Britain Since 1939: Progress And Decline (british Studies)

In addition to politics, the book covers a great many areas of British life: crime, decolonisation, defence, the economy, education, foreign policy, immigration and racism, the media, the monarchy, public opinion, religion, social change, the changing position of women. As an added bonus, it also bravely tackles events in Northern Ireland. Two introductory chapters take us through the interwar period outlining both domestic and international trends. The war years are covered in two further chapters and the author asks us to consider what would have happened had Britain not gone to war in 1939. Nine chapters trace both the progress, and the more impressive, decline of Britain between 1945-94. The final chapter discusses the reasons for decline. Twelve useful tables and a bibliography complete the book. This wide-ranging book covers politics and the economy; education, foreign policy and defence; housing and living standards; immigration and racism; law and order; the media; the remarkable resilience of the monarchy; public opinion; the retreat from empire; religion's decline and the secularisation of society; women's changing role, and much more. The book challenges many aspects of past policies and raises doubts about the wisdom of going to war in 1939. It traces Britain's decline from world power status to being just one of the larger members of the European Union. Comparisons are made with other countries especially Germany, France and Ireland. In fact, as Britain and Ireland are so closely intertwined, Irish developments are outlined over the same period. The book is based on a wide variety of sources, including the results from many years of interviewing numerous key figures. Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Interwar Britain, 1919–39....Pages 1-22 Britain and the World, 1919–39....Pages 23-36 Britain at War, 1939–41....Pages 37-52 From European War to World War and Victory, 1941–45....Pages 53-73 Britain under Attlee, 1945–51....Pages 74-103 From Churchill to Macmillan, 1951–60....Pages 104-124 Conservatives on the Run, 1961–64....Pages 125-140 Harold Wilson at the Helm, 1964–70....Pages 141-163 Trouble and Strife, 1970–74....Pages 164-176 Trouble and Strife, 1974–79....Pages 177-195 The Thatcher Era, 1979–87....Pages 196-216 Thatcher in Decline, 1987–90....Pages 217-231 Major’s Avalanche of Problems....Pages 232-248 Britain and Ireland in the 1990s....Pages 249-260 Back Matter....Pages 261-294 A wide-ranging survey of British and Irish politics and society from 1918 to 1994, which covers areas such as crime, decolonization, the economy, education, public opinion, defence, the media, religion, the monarchy and the changing position of women. It also tackles the events in Northern Ireland. David Childs. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [268]-278) And Indexes.