Politics UK 10th Edition by Bill Jones, ISBN-13: 978-0367464059

Politics UK 10th Edition by Bill Jones, ISBN-13: 978-0367464059

[PDF eBook eTextbook]

• Publisher: ‎ Routledge; 10th edition (July 29, 2021)
• Language: ‎ English
• 824 pages
• ISBN-10: ‎ 0367464055
• ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0367464059

This revised and updated tenth edition of the bestselling textbook Politics UK is an indispensable introduction to British politics. It provides a thorough and accessible overview of the institutions and processes of British government, an excellent grounding in British political history and an incisive introduction to the issues and challenges facing Britain today.

This edition welcomes three brand new chapters – ‘Elites in the United Kingdom’, ‘Gender and British politics’ and ‘UK Immigration policy in hostile environment’ – alongside rigorously updated revised chapters. It delivers excellent coverage of contemporary events, with significant new material covering: the Johnson premiership and the national challenge of Covid-19, the end of the May premiership and the implementation of Brexit, the Labour Party’s transition from Corbyn to Starmer, infrastructure and innovation, ‘fake news’, populism and nationalism, the UK’s place in a post-Brexit world, climate change, social mobility and elite recruitment, devolution and regionalism, constitutional strain, the role of political advisers, abuse and incivility in politics and much more.

Other features of the new edition include:

• A wide range of illustrative material, boxes and case studies providing illuminating examples alongside the analysis.
• A comprehensive ‘who’s who’ of politics in the form of Profile boxes featuring key political figures.
• And another thing . . . pieces containing short articles on salient and pressing topics, written by distinguished commentators including Sir John Curtice, Sir Simon Jenkins, Andrew Rawnsley, Baroness Julie Smith of Newnham, and Philip Collins.
• Online interviews on the book’s website see notable figures from British political life discussing the pressing issues of today.

With chapters written by highly respected scholars in the field and contemporary articles on real-world politics from well-known political commentators, this textbook is an essential guide for all students of British politics.

Table of Contents:

