Why Does ‘Do Nothing’ Politics Matter?

Abstract

Viewed through the prism of key historical episodes of the contemporary British political experience, this chapter takes a longitudinal approach to show that policy inaction has been crucial in securing significant social and economic change. Taking as examples the decisions of those administrations that followed Attlee and Thatcher, respectively, it argues that the legacies owe much to the inaction of political opponents to unwind change. Elsewhere, Harold Wilson’s policy on Vietnam and Tony Blair’s attitudes towards the European single currency demonstrate that ‘do nothing’ politics can be as significant as active responses. Reflecting on Peter Hall’s concept of third-order policy change, it suggests the possibility of an additional driver in ‘no order’ ‘change’.