British Politics and European Unity: Parties, Elites, and Pressure Groups offers a comprehensive analysis of Britain’s complex relationship with European integration from 1956 to 1967. The book delves into three pivotal phases in British policy: the Free Trade Area and European Free Trade Association negotiations, the Macmillan Government's attempt to join the Common Market, and the Wilson Government's early efforts before the French veto of 1967. These critical years are scrutinized to unravel why Britain struggled to align with European developments and what lessons can be drawn as European membership debates reemerge.

Combining descriptive narrative with theoretical exploration, the study examines how economic pressure groups, political parties, and public opinion shaped European policy. Through a dual lens of functional representation and party politics, the book reveals the crucial yet restraining role of organized interests in decision-making. It also highlights how moments of heightened political attention, or "politicization," shifted control to national leadership prioritizing broader interests. This volume is essential for scholars of British politics, European integration, and public policy, offering valuable insights into the interplay between domestic pressures and international ambitions.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1970.