The Politics of Expertise

Brian Harrison, Contemporary British History (27:4, December 2013) the book is splendidly learned in unfamiliar areas, and is especially strong on the three pressure-group causes of international aid, homelessness and the environment. All this constitutes a major achievement which will be welcomed by historians and social scientists of every variety.

Helen McCarthy, 20th Century British History This is a powerful interpretation with much to recommend it, not just because it fits with a great deal of the evidence, but because it enables the authors to pinpoint with some precision what was distinct about the post-war period, whilst tracing continuities with earlier forms of non-governmental action.

Helen McCarthy, English Historical Review ...an immensely useful resource for all scholars teaching and researching the history of voluntary action in modern Britain.

Matthew Grant, The Political Quarterly This is probably the most important book on postwar British political history ... The Politics of Expertise demonstrates that that the NGO sector does not, never has and probably never will operate in the way government ministers want it to.

<br>Matthew Hilton is the author of Smoking in British Popular Culture (2000), Consumerism in Twentieth-Century Britain (2003), and Prosperity for All: Consumer Activism in an Era of Globalisation (2009). Most recently, he is the joint author, with Nicholas Crowson, Jean-Francois Mouhot & James McKay, of A History of NGOs in Britain: Charities, Civil Society and the Voluntary Sector since 1945 (2012). <br>James McKay is the co-editor of two volumes on NGOs and the voluntary sector: with Matthew Hilton and Nick Crowson, NGOs in Contemporary Britain: Non-state Actors in Society and Politics since 1945 (2009); and, with Matthew Hilton, The Ages of Voluntarism: How We Got to the Big Society (2011). Along with Matthew Hilton, Nicholas Crowson and Jean-Francois Mouhot, he is the co-author of A History of NGOs in Britain: Charities, Civil Society and the Voluntary Sector since 1945 (2012). <br>Nicholas Crowson is the author of Facing Fascism: The Conservative Party and the European Dictators 1935-40 (1997), The Conservative Party and European Integration since 1945: At the Heart of Europe? (2006), and Britain and Europe: A Political History since 1918 (2010). Most recently, he is the joint author, with Matthew Hilton, Jean-Francois Mouhot & James McKay, of A History of NGOs in Britain: Charities, Civil Society and the Voluntary Sector since 1945 (2012). <br>Jean-Francois Mouhot is the author of Les Refugies acadiens en France (1758-1785): limpossible reintegration? (2009), Des Esclaves Energetiques: Reflexions sur le changement climatique (2011) and co-editor (with Charles-Francois Mathis) of Une Protection de l'Environnement a la Francaise? (XIXe-XXesiecles) (2012). Most recently, he is the joint author, with Matthew Hilton, Nicholas Crowson, and James McKay, of A History of NGOs in Britain: Charities, Civil Society and the Voluntary Sector since 1945 (2012).<br>

1. Introduction: the privatisation of politics; 2. Why we don't hate politics: the transformation of socio-political action; 3. The ascent of the expert: professionals and the NGO career; 4. The making of the modern NGO: organisational reform and financial stability; 5. The pressure of politics: walking the corridors of power; 6. Politics beyond Westminster: communication strategies, the media and the public; 7. Living with Leviathan: NGOs, the state and governance; 8. Single issue politics and the ideology of non-governmental action; 9. Conclusion: the potential and the limits of NGOs; Bibliography