Ruptures and Continuities in the Westminster Model

A conference on ‘Ruptures and Continuities in the Westminster Model’ took place from November 29 to November 30, 2024, at the University of Oxford. Its purpose was to examine what happened next after former colonies of the British Empire adopted the Westminster parliamentary model on attaining self-government. More than 20 speakers from five continents presented at the conference, offering insights into the development or abandonment of the Westminster parliamentary model in a wide range of countries and regions.

Professor Timothy Endicott (University of Oxford) opened the conference in the Old Library at All Souls College, where the conference sessions took place on the first day. The first four conference sessions covered East Africa, Southern Africa and West Africa; the Caribbean; Canada, Australia, and New Zealand; and South Asia. Speakers examined in detail the parliamentary models in each geographical area. The fifth session looked at ‘Continuities’ while the final, sixth session covered ‘Ruptures’. Over the two days, Participants discussed such topics as the function of courts within a Westminster-style system, how archival collections may preserve or disrupt colonial legacies, the role of populism in shaping systems of government, and the importance of reviving interest in the study of the development of the Westminster model outside the United Kingdom.

Dr Dominic Burbidge summed up the conference’s achievements in his closing remarks. A convivial dinner at All Souls College concluded this intensive two-day exploration of the Westminster parliamentary model in its different manifestations and historical trajectories around the world.

The full report of the conference is available on our website.