Principles And Politics in Contemporary Britain

by Garnett, Mark

• ISBN13: 9781845400262
• ISBN10: 1845400267
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-12-01
• Publisher: Ingram Pub Services

Summary

This book shows the importance of political ideas in policy-making and demonstrates the extent to which pragmatic considerations preclude the imposition of rigid ideological programmes. It charts the decline of the postwar British ?consensus?, the changing face of both the Conservative and Labour parties under the long shadow of Thatcherism, and the growing emergence of single issue policies such as environmentalism and feminism. With an extensive bibliography and suggested seminar and essay topics, Principles and Politics can be used on any course which focuses on contemporary British politics as well as having general appeal to those interested in looking at the contemporary political and ideological debate in the context of wider issues and trends. This second edition is completely revised and updated.

Author Biography

Mark Garnett is Lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Lancaster

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations	p. vi
Acknowledgements	p. viii
Introduction: Principles and Politics	p. 1
The nature of ideology	p. 3
Ideology and political action	p. 7
Ideology and institutions	p. 9
Ideology in UK politics	p. 10
Summary	p. 18
A Decade of Discontent? The Labour Party, 1970-79	p. 21
Background	p. 21
Socialists and social democrats	p. 24
What went wrong?	p. 30
In opposition, 1970-74	p. 32
Back in office, 1974-79	p. 34
The IMF loan	p. 37
What went wrong - this time?	p. 40
Conclusion	p. 43
From Selsdon Man to Grantham Woman: The Conservative Party, 1970-79	p. 48
Background	p. 48
Post-war conservatism	p. 52
In opposition, 1964-70	p. 56
In office, 1970-74	p. 58
Defeats and recrimination, 1974-75	p. 62
The crusade begins, 1975-79	p. 68
Conclusion	p. 71
The Liberals and their Allies, 1970-2006	p. 79
Background	p. 79
Looking for allies, 1970-81	p. 84
Realignment, 1981	p. 90
Partnership of principle, or marriage of convenience? 1981-92	p. 92
'Owenism' and the SDP	p. 99
Equidistance? 1992-99	p. 102
Another false dawn? 1999-2006	p. 104
Conclusion	p. 107
Thatcherism and its Legacy, 1979-90	p. 111
Opening shots, 1979-83	p. 111
Second innings, 1983-87	p. 118
Hubris, 1987-90	p. 123
The nature of Thatcherism	p. 133
Conclusion	p. 138
Socialism or Social Democracy? The Labour Party, 1979-92	p. 144
Settling scores, 1979-83	p. 144
Confrontation, 1983-87	p. 153
Consolidation, 1987-92	p. 157
Conclusion: the betrayal of socialism?	p. 164
Nationalism in UK Politics	p. 169
Scottish nationalism	p. 171
Welsh nationalism	p. 175
Nationalism in Northern Ireland	p. 179
English nationalism	p. 184
The immigration question	p. 185
The European controversy	p. 191
Conclusion: varieties of nationalism	p. 194
The Conservatives since Thatcher, 1990-2006	p. 200
Background: Thatcher to Major	p. 200
In Thatcher's shadow	p. 208
Divisions over Europe	p. 212
Nationalism and nostalgia, 1997-2006	p. 217
Conclusion	p. 229
'New' Labour	p. 232
'New' Labour in opposition	p. 236
'New' Labour in government	p. 240
Iraq	p. 246
Blair and Thatcherism	p. 249
Conclusion: a new consensus?	p. 253
Pressure Groups and the Rise of Apathy	p. 260
Feminism	p. 264
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament	p. 269
Environmental movements	p. 273
Animal rights	p. 279
Conclusion: the politics of alienation?	p. 283
Conclusion: Principles and Politics since 1970	p. 287
The Conservative Party	p. 287
Labour	p. 290
Liberal Democrats	p. 293
A crisis of party politics	p. 294
Index	p. 295
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