A New Political History of Modern Britain (Hardcover)

There are numerous narratives that help shape perceptions of Britain's political history after 1945 as one of consensus politics, indeed, even the 'end of politics'. In A New Political History of Modern Britain Lawrence Black and Steven Fielding reassess this narrative, challenging the view that sees the parties as passive, second-order participants, and thus placing politics within its often-neglected social and cultural contexts. Across ten thematic chapters, the authors look not only at 'traditional' party politics, but extend the discussion to issues such as race and immigration and the influence of social movements and pressure groups. The first two chapters of the book ground this thematic structure, presenting readers with the basic chronological building blocks in which to contextualise the themes that follow. The following chapters then take up topics such as the organistation and culture of party politics, the impact of media developments on elections, the development of debates around national identities and the influence of Europe on the British political stage and vice versa. Guiding the reader though the post-war years of British history with the specific aim of helping them to better understand the place of organised, representative politics within these decades of flux, Lawrence Black and Steven Fielding's book is a must for any student of British history and politics.