The Transformation of British Politics, 1860-1995

The British political system, though often criticised, has been the model and the inspiration for many national governments world-wide. Yet it is now at the centre of controversial debate within Britain itself. Over the 130 years since Bagehot wrote his English Constitution, no historian has investigated in depth how it has evolved in all its dimensions, and few political scientists have looked further back than the Second World War. This is the first book to provide a detailed explanation of how the British political system came to acquire the form it has today. Brian Harrison's broad-ranging, authorative analysis runs continuously from the 1860s to the 1990s. He investigates such topics as civil liberties, pressure groups, parliament, elections and the parties, central and local government, cabinet, and monarchy. He examines the international and cultural influences on the working of the political system, and concludes by surveying current proposals for reform. With an ample guide to further reading, and a full chronology of leading events, this book will be essential reading for students of politics and history.

ISBN 0198731213   Pages 626 ISBN13 9780198731214 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher Oxford University Press   Weight (grammes) 940 Imprint Oxford University Press   Published in Oxford Format Paperback   Height (mm) 234 Publication date 27 Jun 1996   Width (mm) 156 Library of Congress JN216.H335   Spine width (mm) 35 DEWEY 320.941   Academic level Professional / Scholarly DEWEY edition DC20

."..Succeeds in filling the gap between historians hesitant to address contemporary concerns and political scientists who give an insufficiently broad context for events. Sophisticated enough for scholars, it also offers insights to students and general readers interested in the roots of current concerns."--History."..Transformation is a challenging but rewarding reconstruction of "a living Constitution" that leaves all historians of modern Britain in its debt; no doubt a resurrected Bagehot would be fascinated by this account of its continuous evolution."--Albion

 Be the first to write a customer review