State of the Nations Yearbooks – serie

The State of the Nations 2003 is the third publication of a major research programme into devolution in the United Kingdom, published on behalf of the Constitution Unit at University College London.

The State of the Nations 2001 is the ssecond publication of a major research programme into devolution in the United Kingdom, published on behalf of the Constitution Unit at University College London.

The State of the Nations is the first publication of a major research programme into devolution in the United Kingdom, published on behalf of the Constitution Unit at University College London.

This book is the fourth volume of a major five-year research programme on devolution funded by the Leverhulme Trust. The programme comprises eleven Constitution Unit research projects, underwritten by a regular series of monitoring reports. This book provides a stock-take of the effect of devolution during the first term of the Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales. Part 1 covers the territories of the UK — Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the English regions. Part 2 looks at its impact on the centre Westminster, Whitehall and public opinion. Part 3 looks at developments in two key areas of public policy. The book as a whole assesses not just how parts of the UK have been affected by devolution, but also its effect on the UK as a whole. Written by the Constitution Unit at University College London and the leading experts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the book is packed with facts and figures, and is essential reading for those who want to keep bang up to date with the latest developments.

This book is the fifth, and final, volume in the State of the Nations yearbook series on devolution in the UK. This book explores the future of devolution, by examining the new political dynamics devolution has put into play. These concern devolution's operation and also its impact — how devolution has altered politics in the parts of the UK that experience devolution and in the UK as a whole. Chapters examine the key topics in devolution, and examine the interplay between institutional change and social, economic and political forces (both those that existed before devolution and those brought into being by it). This interplay creates scope for varying forms of change, but what that change means varies from topic to topic. In some cases — such as Wales — institutional issues remain to the fore, while in others — such as Scotland — pressures for institutional change are relatively limited but the devolved institutions create scope for new political factors to come into play.