S. Mendes (eds.) Mapping Policy Preferences: Parties, Electors and Governments. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walgrave, S. and De Swert, S. (2007) Where does issue ownership come from? From the party or from the media? Issue-party identifications in Belgium, 1991–2005. The International Journal of Press/Politics 12 (1): 37–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wüst, A.M. and Volkens, A. (2003) Euromanifesto Coding Instructions. Working Paper No. 64. Mannheim: Mannheimer Zentrum für Europäische Sozialforschung.

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author wishes to acknowledge the helpful and constructive comments of three anonymous reviewers when revising an earlier version of this article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiff School of Social Sciences, Glamorgan Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3WT, Wales, UK

    Paul Chaney

Authors
  1. Paul Chaney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chaney, P. An electoral discourse approach to state decentralisation: State-wide parties’ manifesto proposals on Scottish and Welsh devolution, 1945–2010. Br Polit 8, 333–356 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1057/bp.2012.26

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/bp.2012.26

Keywords

Search

Navigation