Cover
Half Title
Endorsements
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Brief Contents
Contents
Notes on contributors
List of profiles
List of boxes
List of figures
List of tables
Guided tour
Preface
Acknowledgements
Part 1 Context
Chapter 1 The changing context of UK politics and key concepts in its study
Learning objectives
A political scene even more transformed
Political volatility has not declined but accelerated since the last edition of Politics UK
Expenses scandal
Electoral volatility
Why so much turbulence, so many crises?
Some recently published explanations for populism in both the UK and, more generally, the Western world
Why populism? Angryomics as an explanation
Robert Putnam: The Upswing (Swift)
State of the UK’s ‘Union’
The concept of politics defined and discussed
Quotation
Defining politics
Politicians and their ambition
Ambition to hubris: a short journey?
Are politicians viewed generally with too much cynicism?
Democracy is not easy
Key concepts in the study of politics
What is a concept?
Power and authority and other ideas
Analysing the political process
Plan of the book
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 2 The UK, the world and Europe
Learning objectives
Introduction
The UK’s global outlook
The United Nations
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization
The European Union
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Circles, pivots and bridges: UK foreign policy priorities from Empire to Europe
Period 1: Imperial twilight
Period 2: Decolonisation and the overthrow of the UK’s ‘great’ global role after 1945
Period 3: The New Labour governments, 1997–2010
Period 4: ‘Liberal Conservatism’, 2010–16
Period 5: Empire 2.0? Brexit and the return of the UK’s ‘great’ global role
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Bibliography
Chapter 3 The social and economic context
Learning objectives
Introduction
Social context: stability and identity
What does it mean to be English?
Social class
Is there an underclass?
Multicultural Britain
The ageing society
The changing role of women
LGBT+
The decline of the British economy
Ten years of austerity
What is the meaning of ‘crisis’?
What is the solution?
Post-2015 crises – Brexit and coronavirus
Summary and conclusion
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
And another thing . . .: Is liberal democracy doomed?
Conspiracy theories
Suggested reading
Part 2 Defining the Political World
Chapter 4 Ideology and the liberal tradition
Learning objectives
Introduction
What is ideology?
Classifying ideologies
The liberal tradition
Philosophical liberalism
Rationality
Toleration
Natural rights and the consent of the governed
Individual and political liberty and the influence of Niccolo Machiavelli
Constitutional checks and balances
Limited government
Representation
Classical liberalism
Human nature
Freedom
Utilitarianism
Minimal government – middle-class values
Laissez-faire economics
Peace through trade
‘New liberalism’
State responsibility for welfare
The mixed economy: Hobsonian and Keynesian economics
Internationalism
Further development of democratic government
John Rawls and A Theory of Justice
The Original Position and the Veil of Ignorance
Principles
Difference principle
Fukuyama and the end of history
Challenges to liberal thinking
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 5 Political ideas: the major parties
Learning objectives
Introduction
The Conservative Party
Key elements of Conservatism
The impact of Thatcherism
Thatcherite economics
The Major and Hague years
Iain Duncan Smith
The Michael Howard interlude
The election of David Cameron, December 2005
Cameron seeks to ‘rebrand’ and move into the centre ground
Conservatives in power since 2010
Theresa May in power
The Labour Party and socialism
Socialism
Critique of capitalism
Underlying principles of socialism
The Labour Party
Labour in power
Revisionism
Tony Blair in power
Clause Four rewritten
Blairism
Blair in power
Blair’s legacy
History and Tony Blair’s reputation
Gordon Brown’s period in power
Economy
Labour in power: 1997–2010 assessed
Jeremy Corbyn voted in as leader, July 2015
The Liberal Democrats
Coalition partners after May 2010
The ideology of the Coalition project
In conclusion
United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP)
Impact of Brexit on main UK parties
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 6 Political ideas: themes and fringes
Learning objectives
Introduction
National identity: the English/British sense of who they are
‘Britishness’
How racist is Britain?
Green thinking
Consequences of global warming
The developing world
The United Kingdom
The political fringe
Far left
Far right
‘The art of the possible’
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 7 From Euroscepticism to Brexit
Learning objectives
Introduction
European Economic Community 1957
Birth of Euroscepticism
Immigration
Referendum promise
The campaign
Immigration becomes a key issue
Key issues: protect economy versus immigration and sovereignty
The results
Preparing for delivery of Brexit: June 2016–March 2017
Issues facing May before the first ‘Brexit Day’, 31 March 2019
1 Negotiating the deal: May’s weak hand
2 The ‘divorce’ settlement
3 Timing
4 Immigration
5 Complexity
6 Economic elements
7 Hard versus soft Brexit
The ‘soft’–‘hard’ Brexit spectrum
Political hurdles at home
Boris Johnson as PM
Johnson strikes a deal with the EU
‘The Brexit Election’, 12 December
Impact of Brexit on polarising identities
Transition and the danger of a no-deal exit
May 2021 Elections
Chapter summary
Postscript: the Internal Market Bill, September 2020
Brexit ‘revolution eats its children’?
Discussion points
Reading
Bibliography
And another thing . . .: Parliament in light of Brexit
References
Part 3 The Representative Process
Chapter 8 Elites in the United Kingdom
Learning objectives
A variety of elites
Influence of Chinese examination system
Elected elites
