ABSTRACT

The Routledge Handbook of British Politics and Society conducts a rigorous, innovative and distinctive analysis of the relationship between British politics and society, emphasizing that the UK is now far from a monolithic, and unshifting, entity.

Examining the subject matter with unrivalled breadth and depth, it highlights and interrogates key contemporary debates on the future of the UK, the nature of 'Britishness', and the merits of multiculturalism, as well as contemporary criticisms of traditional institutions and the nature of representative democracy itself. Including contributions from key authors in their respective fields who bring their authority to bear on the task of outlining the current state of the art in British Studies, the book provides a fresh examination of the contrasts and the continuities across the whole field of British Politics and Society, while setting out agendas for future research.

The Routledge Handbook of British Politics and Society will be essential reading and an authoritative reference for scholars, students, researchers and practitioners involved in, and actively concerned about, research on British politics, society and culture.

chapter |6 pages

Introduction

part I|125 pages

Institutions and practice

chapter 1|17 pages

The Core Executive

chapter 2|17 pages

The civil service

chapter 3|14 pages

UK parliament

chapter 4|11 pages

The judiciary*

chapter 6|21 pages

Elections and voting

chapter 7|11 pages

Media

chapter 8|18 pages

Politics and the police

Recent developments in police governance and current issues surrounding police service delivery in England and Wales

part II|42 pages

Issues

chapter 9|12 pages

Britain in the world

chapter 10|16 pages

Economic policy

chapter 11|12 pages

Social policy

part III|143 pages

Politics and society

chapter 13|11 pages

Ethnic diversity

chapter 14|16 pages

Politics in England

chapter 15|13 pages

England

The North–South divide

chapter 16|16 pages

Scotland

Society and culture

chapter 17|14 pages

Scottish and UK politics

Convergence and divergence

chapter 18|13 pages

Wales

Culture and society

chapter 21|14 pages

Northern Ireland

Society and culture