UNIT 10: OTHER POWERFUL COUNTRIES
THE GREAT BRITAIN
I, Comprehension questions:
Answer the following questions in your own words.
1. Why does the author believe that "Britain ought to have been immune to
populism" (subtitle)?
The author believes "Britain ought to have been immune to populism" because it
possesses established democratic institutions and traditions that should have made it resilient.
These include the House of Commons, which is one of the oldest representative institutions
globally, a history free of violent revolution since the mid-17th century, and a strong
avoidance of nationwide referendums, having used them only three times until 1975.
Furthermore, Britain typically honors statesmen and women in Parliament rather than "the
people".
2. How does the author define populism?
The author defines populism as the conviction that society is divided into two
conflicting groups: "the people" and "the powerful". "The people" are presumed to have a
unified will, while "the powerful" are seen as deceptive and corrupt, using intermediary
institutions like courts, media companies, and political parties to obstruct the will of the
people.
3. What are the examples that the author has cited to illustrate the rising populism
in British politics?
Examples cited by the author to illustrate rising populism in British politics include
the Brexiteers' argument that "The people have spoken". The Daily Mail branded High Court
judges as "enemies of the people" and urged Theresa May to "crush the saboteurs". The Daily
Telegraph published photographs of 15 Tory MPs who planned to vote against Mrs. May's
attempt to enshrine the Brexit date in law, labeling them "the Brexit mutineers".
4. Why does the author say "Britain is becoming its (populism's) most surprising
victim?
The author states that "Britain is becoming its (populism's) most surprising victim"
because, despite its seemingly more civilized political environment compared to countries led
by figures like Hungary's Viktor Orban or America's Donald Trump, Britain has deeply
succumbed to populism. Unlike the potentially transient nature of American populism, the
Brexit referendum is expected to influence British politics for decades. Britain utilized the
"most powerful tool in the populist toolbox"—the referendum—to address a fundamental
question about its relationship with the EU, creating a division between the ruling class and a
"ragbag army of rebels, troublemakers and mavericks".
5. What does the author say about the current politics of Britain?
Regarding the current politics of Britain, the author describes a state of "chaos" since
the referendum. Two of the three main political parties have lost their leaders, Theresa May's
election was "botched," and her cabinet has been "paralysed by infighting". Jeremy Corbyn,
Labour's hard-left leader, has emerged as a "prime-minister-in-waiting". Furthermore, a
"constitutional revolution" has occurred, where Parliament, once sovereign, now feels
compelled to vote for a policy that most MPs oppose, effectively yielding to a populist
revolution.
6. In the author's opinion, why do British people vote for Brexit?
In the author's opinion, British people voted for Brexit largely due to disillusionment
with the political establishment and a desire to express defiance. Voters felt disconnected
from politicians who seemed to share similar elite backgrounds and "cosmopolitan
liberalism" views. There was a perception that politicians had mismanaged the country,
especially after the 2008 financial crisis led to a deep recession, declining real wages, and
stalled productivity growth. Many Britons saw the referendum as an opportunity to deliver a
"one-fingered salute to their supposed betters".
7. How might Brexit affect Britain's economy and politics?
Brexit might profoundly affect Britain's economy and politics. Economically, the
author anticipates a "profound" shock if Britain withdraws from the EU. Those who voted for
Brexit, often as a "cry of defiance," are expected to suffer the most, as the depreciation of
sterling has already disproportionately affected the lowest-paid through increased food and
fuel prices. Politically, if Parliament were to prevent the withdrawal, the author suggests there
could be "riots in the streets". The author also believes that the current state of British
politics, reshaped by Brexit, could persist for "a very long time indeed" before returning to
what was considered normal.
8. Who is Mr. Corbyn? And why does the author think that he's the person who
benefits from the crisis?
Mr. Corbyn is identified as Labour's hard-left leader and someone who has become a
"prime-minister-in-waiting". The author believes he benefits from the crisis because he has
always been a populist. Corbyn's supporters have built a "personality cult" around him,
seeing him as the "true voice of the people in a corrupt political world". He holds the belief
that Parliament is only one arena for the people's struggle against the powerful, and his
supporters have considered deselecting MPs who do not adhere to the hard-left party line and
engaging in direct action against the government.
II, Words and expressions:
Explain the meaning of the following words and phrases, as used in the article.
1. to fight off the populist fever (P. 1): To resist the spread of populist sentiment or ideas.
2. the House of Commons (P. 1): The lower chamber of the British Parliament, noted for
being one of the world's oldest representative bodies.
3. denouncing them as "a device for dictators and demagogues" (P. 1): Strongly
criticizing them as a tool that could be used by authoritarian leaders or rabble-rousers.
4. the British erect statues to statesmen and women in Parliament rather than to "the
people" (P. 1): British tradition involves honoring individual political leaders within
Parliament, rather than commemorating a collective "the people" with public statues,
suggesting a focus on representative governance.