Private education – the crucible of top elite membership
Key importance of family background
Oxford and Cambridge (‘Oxbridge’)
Women and ethnic minorities
The UK’s super rich
Does it matter how rich they are?
Elites and populist politics
Making it into the UK’s most elite committee
Conclusion: is there a ruling political elite in the UK?
Summary of chapter
Discussion points
Recommended reading
Bibliography
Chapter 9 Elections and voting
Learning objectives
Introduction
Electoral systems
Electoral trends
Turnout
Aggregate variations
Variations in turning out
Party support
Aggregate variations
Explaining party choice: class and party identification
Explaining party choice: valence voting
Conclusion
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Afterword: the General Election of 2017
Turnout
Party support
Explaining the outcome
Chapter 10 The mass media and political communication
Learning objectives
Introduction
News consumption via different media
Public trust of media
From the spoken to the written (and then broadcast) word
The print press
Quality press and the tabloids
Decline of newspaper readership
Tabloids
Leveson Inquiry and Report 2012
Broadcasting
Is the BBC politically biased in its output?
BBC under threat
The media, entertainment and political significance
Television has transformed the electoral process
Television has influenced the form of political communication
Television and the image
Brand image
Televised party leader debates, 2010
Television images: Blair v Brown
Broadcasters have usurped the role of certain political institutions
The appointment of party leaders
Number 10’s plans for daily televised press briefings
Personnel
Spin doctors
New Labour and Tory spin
The role of gossip in politics
Tabloidisation of television
The phone-hacking scandal, 2011–12
The media and pressure groups
The mass media and voting behaviour
Focus groups
The permanent campaign
Assessing the effect of the media
Theories and the mass media
The mass media and the theory of pluralist democracy
Do ownership and control influence media messages?
News values are at odds with the requirements of a pluralist democratic system
The lobby system favours the government of the day
Television companies are vulnerable to political pressure
Theories of class dominance
The Glasgow University Media Group
Language and politics
Press regulation in the UK
The new media
‘Post-truth’ politics
Three key media appointments
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 11 Gender and British politics
Learning objectives
Introduction
The slow increase of women in Parliament and Government
The House of Commons
The House of Lords
Political parties and the gender gap: from the grassroots to the top
From the backbenches to the frontbenches: women in government
Gender and Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish politics
Gender and local government
The UK’s governments from Thatcher to Johnson: representing women’s and LGBTQ issues?
Margaret Thatcher and the representation of women’s and LGBTQ issues
Tony Blair and the representation of women’s and LGBTQ issues
David Cameron and the representation of women’s and LGBTQ issues
Theresa May and the representation of women’s and LGBTQ issues
Boris Johnson and the representation of women’s and LGBTQ issues
The House of Commons: an inclusive working environment for women and the LGBTQ community?
UK media: a friendly environment for women and the LGBTQ community?
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 12 Pressure groups
Learning objectives
Introduction
Definitions
Historical background
Civil society and groups
‘Bowling alone’
Pressure groups and government
Insider–outsider groups
The growth (and increasing respectability) of direct action
The importance of how an issue is framed
Terror tactics
Aiming for the power points
The revolving door
Factors determining effectiveness
Issue attention cycle
Economic interest groups
Business
Strength in unity
Trade unions
The growth of professional lobbying
Regulating lobbying
Pressure groups and democracy
Theoretical perspectives
Pluralism
Corporatism
The Marxist analysis of pressure groups
New Right critique of pressure groups
From the politics of production to the politics of consumption
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 13 Political parties
Learning objectives
Introduction
Political parties: challenges and opportunities
Part 1: Party membership and participation
Party membership
Sources of party membership growth
Explanations
The role and influence of party members
The influence of members over policy and leadership
The Conservative Party and policy
Members and the Conservative leadership
Labour Party members and policy
Members and the Labour leadership
The Liberal Democrats
The Green Party
The SNP
Selecting candidates
Diversity and selection
Widening the franchise
Other parties: balancing control and participation
Part 2: Changing patterns of support and the party system
Party identification
Changing voting behaviour and fragmenting party support
Impact on the House of Commons: number of Parliamentary parties
The effects of institutional change
Patterns of support
Party competition in England
Party competition in Scotland
Party competition in Wales
Measuring electoral parties
Part 3: Ideas and issues
The Conservative Party
Social and moral issues
Europe
The Labour Party: a party divided?
Ed Miliband: trying and failing to move on from New Labour
Corbyn: a radical interlude
Liberal Democrats: finding a voice
Scottish National Party: getting the balance right?
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 14 Devolution
Learning objectives
Introduction
Theory
Nationalism and the drive towards political devolution
Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Devolution in the Brexit era
England and its regions
Conclusions
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
And another thing . . .: Who votes Conservative?
Introduction
