British Politics: A Critical Introduction

by McAnulla, Stuart

• ISBN13: 9780826461568
• ISBN10: 0826461565
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-02-06
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic

Summary

This book provides students with a critical introduction to the British political system and the context of contemporary British policy making. Too often the importance of interpretation, to any understanding of British politics is neglected. Attention to conveying factual information takes precedence over developing theoretical understandings. This book is different, in that it provides an account of British politics that is conceptually and theoretically driven. It not only outlines the key features of British politics but which also provides critical perspectives on them. McAnulla uses particular concepts and theories to illuminate the key dynamics of British politics i.e. to the ideas, practices and relationships that sustain the political system. Particular attention is devoted to understanding contemporary developments through an appreciation of the traditional dynamics of British politics.

Table of Contents

List of Boxes	vii
Acknowledgements	viii
Introduction
Purpose and aims	1	(2)
Assumptions and contributions of this book	3	(4)
Chapter structure and general argument	7	(4)
1. Traditional Models of British Politics
Introduction	11	(1)
Key perspectives	12	(20)
Westminster model	12	(6)
British political tradition	18	(5)
Pluralism	23	(4)
Marxist models	27	(5)
Conclusion	32	(2)
2. Contemporary Perspectives on British Politics
Introduction	34	(1)
Key models	34	(15)
Differentiated-polity model	34	(9)
Asymmetric-power model	43	(6)
Key normative perspectives	49	(7)
New right	50	(3)
Third way	53	(3)
Comparing new right and third way perspectives	56	(2)
Conclusion	58	(2)
3. Traditional Dynamics of British Politics I: Key Ideas	60	(26)
Introduction	60	(1)
Dominant ideologies	61	(14)
Liberalism	62	(1)
Core Liberal ideas	63	(1)
Classical liberalism and its impact	64	(1)
Progressive liberalism and its impact	65	(3)
Conservatism	68	(1)
Core assumptions of conservatism	69	(1)
Strands of conservatism and their impact	70	(2)
Socialism	72	(1)
Core assumptions of socialism	72	(1)
Strands of socialism and their impact	73	(2)
Governing discourses: dominant ideas and common themes	75	(7)
Counter discourses: challenging dominant ideas	82	(2)
Conclusion	84	(2)
4. Traditional Dynamics of British Politics II: Key Institutional Relationships	86	(30)
Introduction	86	(7)
Context: Constitution and state	86	(1)
British constitution	86	(2)
Development of the British state: change and continuity	88	(5)
Key governmental relationships	93	(10)
Centre-local relations	93	(5)
British government – European Union relations	98	(5)
Key democratic relationships	103	(12)
Government – interest group relations	103	(6)
Political parties – electorate relations	109	(6)
Conclusion	115	(1)
5. New Labour in Power	116	(27)
Introduction	116	(1)
Interpretations of new Labour: comparisons with the past	116	(5)
Dimensions of new Labour in practice	121	(20)
Economic policy	121	(6)
Welfare	127	(3)
Governing style and leadership	130	(6)
Governing discourse	136	(5)
Conclusion	141	(2)
6. Modernizing Government	143	(22)
Introduction	143	(1)
The Conservative legacy	143	(4)
Modernizing government agenda	147	(13)
Evaluating the modernizing government agenda as a whole	160	(4)
Conclusion	164	(1)
7. Constitutional Reform	165	(20)
Introduction	165	(3)
Advocates of change	168	(2)
Constitutional reforms since 1997	170	(9)
Evaluating the constitutional reform package	179	(4)
Conclusion	183	(2)
Conclusion: New Labour and the Study of British Politics	185	(10)
Reflections on the role of theory	185	(1)
The enduring role of the British political tradition	186	(6)
Explaining the survival of the British political tradition	192	(3)
Bibliography	195	(14)
Index	209