Debating Nationhood and Government in Britain, 1885-1939 Perspectives from the 'Four Nations'

by Tanner, Duncan; Williams, Chris; Edwards, Andrew; Griffith, W.P.

• ISBN13: 9780719071669
• ISBN10: 0719071666
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-12-31
• Publisher: Manchester University Press

Summary

This book is the first in-depth study of the debates over devolution in the four nations of the UK in the period up to 1939. It explores divergent trends and attitudes towards the principle of devolution at both local and national (UK) levels, explains the limitations of devolution as a political ideal and the inherent contradictions in the debates over devolution which were unresolvable in the period under study.

Author Biography

Duncan Tanner is Professor of History at University of Wales, Bangor, and Director of the Welsh Institute for Social and Cultural Affairs. Chris Williams is Professor of Modern History at University of Wales, Swansea. Andrew Edwards is Lecturer in Modern British History at University of Wales, Bangor and Co-Director of the Welsh Institute for Social and Cultural Affairs. W. P. Griffith is Senior Lecturer in Welsh History at University of Wales, Bangor.
 

Table of Contents

Introduction : devolution, identity and British politics	p. 1
Scotland and devolution, 1880-1945	p. 27
A place apart? : Ulster, Britain and devolution, 1886-1939	p. 45
Irish home rule as devolutionary paradigm, 1914-39	p. 64
Devolutionist tendencies in Wales, 1885-1914	p. 89
Welsh national identity and governance, 1918-45	p. 118
The dilemmas of nation and class in Wales, 1914-45	p. 146
Devolution, federalism and imperial circuitry : Ireland, South Afirca and India	p. 171
Conservatives, 'Englishness' and 'civic nationalism' between the wars	p. 192
The government of London	p. 211
How devolution died : the British Labour Party's constitutional agenda, 1900-45	p. 233
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