An Introduction to UK Politics
Place, Pluralism, and Identities
- Joanie Willett - Exeter University, UK
- Arianna Giovannini - University of Urbino, Italy
British Government and Politics | Political Theory & Thought (General) | Politics (General)
A bold and unique introduction to UK Politics. This is the first textbook which breaks free from the conventional approaches that revolve around the Westminster bubble, instead drawing upon the diverse challenges facing citizens and decision-makers today. Leading experts are brought together in this carefully edited collection that spans traditional and critical approaches. An Introduction to UK Politics highlights central concerns facing British politics today, from ongoing colonial legacies to Britain’s inequality and the impact of decades of austerity. Spotlighted throughout are timely examples and latest research, drawing on topics spanning policy responses to climate change and the role of social class in educational outcomes; to the latest calls for increased devolution and shifting public opinion on UK Foreign Policy.
This textbook is packed with features, including:
· Case Studies to encourage critical thinking by presenting different perspectives on key events.
· Theory Boxes which explore concepts in action.
· Spotlight on Research showcases seminal and controversial publications to spark debate.
· Annotated Reading Lists guide students to further readings.
Unique to this text is a central focus on the role identities and inequalities play in contemporary British Politics. It offers students the tools to conduct analysis into the shifting dynamics in this major new action-focused, problem-based, and engaging introduction. And centrally, the book offers a compelling call to action – that is how we all have the capacity to shape British politics every day.
An Introduction to UK Politics is essential reading for any undergraduate student studying UK or British Politics.
Joanie Willett – Associate Professor in Politics, University of Exeter, UK
Arianna Giovannini – Professor of Political Sociology, University of Urbino, Italy
Supplements
This is a very rare kind of book. It provides an introduction to British politics while at the same time challenging a number of dominant assumptions and exploring the emergence of new pressures. At its core is an emphasis on pluralism and power. The interwoven nature of modern British governance – in relation to ideas, processes and institutions – is laid bare in an account of a changing polity which is as sophisticated as it is subtle, and as engaging as it is accessible.
A comprehensive and fascinating look at key topics in British politics today. Weaving together theory, empirical analysis and expert contributions, this is both clearly written and thought-provoking. A must read for all British politics students.
This book offers a stimulating and accessible introduction to the ideas, identities, and institutions that shape our politics today. It will be an invaluable resource to students seeking to navigate the complex and rapidly changing politics of the United Kingdom.
This book goes beyond the study of political institutions, portraying a ‘diverse array of voices’ and how these perspectives shape the UK’s political system. This inclusive approach to the study of politics helps us understand the UK as a multinational state (how it got here and where it might be going) and it provides a hard-hitting account of the challenges facing citizens and decision-makers today. This is a different kind of textbook which comes highly recommended.
An Introduction to UK Politics provides a solid introduction to the institutions of UK governance, whilst also being rooted in ‘everyday’ political lives. Up to date, and with attention to theoretical concepts, it will be of real benefit to students who want to know how UK politics really works.
This book brings a fresh and original perspective to the changing panorama of British politics. Unlike the more traditional institution-focused textbooks, this new Introduction engages with the fragmentary and sometimes contradictory elements of British politics in a sharp and stimulating fashion.
This is a fascinating and highly original introduction to the study of contemporary British politics. By focusing on the concept of pluralism, the authors succeed in drawing together both traditional and novel perspectives on what British politics is all about. Students who read this book will learn not only to understand contemporary political institutions, actors and issues, but to situate them in a broader story of what it means to do politics in a multinational, multicultural, multidimensional modern state.
This innovative and intellectually stimulating textbook provides a highly relevant approach to the study of British politics. It enhances our understanding of the UK’s political system by reference to important contemporary themes, such as pluralism, historical legacy, identity and inequality.
