British Politics

Fifth Edition

Dennis Kavanagh, David Richards, Andrew Geddes, and Martin Smith

732 pages | Colour illustrations, boxes, figures, tables | 246x189mm

978-0-19-926979-2 | Paperback | 04 May 2006

Price: £29.99

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Provides a significantly more comprehensitve analysis of contemporary British politics than competing texts, allowing instructors to customise the text for any module no matter what the emphasis or perspective.
Successfully combines a descriptive narrative with conceptual analysis, making theories more easily understood by way of practical example.
Offers an international outlook, allowing students to examine the global context in which British politics operates.
Balances the traditional, descriptive 'institutions-based' approach to politics with a lively, issue-led discussion of contemporary debates such as terrorism, race and asylum-seeking.
Uses primary research drawn from a large number of interviews with key political actors, encouraging students to ask questions through exposure to fresh, original insights, as opposed to borrowing the thoughts and ideals of others.
Embraces a strong historical perspective to enable students to understand how the past has shaped present-day issues and the nature of British politics and to equip them with a solid and informed political outlook.

New to this edition

Completely revised structure that incorporates an additional 16 chapters and that broadens the book's scope, allowing it to address topical trends in detail.
Dedicated section on policy that provides a detailed and accessible examination of economic, welfare, transport, education, law, immigration and defence policies, and that draws from primary research findings obtained from interviews with policy-makers.
Three new authors of international repute who offer a fresh and varied perspective and draw from an array of theoretical approaches to provide students with different 'pathways' for understanding political phenomena.
Additional pedagogical features including Reader's Guide, bold-faced key terms, 'Politics in Focus' boxes, chapter summaries, political chronologies, discussion questions and glossary.

The fifth edition of British Politics is a significantly expanded work that draws on the contribution of three new political scientists and redresses the balance between the historical context of British Politics and key theoretical debates.
British Politics 5/e overcomes the traditional problem of looking at Britain in isolation and the narrow, institution-based approach to politics by re-focusing on the international context in which Britain operates, and the way in which globalization, Europeanization, and the marketization of the state have conditioned the nature of politics today. The text is both theoretically and practically informed, combining a descriptive account of the institutions and processes of the British political system with a lively and engaging discussion of new issues and policies.

It addresses numerous contemporary topics, including the impact of a third term Labour Government; the threat to individual liberty in a post-9/11 world; the London 2005 bombings; Britain's destiny as a European partner; the implications of race and asylum-seeking; the growth and effect of direct action on the political system; and a health-check on democracy in an age of electoral decline.

It also considers contemporary issues surrounding the public service; participation and representation; and democracy and accountability; while providing a detailed and accessible examination of a range of policy areas (economic, welfare, transport, education, law, immigration and defence) based on recent interviews conducted by the authors themselves with key political actors.

ONLINE RESOURCE CENTRE

For lecturers: seminar activities, essay questions, case studies, all figures and tables from the text.
For students: annotated web links, political commentaries, multiple-choice questions and a time-line.

Readership: Level 1 students undertaking their foundation unit in British Politics as part of degree schemes in Politics or Government Studies.

British Politics

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