I can’t think of a better example of giving up power and getting more of it than the extraordinary election results in England in May 2010. It showed that if you want to be respected, don’t try to show your smarts. Instead, show your respect for others.

In the first British coalition government since World War II, England’s new prime minister, David Cameron (Conservative Party), heads a unique hybrid government he describes as “Liberal-Conservative,” in tandem with former Liberal Democrat Party leader Nick Clegg as deputy prime minister. Clearly an historic political union, which both men have agreed to maintain for five years (new elections are earmarked for May 2015), this rare opportunity actually presented itself because Cameron fell just short of an overall majority.

As James Chapman explained in England’s daily Mail Online, Cameron has tied at least half of his traditional political opposition to his future success as prime minister. This is more prescient in the current global economy than it may first appear, because the new government must make massive spending cuts to British public services, and now the inevitable voter backlash will be spread across party lines. Officially called the Liberal Democratic Conservative Government, this is nothing less than the unprecedented realignment of British politics, which some see as an attempt by a new generation of political leaders to marginalize the right wing base while reducing the future power of the Labour Party. Both are bold moves against the legacy of traditional power bases.

By “giving up” some of his surface power, Cameron actually strengthened his hold on maintaining a stable administration — two political leaders, once adversaries, now working together for England’s future, and the common good.

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