Brexit
Social profile
Ideological profile
Conclusion
Part 4 The Legislative Process
Chapter 15 The changing constitution
Learning objectives
Introduction
The constitution
Definition and sources
Amendment
The traditional constitution: essential constituents
Challenges to the traditional constitution
Membership of the European Community/Union (1973–2020)
A juridical dimension
A political dimension
Constitutional reform under the Blair Government
Background to reform
Reform under a Labour government
Reform under the Coalition Government
Reforms under Conservative Governments 2015–
Devolution
Withdrawal from the European Union
The coronavirus crisis
The effects of change
Parties and the constitution
The Labour Party
The Conservative Party
The Liberal Democrats
The continuing debate
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 16 The crown
Learning objectives
Introduction
The monarchy
The concept of representation
Development of the monarchy
Political significance of the crown
The contemporary role of the monarchy
Symbolic role
Representing the UK at home and abroad
Setting standards of citizenship and family life
Uniting people despite differences
Allegiance of the armed forces
Maintaining continuity of British traditions
Preserving a Christian morality
Exercise of formal powers
Criticisms of the monarchy
Potential for political involvement
Unrepresentative
Overly expensive
Unnecessary
Proposals for change
Abolition
Reform
Leave alone
Strengthen
Conclusion
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 17 The House of Commons at work
Learning objectives
Introduction
Origins of Parliament
The development of Parliament
The House of Commons
Elections
Members
Sittings of the House
Functions
Legitimisation
Recruitment
Scrutiny and influence
Expression
The means of scrutiny and influence
Legislation
Executive actions
Debates and Question Time
Select committees
Early day motions
Correspondence
Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
Party committees
All-party groups
Having an impact?
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 18 The House of Commons under pressure
Learning objectives
Introduction
Members under pressure
Public business
Organised interests
Constituents
MPs themselves
The House under pressure
Partisanship
Executive dominance
Creation of other policy-making bodies
Scandal
Pressure for change
Explaining parliamentary power
Decision-making
Non-decision-making
Institutional constraints
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 19 The House of Lords
Learning objectives
Introduction
History
Membership
Composition
Activity
Procedures
Functions
Legitimisation
Recruitment
Scrutiny and influence
Expression
Other functions
Scrutiny and influence
Legislation
Executive actions
Debates
Questions
Committees
Party meetings
Reform: stage one
Reform: stage two
The future of the second chamber?
Retain
Reform
Replace
Remove altogether
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
And another thing . . .: Localism in decline
Part 5 The Executive Process
Chapter 20 The core executive: the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Learning objectives
Introduction
The Prime Minister
The office of Prime Minister
The powers of the Prime Minister
The person in No. 10
The Cabinet
Presidential government?
Presidential or constrained?
Prime Minister and Cabinet
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 21 Ministers, departments and civil servants
Learning objectives
Introduction
Ministers
Departments
Political appointees
Junior ministers
Parliamentary private secretaries
Special advisers
The officials
Permanent Secretary
Civil servants
Ministerial power
The office
The individual in the office
Team player
Commander
Ideologue
Manager
Agent
Skills
External environment
Constraints
Explaining ministerial power
Principal–agent model
Power-dependency model
Baronial model
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 22 Local government
Learning objectives
Introduction: Big Local – thanks, National Lottery
UK local government’s exceptionalism 1: up there with the whales
The decade in which UK local government became humongous (1964–74)
UK local government’s exceptionalism 2: its financial and political weakness
No formal constitution: councils as ‘creatures of statute’
But the constitutionally possible is not necessarily the politically feasible
Ultra vires as opposed to ‘general competence’
Prospects of constitutional reform
Centrally dominated local government is not local administration
Asymmetric devolution in a multi-national state: England
Changing structure and scale of English local government
Fancy becoming a councillor?
Roles of officers
Council elections – see how they’re run
Electoral systems: devolution brings diversity, a bit
Functions and services
Local finance – the bigger picture
Executive-based political management and the ‘mayoral revolution’?
‘Full devolution across England’?
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 23 The judiciary
Learning objectives
Introduction
The judicial process
A subordinate branch?
An autonomous branch?
The courts
Criminal cases
Civil cases
Supreme Court
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Tribunals
The judges
Judicial activism
Enforcing EU law
Enforcing the European Convention on Human Rights
The impact of devolution
Demands for change
Constraining the executive
Applying the law
Implementing change
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
And another thing . . .: Special advisors
Part 6 The Policy Process
Chapter 24 The policy-making process
Learning objectives
Introduction
How policy is made
Models of policy-making
The policy cycle
‘Social construction’ of problems
Agenda setting
Policy initiation: setting agendas
General public
Marcus Rashford campaign, June 2020
Cause groups, media and academic experts
Extra-parliamentary parties and party groupings
Parliament
Ministers, departments, official inquiries and ‘think tanks’
