ABSTRACT
The United Kingdom is neither a unitary state according to the French model of 'unity and indivisibility', nor a federal state like the US or Germany. The Act of Union with Wales meant the complete political and administrative assimilation of Wales into England, although the Welsh retained their distinctive language and culture and their own tradition of Protestantism. The historical development of the UK administration reflects the diversity of the Union system. The social and geographical cleavages also translate into cleavages of political culture, with the South-East of England being much more favourable to neo-liberalism while the rest of the country leans much more towards traditional social democracy. The devolutionary process was, to some extent, inspired by the model the Spanish employed to establish their Autonomous Communities, that is, it was based on popular approval through referendums in the nations and regions concerned.
