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Global Affairs, International Relations and Politics

Government, Department, and Parliamentary Materials

Government, department, and Parliamentary materials offer unique insights into the inner workings of the UK government, policy-making processes, and their impact on international relations.

Why Research These Materials?

  • Understanding Policy Development: Gain a behind-the-scenes look at how domestic policies are formulated, debated, and implemented, and how they may affect the UK's international relations.
  • Analysing Government Perspectives: Understand the official stance of the UK government on key domestic and international issues, providing insights into the motivations and ideologies behind policy decisions.
  • Examining Parliamentary Debates: Hansard, the official record of parliamentary debates, offers a glimpse into the discussions and arguments surrounding proposed legislation, reflecting diverse viewpoints and potential impacts on international relations.
  • Investigating Social and Economic Trends: Government reports and statistics often contain valuable data on social, economic, and political trends, which can be used to support research and analysis in politics and international relations.
  • Monitoring MP Activity: Tracking the activities of Members of Parliament (MPs), such as their voting records, speeches, and committee memberships, can reveal their positions on domestic and international issues and their influence on policy-making.

Types of Materials:

  • Government Publications: These include command papers: white papers (policy proposals), green papers (consultation documents), and official reports on various domestic and international issues.
  • Departmental Publications: Individual government departments (e.g., Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Ministry of Defence) produce reports, statistics, and policy documents related to their specific areas of responsibility.
  • Parliamentary Publications: These include Hansard (the official record of parliamentary debates), committee reports, and bills (proposed legislation).
  • MPs' Websites and Social Media: Many MPs maintain websites and social media accounts where they share their views and activities.

How to Research These Materials:

  • Government Websites: Most government departments and agencies have websites where they publish their publications and data.
  • Parliament Website: Provides access to Hansard, committee reports, bills, and other parliamentary documents.
  • TheyWorkForYou: Allows you to track the activities of your MP, including their voting records and speeches.
  • Westlaw and Lexis: Comprehensive legal databases that offer access to legislation, case law, and legal commentary (available through the library).

Monitoring the activities of Members of Parliament (MPs) can provide valuable insights for politics research. By understanding MPs' stances, voting patterns, and engagement with international and domestic issues, you can gain a deeper understanding of the political landscape and its impact on UK society and the international community.

Why Track MP Activity?

  • Understanding Policy Influence: Analysing MPs' voting records and speeches can reveal their influence on policy-making processes and the potential impact of their decisions on various groups.
  • Identifying Political Alignments: Tracking MPs' affiliations with political parties and voting blocs can help you understand the broader political landscape and the power dynamics at play.
  • Examining Representation: Analysing the demographics and backgrounds of MPs can shed light on the representation of different social groups in Parliament and the potential biases in policy-making.
  • Investigating Social Issues: Tracking MPs' engagement with specific social issues, such as inequality, education, or healthcare, can reveal their priorities and the extent to which they advocate for different groups.
  • Monitoring Political Discourse: Analysing MPs' speeches and statements can provide insights into the framing of issues, the use of language to influence public opinion, and the role of ideology in political discourse.

How to Track MP Activity:

  • Hansard: The official record of parliamentary debates, Hansard allows you to search for specific MPs and analyse their speeches and voting records on various issues.
  • TheyWorkForYou: This website provides a user-friendly interface for tracking MPs' activities, including their voting records, speeches, and written questions.
  • PublicWhip: This website provides a comprehensive record of MPs' voting records on various issues, allowing you to assess their voting patterns over time.
  • MPs' Websites and Social Media: Many MPs maintain websites and social media accounts where they share their views, activities, and voting records.

Hansard, the official record of UK parliamentary debates, is an invaluable resource for students and researchers in politics, international relations, and global affairs. It provides a direct and unfiltered account of discussions, debates, and decisions made in the UK Parliament, offering unique insights into the political landscape and policy-making processes.

Importance of Hansard:

  • Primary Source: Hansard serves as a primary source for understanding the legislative process, political views, and societal concerns of the time. It allows researchers to analyse the evolution of policies, track the positions of political parties and individual MPs, and understand the historical context of current events.
  • Insight into Policy Debates: By examining debates in Hansard, you can gain a deeper understanding of the arguments and considerations that shape policy decisions. This can be particularly useful for analysing the UK's stance on international issues, foreign policy decisions, and responses to global challenges.
  • Transparency and Accountability: Hansard promotes transparency by making parliamentary proceedings accessible to the public. This allows citizens, researchers, and journalists to scrutinise the actions and statements of elected officials, fostering accountability and informed public discourse.