Prime Minister and Cabinet
The concept of the core executive
Policy formulation
The bureaucratic process
The legislative process
Policy implementation
Education
Poll tax
Constraints upon policy-makers
Financial resources
Political support
Competence of key personnel
Time
Timing
Coordination
Personality factors
Geographical factors
International events
The influence of Europe
Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit 2002–7
Academic studies
Policy networks
Comprehensive political marketing
Institute for Government (IfG) research papers on policy-making
Short- and long-term policy-making
Case studies in policy-making
The Millennium Dome
Identity cards
The ‘HS’ Project
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 25 The politics of law and order
Learning objectives
Introduction
Law and order and the context of political ideas
Criminal justice system favours rich not the poor?
Evolution of Labour and Conservative law and order policy during the 1990s
Defining crime
Causes of crime
The huge gap between rich and poor
There are now many more potential crimes
Young people are faced with a difficult world in which to grow up
Growth of an underclass
Values have declined
Drugs and crime
Anti-social behaviour
Neo-liberal economic policies and ‘anomie’
Possible role of lead poisoning
The Donohue–Levitt abortion and crime hypothesis
Conviction rates: British Crime Survey of England and Wales (BCSEW)
‘Dark crime figure’ (unreported offences)
Impact of coronavirus lockdown 2020
Who are the perpetrators?
Crime trends
The ‘crime wave’: its rise and fall
Getting tough on crime
Elected Police Crime Commissioners (PCCs)
The security services and related Home Office matters
MI5
Special Branch
MI6
Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)
The Intelligence and Security Committee
Challenges to UK security services
Transfer of constitutional responsibilities to Lord Chancellor’s department
Terrorism Acts, 2000–9
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 26 Social policy in the UK
Learning objectives
Introduction
What is social policy?
The development of social policy in the UK
The beginnings of UK social policy
Modern social policy
Beveridge and the consolidation of national insurance
Social policy trends from the 1980s to today
Social policy expenditure
Social policy and gender
Competition and choice in the delivery of social policy
The different elements of UK social policy
Transfers
Pensions
Other transfers
Services
Health care
Social care
Housing
Education
Looking forward: demographic change?
Looking forward: the impact of Brexit on the welfare state
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 27 Economic policy
Learning objectives
Introduction
The nature of economic policy
The impact of globalisation
The machinery of economic policy
The Prime Minister
The Prime Minister–Chancellor relationship
The Treasury
The Bank of England
The Financial Services Authority
Competition agencies
The changing conduct of economic policy
The neo-Keynesian phase from 1945 to 1979
The Conservative Government, 1979–97
New Labour from 1997 to 2007
The financial crisis from 2007
Austerity under the Coalition Government
The Johnson Government: a new policy direction?
The impact of Covid-19
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 28 British foreign and defence policy
Learning objectives
Introduction
Policy in a globalised world
Britain’s international profile: continuity and change
From a pillar to a player in world politics
From ‘special’ to ‘standard’ relations with the United States
From global empire to ‘global Britain’
From economic passenger to globalism rider
From traditional military to transitional military
The policy-making process for foreign, security and defence policy
Executive dominance
The domestic and international environment
The more diffuse top-down process
The National Security Council
The challenges of the 2020s
Britain’s particular challenges
The structural challenges
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 29 Britain and the European Union
Learning objectives
Introduction
Empire, decolonisation and European integration
European colonialism
First steps towards European integration
British exceptionalism
Britain and EU accession
Political and economic motivations
Societal explanations
Reluctant Europeans?
Public opinion on the EU
The development of Conservative Party Euroscepticism
Labour Party divisions over Europe
Crisis in the EU
Enlargement and immigration
The referendum and the vote to leave
The campaigns
The economy, race and the ‘left behind’
Identity and social values
After the referendum
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Chapter 30 UK immigration policy in a hostile environment
Learning objectives
Introduction
History of borders and immigration policy in the UK
Before the British Empire
British Empire
The beginning of immigration policy: 1905–50
The late twentieth century: from Empire to Commonwealth
Twenty-first-century immigration policy
Summary
Trends and streams in immigration policy
Work
Study
Family
Refuge and asylum
EU citizens
Aspects of UK immigration policy in the hostile environment
Everyday bordering
Points-based system
Mediterranean border crisis
Immigration detention
Gender and sexuality
Resistance to immigration policy
Lobbying for more controls on immigration
Migrant-led civic groups
Migrant solidarity campaigns
Chapter summary
Discussion points
Further reading
Bibliography
Useful websites
And another thing . . .: Has civic discourse declined?
Epilogue
The Government and the coronavirus pandemic
Social impact of pandemic
Boris Johnson’s performance as prime minister
Pros and cons of Boris Johnson as a politician and PM
Pros
Cons
State of the Union
The ongoing delivery of Brexit
Labour Party’s progress
British political system in need of fundamental reform?
Bibliography
Glossary
Index

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