Making Contemporary Britain – serie

At the end of World War II, Britain faced enormous financial and economic problems, made more intractable by the heavy defence expenditure demanded by colonial presence in Asia, Africa and the Middle East and the decision to go ahead with producing a British atomic bomb in the light of a growing Soviet threat.This book looks at how British defence policy has balanced the country's need to maintain the status of an independent nuclear power with its diminishing role in world politics, generally, concentrating on how that policy was applied in key events such as the Korean War, the Suez crisis of 1956 and the Falklands. It will provide a clearly written and accessible analysis of the main currents of and developments in British defence policy since 1945.

Within twenty years of victory in the Second World War Britain had ceased to be a world power and her global empire has dissolved into fragments. With what now seems astonishing rapidity, and empire three centuries old, which had reached its greatest extent as late as 1921, was transformed into more than fifty sovereign states. Why did this great transformation come about? Had Britain simply become too weak in a world of superpowers? Had the pressure of colonial nationalism suddenly become overwhelming? Or had the British themselves decided that they no longer needed an empire, and that interests were better served by joining the rich man's club of Europe?In this short book, these and other theories are examined critically. The aim is not to present a detailed narrative of Britain's imperial retreat but to introduce the reader to the current state of debate in a rapidly expanding subject.

This book explores the nature of electoral change in Britain during the last half century. The period from 1945-70 was the classic era of two-party dominance at every level of British politics: at Westminster, county hall, and in the electorate. Since the early seventies Conservative and Labour hegemony has remained virtually unaltered in Parliament, but their grip has been loosened in local government, and the popular foundations of the two-party system have been eroded among voters. Why has Britain evolved from a dominant to a declining two-party system during the last fifty years? This study considers alternative explanations for these developments, focusing on changes in voters, parties, and political communications.The book provides students with a fresh and accessible perspective on theories of electoral change, placing developments in Britain within their broader comparative context, and challenging many conventional assumptions about trends in voting behaviour.

This book explores the nature of electoral change in Britain during the last half century. The period from 1945-70 was the classic era of two-party dominance at every level of British politics: at Westminster, county hall, and in the electorate. Since the early seventies Conservative and Labour hegemony has remained virtually unaltered in Parliament, but their grip has been loosened in local government, and the popular foundations of the two-party system have been eroded among voters. Why has Britain evolved from a dominant to a declining two-party system during the last fifty years? This study considers alternative explanations for these developments, focusing on changes in voters, parties, and political communications.The book provides students with a fresh and accessible perspective on theories of electoral change, placing developments in Britain within their broader comparative context, and challenging many conventional assumptions about trends in voting behaviour.

Britain has been a member of the European Community since the start of 1973, but it is only recently, with the publicity given to the plans for the creation of the single market in 1992, and the role of the community in environmental and social policies, that the mass of the population of Britain have begun to notice the possibilities that membership holds. Mrs Thatcher's government has played down and resisted the increased integration that seems to be taking place in Europe, but it is unlikely that Britain can stand apart from this process much longer.

This book examines the complex transformation of British sport in the second half of the twentieth century. Focusing on the key role of the media as a driving force for change, it also provides a fascinating account of the wider social and cultural history of post-war British sport.

This book examines the complex transformation of British sport in the second half of the twentieth century. Focusing on the key role of the media as a driving force for change, it also provides a fascinating account of the wider social and cultural history of post-war British sport.

Since 1945 there have been nine Prime Ministers of Britain. This book outlines and analyzes the way the office has developed in the past 45 years. It considers the social backgrounds, image, relations with cabinets, role in policy making, and power of the men and woman who have occupied this office.

This book provides a succinct overview of the development of the civil service since the Second World War. Adopting a broad, historical approach, it assesses the changes in organization, structure and management of the Whitehall machine, alongside the continuities in the policy and practice of public administration. Kevin Theakston draws on the full range of recent scholarship, documents in the Public Record Office, and the many postwar offical investigations and reports to provide a balanced analysis of the key themes and issues. The book will be welcomed by all interested in the development of public policy and administrations, and post-war British politics in general.

British Politics since 1945 offers a comprehensive overview of postwar British politics ideal for introductory students and general readers alike. The book balances a narrative of the major events and personalities of the postwar political scene with a critical assessment of the recurrent issues and concerns of political debate. It also analyses the main idealogical perspectives operating within party politics since the Second Wolrd War - from the Right, the Centre and the Left - showing how these dominant groups have viewed developments and expressed their ambitions over the last fifty years. Succinct chronological account complemented with critical, thematic assessment of ideas Covers central topic on all introductory politics and postwar history Extensive use of tabular material, and appendices for reference

Margaret Thatcher's departure from office and the arrival of her successor, John Major, have had a profound impact on the way Britain is governed - and in this new edition of Consensus Politics, the authors examines the legacy of Thatcherite "conviction politics" and assesses the state of consensus in Britain's government today. This chronicle of the rise and fall of the post-war consensus in five key policy areas - the mixed economy, full employment, trade unions, welfare and foreign policy - remains a superb introduction to one of the major debates of recent political history.