Why Students of Politics, International Relations, and Global Affairs Need Hansard:

  • Research: Hansard is a treasure trove of information for research projects, dissertations, and essays. It can provide historical context, diverse perspectives, and detailed accounts of policy debates, enriching your understanding of political processes and international relations.
  • Understanding Policy-Making: By studying Hansard, you can gain insights into how policies are formulated, debated, and amended. This knowledge is essential for analysing the factors that influence policy outcomes and understanding the complexities of the legislative process.
  • Developing Critical Skills: Analysing parliamentary debates can help you hone your critical thinking, research, and analytical skills. You will learn to identify different arguments, evaluate evidence, and understand the nuances of political discourse.

How to Use Hansard:

  • Access: Hansard is freely available online through the UK Parliament website. You can search by date, keyword, MP, or topic.
  • Navigate: Each volume is divided into sections by date and house (Commons or Lords). Within each section, you can find individual speeches and remarks by MPs and Lords.
  • Search Effectively: Use keywords and phrases relevant to your research topic. You can also filter by date, speaker, or topic to narrow down your search.
  • Contextualise: Consider the historical and political context of the debate, the affiliations of the speakers, and the broader political landscape to interpret the information accurately.

Command papers are official documents presented to the UK Parliament by the government, offering valuable insights into government policy and proposed legislation.

Why Students of Politics, International Relations, and Global Affairs Need Command Papers:

  • Understanding Policy Development: Command papers provide a behind-the-scenes look at how policies are formulated, debated, and implemented. This can be crucial for understanding the evolution of the UK's stance on domestic and international issues, such as defense, trade, or human rights.
  • Analysing Government Perspectives: These documents often reveal the official stance on key issues, providing valuable insights into the motivations and ideologies behind policy decisions, both domestically and internationally.
  • Examining Policy Debates: Command papers often spark public and parliamentary debates on important issues. Studying these documents allows you to engage with these debates, analyse different perspectives, and develop informed opinions.
  • Understanding the UK's Position in Global Affairs: Command papers can provide insights into the UK's foreign policy goals, strategies, and relationships with other countries and international organisations.
  • Researching Specific Topics: Command papers can be valuable sources for researching specific topics in international relations and politics, providing official government perspectives and data on a wide range of issues.

Understanding Command Papers:

  • Definition: Command papers are official government documents intended to inform and engage Parliament and the public on key policy issues and proposed legislation.
  • Types: They come in various forms, such as:
    • State Papers: Involving treaties and international agreements
    • White Papers: Outlining government policy proposals and seeking feedback.
    • Green Papers: Presenting policy options for public consultation and debate.
    • Reports: Summarising findings of government inquiries, reviews, or research projects.
  • Numbering: Each command paper is assigned a unique number, indicating the parliamentary session and series in which it was published.

Researching Command Papers:

  • Online Sources:
    • Gov.uk: The government's official website publishes recent command papers and consultations.
  • Library Resources:
    • Parliamentary Papers database: This comprehensive resource contains a vast collection of command papers, parliamentary debates, and other parliamentary publications.
    • Legal Databases: Some legal databases like Westlaw and Lexis include some command papers within their collections, particularly those related to legal reforms.

Search Strategies:

  • Keyword Search: Use specific keywords related to your research topic (e.g., "penal reform," "Brexit," "international development") to find relevant command papers.
  • Command Paper Number: If you know the specific command paper number, you can search for it directly.
  • Check References: Look for references to command papers in academic articles, books, or news reports, which can lead you to relevant publications.

Analysing Command Papers:

  • Read the Executive Summary: Start with the executive summary to get an overview of the document's key points and conclusions.
  • Identify Key Proposals: Pay close attention to the specific policy proposals, legislative changes, or recommendations presented in the command paper.
  • Consider the Context: Understand the political and social context in which the command paper was published, including the government's priorities, public opinion, and international developments.
  • Consult Other Sources: Supplement your research with additional materials like parliamentary debates, news articles, academic commentary, and other government publications to gain a broader perspective on the issue.