5. out-Mail the Mail (P. 3): To be even more aggressive or sensational in reporting than
the Daily Mail newspaper.
6. determined to feather their own nests (P. 2): Motivated by self-interest to enrich
themselves or gain personal advantage.
7. "the Brexit mutineers" (P. 3): A disparaging label for Conservative MPs who opposed
Mrs. May's plan to legally set the Brexit date, implying disloyalty to the Brexit cause.
8. is hedged in by checks and balances galore (P. 4): Is significantly constrained by
many systems of oversight and limitations on power.
9. succumbed to the populist virus (P. 5): Has been overtaken or influenced by populism.
10.the EU kept encroaching on that sovereignty (P. 6): The EU continually infringed
upon or gradually diminished Britain's supreme governing authority.
11.the unwitting Faust (P. 7): David Cameron, who unknowingly initiated a disastrous
chain of events (the referendum).
12.a one-fingered salute (P. 7): A rude gesture of defiance or disrespect.
13.wishful thinking (P. 8): An optimistic but unrealistic belief that things will turn out
well.
14.a cry of defiance (P. 8): An expression of open resistance or rebellion.
III, Summary:
Britain, despite its strong democratic history and avoidance of referendums, is
surprisingly succumbing to populism. The author defines populism as the belief that society
is split between "the people" with a unified will and "the powerful" who are corrupt and use
institutions to frustrate the public. This is evident in Brexit arguments like "The people have
spoken", and media outlets branding judges as "enemies of the people" or MPs as "Brexit
mutineers".
Britain's vulnerability stems from using a referendum, a populist tool, on the
fundamental question of its EU relationship, pitting the establishment against a "ragbag army
of rebels". This has led to political chaos, leadership changes, and a constitutional shift where
Parliament feels obligated to enact a policy it largely opposes. Many Britons voted for Brexit
out of disillusionment with politicians perceived as elitist and ineffective, especially after the
2008 financial crisis. The author believes the economic shock of Brexit will be profound,
disproportionately affecting the lowest-paid, and warns of potential social unrest if the
withdrawal is thwarted. Jeremy Corbyn, Labour's hard-left leader and a long-standing
populist, benefits from this turmoil, as his supporters view him as the "true voice of the
people". British politics is unlikely to return to normal anytime soon.
IV, Translation:
3, Bạn có thể thấy bằng chứng về điều này ở khắp mọi nơi trong chính trường Anh. Luận
điểm quyết định của những người ủng hộ Brexit luôn giống nhau: "Người dân đã lên tiếng".
Tờ Daily Mail đã gọi các thẩm phán của Tòa án Tối cao là "kẻ thù của nhân dân" và thúc giục
Theresa May "đè bẹp những kẻ phá hoại". Vào ngày 15 tháng 11, tờ Daily Telegraph đã cố
gắng "vượt mặt" tờ Mail bằng cách in ảnh 15 nghị sĩ Đảng Bảo thủ đã bày tỏ ý định bỏ phiếu
chống lại nỗ lực của bà May nhằm đưa ngày Anh rời Liên minh châu Âu vào luật và gọi họ là
"những kẻ phản bội Brexit".
4, Thay vì chống lại virus chủ nghĩa dân túy, Anh đang trở thành nạn nhân đáng ngạc nhiên
nhất của nó. Các chính trị gia Anh có thể trông văn minh hơn so với, chẳng hạn, Viktor Orban
của Hungary hay Donald Trump của Mỹ. Nhưng ông Orban cai trị một quốc gia đã bị tổn
thương bởi chủ nghĩa cộng sản và ông Trump bị ràng buộc bởi vô số kiểm soát và đối trọng.
Người Mỹ sẽ thoát khỏi ông Trump vào năm 2021 hoặc 2025. Cuộc trưng cầu dân ý Brexit sẽ
tiếp tục định hình chính trị Anh trong nhiều thập kỷ tới.
5, Anh đã chịu thua virus dân túy vì nước này đã quyết định áp dụng công cụ mạnh mẽ nhất
trong bộ công cụ dân túy – cuộc trưng cầu dân ý – cho câu hỏi sâu sắc nhất trong nền kinh tế
chính trị Anh – mối quan hệ của nước này với đối tác chính trị và kinh tế chủ chốt. Cuộc
tranh luận sau đó đã đối đầu toàn bộ tầng lớp cầm quyền của Anh, từ các nhà lãnh đạo của ba
đảng chính trị lớn đến các nhà lãnh đạo của các công ty đa quốc gia, với một đội quân hỗn tạp
gồm những kẻ nổi loạn, gây rối và lập dị. Bằng cách bỏ phiếu Rời đi, người Anh không chỉ
chọn thay đổi mối quan hệ với Liên minh châu Âu mà còn để sắp xếp lại hệ thống chính trị
của họ."