This introductory textbook provides an historical overview of developments in local government in postwar Britain. Examines role of local government both as partner and as agent of central ministriesBased substantially on original research, yet written accessibly for beginning students and general readersKen Young is the leading authority in this field, and Nirmala Rao a much- respected younger scholar

This book provides a critical overview of the changing Labour Party in postwar Britain. Adopting a thematic approach within a structured, chronological framework, the book revolves around one central question: what has the Party been about and what specific objectives has it striven to realize? The author examines the so-called transformation from "Old Labour" to "New Labour", and not only identifies the key stages in its evolution, bur highlights, too, the major determinants of the change.

In this fully revised and updated edition of British General Elections since 1945 David Butler chronicles the demeanour and result of each post-war election. He also draws on the most recent research to examine how much the way in which elections have been stages and fought has altered, with press conferences, advertising, opinion polls and media events transforming the electoral process. In considering these issues alongside other aspects - the law, the constituencies, the electoral system itself, voter behaviour - Dr Butler provides an invaluable guide to the continuities and change which have characterized British general elections for two generations.

This second edition of Colin Seymour-Ure's history of the press and broadcasting in post-war Britian offers a concise and fully up-to-date overview of the development of the media and its central role in British society.

In this fully revised and updated second edition, Sir Alec Cairncross provides a lucid overview and analysis of British economic policy and performance from 1945 to the present. The author takes a chronological approach, introducing the events of the period with an account of changing ideas on economic policy and performance. He concludes with a survey of major developments over the period.

This book examines town and country planning policy in twentieth-century Britain as an important aspect of state activity. Tracing the origins of planning ideals and practice, Gordon Cherry charts the adoption by state, both at the central and local level, of measures to control and regulate features of Britain's urban and rural environments. The author examines how town planning first took root as a professional activity and an academic discipline around the turn of the last century, largely as a reaction to the apparent problems of the late Victorian city. He shows, too, that this impetus for change coincided with a new perception amongst political thinkers of state planning as a legitimate and necessary function of Government's intervention in social and economic affairs. Town planning, as a state activity in land use regulation, housing, industrial location, roads and transport, became an important beneficiary of these developments.The book highlights developments in planning policy over subsequent decades. The final part of the book focuses on the breakdown of consensus from the mid-1970s and how the new market orthodoxy has affected planning policy in the 1980s and 1990s.

This book examines town and country planning policy in twentieth-century Britain as an important aspect of state activity. Tracing the origins of planning ideals and practice, Gordon Cherry charts the adoption by state, both at the central and local level, of measures to control and regulate features of Britain's urban and rural environments. The author examines how town planning first took root as a professional activity and an academic discipline around the turn of the last century, largely as a reaction to the apparent problems of the late Victorian city. He shows, too, that this impetus for change coincided with a new perception amongst political thinkers of state planning as a legitimate and necessary function of Government's intervention in social and economic affairs. Town planning, as a state activity in land use regulation, housing, industrial location, roads and transport, became an important beneficiary of these developments.The book highlights developments in planning policy over subsequent decades. The final part of the book focuses on the breakdown of consensus from the mid-1970s and how the new market orthodoxy has affected planning policy in the 1980s and 1990s.

This second edition of Northern Ireland since 1968 provides a concise, thematic overview of the Northern Ireland conflict and its proposed solutions from the beginnings of the 'Troubles' up to the present day. Updated and expanded to include coverage of recent developments such as the publication of the Joint Declaration of 1993 and the Framework Documents of 1995, the book offers a clear analysis of the latest initiatives in the peace process and the local and international contexts within which these have evolved. The new edition includes an updated chronology of events and guide to further reading as well as an expanded list of dramatis personae making it the ideal introduction to the history of this most troubled region. It will be essential reading for students of contemporary history, politics and international relations.

This book offers a comprehensive overview of Britain's development since the end of the Second World War. It comprises 23 contributions from leading authorities and newer scholars, set in context with a foreword by Raymond Seitz. A comprehensive and fascinating introduction to Britain from the end of the Second World WarDraws together the themes that have dominated discussion amongst scholars and media commentatorsThe chapters are set in context with a foreword by Raymond SeitzCovers topics such as foreigh policy, political parties, the media, race relations, women and social change, science and IT, culture, industrial relations, the welfare state, and political and economic issues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland