The Core Executive in Historical Perspective

Abstract

This chapter examines the evolution of the British state, from the mid-nineteenth-century night-watchman state to the modern, interventionist, bureaucratic state. The twentieth century has seen the central state take over an increasing number of policy areas. This chapter will examine the relationship between the increasing functions and role of the state and the development of the core executive. It will highlight that, as the state grew, there was a greater need for central coordination. The chapter will investigate the reasons behind state expansion and evaluate the impact its development has had on the state’s capabilities and internal power relations. In other words, it will examine how the growth of the state has affected the nature of the core executive. It will outline how the state has grown between the nineteenth century and 1979, and will demonstrate how this growth has impacted on the development of the core executive.