Comparing Westminster

This book 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 occurred 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, professionalizations 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, politicization of the public service, and executive dominance of the legislature. They conclude 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 legitimizing 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.

Rod Rhodes
2004 to date, Treasurer and Secretary, Australasian Political Studies Association
2005 for life, Vice-President of the Political Studies Association of the United Kingdom. Previously Chair (1999-2002) and President (2002-2005).
2004 to date, Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia.
2002 to date, Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences (UK).
1999-2002, Member of the Executive Committee of the International Political Science Association.
1986-2011, Editor, Public Administration.
John Wanna
2006 to date, Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration, Australia
2006 to date, Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, Australia
2002, President of Australian Political Studies Association
1995 to date, Member of National Council, Institute of Public Administration, Australia
1995, Editor of Australian Journal of Public Administration.
Patrick Weller
2006 Adjunct Professor, Australian and New Zealand School of Government
2002 Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in June 2002 for 'service through research in political science and public administration and for extending knowledge of executive government'.
1996 Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia.
1995 Honorary Life Member, Australasian Political Studies Association