Comparing Westminster explores how the governmental elites in
Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa
understand their Westminster system. It examines in detail four
interrelated features of Westminster systems. Firstly, the
increasing centralization in collective, responsible cabinet
government. Second, the constitutional convention of ministerial
and collective responsibility. Third, the role of a professional,
non-partisan public service. And finally, parliament's relationship
to the executive. The authors explain the changes that have occured
in the Westminster model by analyzing four traditions: royal
prerogative, responsible government, constitutional bureaucracy,
and representative government. They suggest that each tradition has
a recurring dilemma, between centralization and decentralization,
party government and ministerial responsibility,
professionalization and politicization, and finally elitism and
participation. They gone on to argue that these dilemmas recur in
four present-day debates: the growth of prime ministerial power,
the decline in individual and collective ministerial
accountability, politicisation of the public service, and executive
dominance of the legislature.
Comparing Westminster concludes by identifying five meanings of--or
narratives about--Westminster. Firstly, 'Westminster as
heritage'--elite actors' shared governmental narrative understood
as both precedents and nostalgia. Second, 'Westminster as political
tool'--the expedient cloak worn by governments and politicians to
defend themselves and criticize opponents. Third, 'Westminster as
legitimising tradition'--providing legitimacy and a context for
elite actions, serving as a point of reference to navigate this
uncertain world. Fourth, 'Westminster as institutional
category'--it remains a useful descriptor of a loose family of
governments with shared origins and characteristics. Finally,
'Westminster as an effective political system'--it is a more
effective and efficient political system than consensual
parliamentary governments. Westminster is a flexible family of
ideas that is useful for many purposes and survives, even thrives,
because of its meaning in use to elite actors."
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