The Modern British Party System

by Paul Webb

• ISBN13: 9780803979444
• ISBN10: 0803979444
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-09-22
• Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd

Summary

'This is a really excellent book, the best on British parties that I have read in recent years. Paul Webb utilises the latest research and modern analytical techniques to provide a sophisticated study of parties and the party system which is packed with information. It is a major contribution not just to the literature on British politics but also to the comparative literature on political parties' - David Denver, Lancaster University 'Paul Webb's new book is likely to remain the standard work on the British party system for years to come' - Peter Mair, University of Leiden 'A landmark study. I cannot commend this book too highly to teachers of British politics, students and professional analysts alike' - Ian Budge, University of Essex 'An excellent book that will be much quoted by scholars in future years' - Alan Ware, Oxford University 'Paul Webb provides the most comprehensive and well-documented analysis of the programmatic and organizational changes in the British party system. His conclusion that British parties remain critically important to the functioning of democracy is strengthened by his comparative approach. This book is a major contribution to the study of British party politics' - Patrick Seyd, University of Sheffield Providing a complete up-to-date overview of the changing nature of contemporary party politics in Britain, this book draws on models of comparative politics and the latest empirical analysis to explain the capacity of British parties to adapt to a changing political environment. A number of broad themes include: the nature and extent of party competition; the internal life and organizational development of parties; the variety of evolving party systems in the United Kingdom; and the links between parties and the wider political system. The current weaknesses of party performance are addressed, and the scope of reform explained and examined. Contrary to claims of 'decline', however, the book demonstrates that party politics remain essentially vibrant and intrinsic to modern British democracy. The Modern British Party System will be an essential text for all students of contemporary British politics, parties and party systems.

Table of Contents

Preface	vi
Acknowledgements	ix
Party systems in the UK: an overview	1	(37)
The electoral market and the competition for votes in Britain	38	(46)
How parties compete 1: ideological reputations	84	(26)
How parties compete 2: programmatic adaptation	110	(30)
How parties compete 3: imagery, media and political marketing	140	(26)
Conflict and cohesion within parties	166	(24)
Members, leaders and the distribution of power within parties	190	(28)
Party organizational resources	218	(34)
Parties and the political system	252	(33)
Appendix	285	(3)
References	288	(20)
Index	308