Contemporary British Civil Service

Shanghai International Studies University

Contemporary British Civil Service

--A Study on the British Civil Service Since 2000

A Thesis

Presented to School of English Studies

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for

The Degree of Bachelor of Arts

By

Liu Liu

Under the Supervision of Professor Chen Hansheng

April 2015

Acknowledgements

My deepest gratitude goes first and foremost to my supervisor, Professor Chen Hansheng, who has motivated me to come up with the idea of this thesis. He also provided me with further suggestions on the thesis’ structure and insightful views on my first draft. In the past one year, his course of British Society and Culture really enlightened me a lot and elevated my cultural knowledge and analytical ability, which actually accounted for my choice to write a thesis on the British culture. Thanks to his great support and patience, I am able to finish this thesis quite smoothly.

What is more, I would like to express my sincere gratitude towards my junior-year tutor, Fu Yu, for she cultivated my critical thinking and writing ability. She always encouraged me on my writing and gave me sincere advice on everything I turned to her. I would also feel grateful to the authors whose studies I have cited and quoted in my thesis.

Besides, I wish to thank my fellow students and friends in Shanghai International Studies University, Shao Jinghua and Hu yingwen in particular, who have supported me a great deal when I confronted with difficulty in idea brainstorming and resources searching.

Last but not least, my heart-felt thanks go to my beloved parents because of their selfless dedication, unconditional support and deep understanding.

Abstract

The British Civil Service, Her Majesty’s Civil Service, established in 1870, has long been renowned for its honest and efficient civil servants. Through continuous reforms, the British Civil Service has been an important and special part in the British culture now. The profound historical meaning and cultural values are worth to be learned by many other countries.

The Lord Fulton’s Committee Report of 1968 was the foundation of the contemporary British Civil Service. The stability, politically neutrality, anonymity and open recruitment of the Civil Service were also gradually settled. In the 21st century, with the coming of a new era, further development of the Civil Service is needed. There is an increasing trend of diversification in age, sex and race among civil servants team. Meanwhile, civil servants are able to attend professional and market-oriented training and receive a fair salary and bonus. In turn, they are under high expectation to implement the government decisions more efficiently. These new changes are inseparable from the two competing political parties and their political and economic strategies. With the interaction between the traditional and social factors, the modern Civil Service is inheriting the past values and embracing future advancement.