The British Political System and the Participation of Ethnic Minorities in British Politics
by
Prof. James Connelly, University of Hull- Funda Pepperell, Basingstoke Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate
Date: March 12th, 2008Abstract:
Ethnic minorities make up about 7 per cent of the population of the Great Britain, but generally their representation in politics and government is lower than this. To what extent ethnic minorities participate in British politics at local and national level, including their turn-out levels and voting patterns as well as the responses of political parties to this process, will be examined in this seminar. The general features of the British political system, drawing on contrasts and comparisons with other political systems, including the Turkish political system will also be discussed along with the parliament, the party system, and the electoral system.
Biography:
Funda Pepperell is a former international sprinter, journalist and writer. She was at Southampton City College before studying politics at Southampton Solent University. Funda joined the Labour Party as a university representative and ran for the 2002 council elections in Southampton. She was named as the Basingstoke Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate in 2007.
Prof James Connelly is a professor of politics at Politics and International Studies department of the University of Hull. After taking his PhD at the University of Southampton, James Connelly worked as a second-hand and antiquarian book dealer for many years. He returned to academic life at Southampton Solent University, moving to Hull in 2006. He teaches political theory, contemporary political philosophy and environmental politics. He has published two editions of his co-authored book Politics and the Environment: From Theory to Practice and several articles on the politics and ethics of the environment; he is currently writing a monograph on environmental virtues and citizenship. He also writes on the political philosophy of R.G. Collingwood and the other British Idealists, on the philosophy of history, on electoral systems and political participation. His research interests include politics and ethics of the environment, R.G. Collingwood and the philosophy of the British idealists, elections and electoral systems and philosophy of history.