David Owen

Kevin Hickson is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for British Politics at the University of Hull, UK.

“David Owen has been a politician of rare prescience and significance. It is impossible to comprehend the backdrop to Thatcherism, the rise of Blair or the inevitability of Brexit without understanding the personality, views and impact of this immensely consequential statesman. This volume is a welcome and timely review of his storied career.”Lord (Michael) Gove, House of Lords, former Conservative MP and Cabinet Minister“David Owen’s rare gift of combining enormous personal charm with intellectual rigour had the ability to divide as well as unite. Not unlike Joe Chamberlain he “made the political weather”, inspired, encouraged and, if need be, created clear divisions, forcing people to make choices. The diverse range of contributors in this book is a reflection of the depth of his contribution to public life.”Baroness (Gisela) Stuart, House of Lords, former Labour MP and Minister“By blending rigorous academic analysis with a diverse range of practitioner accounts, this book provides invaluable insights into David Owen’s complex and often paradoxical trajectory. Owen remains a unique and enduringly controversial figure in the British political landscape.”Professor Emmanuelle Avril, Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Paris, France“Kevin Hickson has assembled a distinguished set of politicians, journalists, advisors and academics to analyse the ideas and political activity of one of the most significant, thoughtful and controversial politicians of his era.”Professor Jon Tonge, University of Liverpool, UK

• Introduction Part 1: International Affairs 1. David Owen’s Tenure as Foreign Secretary, 1977-79: Taking a Stand on Human Rights 2. David Owen’s Vision of Britain and Europe: The Gaullist 3. David Owen, Britain and the Falklands Dispute with Argentina, 1977-1982 4. Lord Owen and Bosnia: A Better Option? Part 2: Domestic Politics 5. David Owen and the Crisis and Decline of British Social Democracy in the Late Twentieth Century: Facing the Future? 6. A Retrospective Analysis of David Owen’s Social Democratic Futures: The Best Way to Predict the Future is to Create it? 7. The Rise and Plateau of the Social Democratic Party, 1979-1983: ‘Breaking the Mould’ 8. David Owen and the Social Democratic Party, 1983-1990: The Price of Principle 9. David Owen and the Welfare State Part 3: Perspectives 10. David Owen, the Social Democratic Party Split and its Impact on the Traditional Labour Right: A Tear Through the Centre 11. David Owen and the SDP-Liberal Alliance: Years of Cooperation 12. David Owen's Social Market Economy: A Defence 13. David Owen's Social Market Economy: A Critique 14. The Social Democratic Party’s Social Market: Slogan or System? 15. David Owen and New Europe, 1998-2005