1st Edition
The Reinvention of Britain 1960-2016 A Political and Economic History
The Reinvention of Britain 1960–2016 explores the transformation of contemporary Britain, tracing its evolution from the welfare state of the post-1945 era to social democracy in the 1960s and 1970s and the liberal market society of 1979 onwards. Focusing primarily on political and economic change, it aims to identify which elements of State policy led to the crucial strategy changes that shaped British history over the past six decades.
This book argues that since 1960 there have been two reinventions of the political economy of the United Kingdom: a social-democratic shift initiated by the Conservative government of Harold Macmillan and developed by Labour under Harold Wilson, and a subsequent change of direction towards a free market model attempted by the Conservatives under Margaret Thatcher. Structured around these two key policy reinventions of the late twentieth century, chapters are organized chronologically, from the development of social democracy in the early 1960s to the coalition government of the early 2010s, the Conservative election win that followed and the ‘Brexit’ referendum of 2016.
Providing a comprehensive yet accessible introduction to the political and economic history of this period, The Reinvention of Britain 1960–2016 is essential reading for all students of contemporary British history.
List of figures
List of tables
Acknowledgements
Introduction: why a political and economic history?
Part 1: The Rise and Fall of Social-Democratic Britain
1: Conservative Social Democracy 1961-64
2: Labour’s New Britain, 1964-70
3: Quiet Revolution, 1970-74
4: The Last Years of the Post-War Settlement, 1974-79
Part 2: Neo-Liberal Britain
5: Thatcher's Revolution, 1979-90
6: Major Interlude, 1990-97
7: New Labour in Power, 1997-2010
Envoi
Select Bibliography
Index
Biography
Scott Newton is Emeritus Professor of Modern British and International History at Cardiff University, having taught there for 33 years before retiring in 2016. He has written on British economic history and policy and the interaction between socio-economic change and international relations, and his work has appeared in journals such as Diplomacy and Statecraft, The Economic History Review and the English Historical Review. His best-known books are Modernization Frustrated (1988, with Dilwyn Porter), Profits of Peace: The Political Economy of Anglo-German Appeasement (1996) and The Global Economy, 1944–2000: The Limits of Ideology (2004).
"I think this is the best, most modern, balanced, and scrupulous history of contemporary Britain available." - Martin Farr, Newcastle University, UK"Newton's is a stimulating history, notable for its detail and clarity." - John Moore, Morning Star
"... this is an excellent book, intensively researched and with a strong narrative line that gives powerful support to the central argument. An ideal festive gift for anyone interested in the recent economic history of Britain." - Dan Atkinson, Lobster Magazine
