Post-War Britain: A Political History

by Alan Sked, Chris Cook

This book brings into focus the major figures of the political scene - Churchill, Eden, Wilson, Heath, Callaghan, Thatcher and Major - and the aims and achievements of the post-war governments, as well as the changing fortunes of Britain in relation to the rest of the world. Until 1963, the authors argue, Britain was still considered a world power. As a result, foreign policy was often given high priority by British leaders, and Britain's world role affected many aspects of its domestic policy and had important consequences for other states. From 1963 to 1979, however, set-backs and failures marked its policies, with the result that the very fabric of political life - the party system, the voting system and political institutions - came under attack and British governments lost authority, both at home and abroad. The Thatcher years have seen a continuation, for the most part, of Britain's decline. The authors assess the period of Thatcher's rule and the events leading to her downfall in a new chapter, which also examines the government of John Major and the state of the opposition parties in the face of the longest recession in post-war British history.

Genres: History, Politics

478 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 1979

About the author

Alan Sked, FRHistS, is Professor Emeritus of International History at the London School of Economics and founded the party now known as the UK Independence Party.

Reviews

[Lonely Panda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title is self explanatory. It was interesting but maybe a bit too dense I drifted away from the book many times. Yet it was a good help for my studies.