Democratisation in Britain: Elites, Civil Society and Reform Since 1800

ISBN-13: 9780333646403 / Angielski / Miękka / 2017 / 317 str.

John Garrard

Opis

Much more than just a conventional history of franchise reform, this book explores the process whereby British politics was democratized and tries to account for its relative success. Britain is set within the context of successive waves of democratisation which have been in progress internationally since 1800. The author examines the role of British political elites, and the strength and character of civil society amongst the social groups included from 1832 onwards. He also analyzes the democratization of electoral behaviour.

Spis treści

Introduction.- British Politics Before Democratisation Began.- The Process of Democratisation.- The Role of British Political Elites.- Middle Class Males and Political Fitness.- Working Class Males and Political Fitness.- Women and Political Fitness.- The Democratisation of Electoral Behaviour.- Conclusion.- Further Reading.- Index.

O autorze

JOHN GARRARD is Senior Lecturer in Politics and Contemporary History at the University of Salford, and is a member of its European Studies Research Institute. Much of his work has been located on the borderline of political science and history.

Blurb

Democratisation in Britain is a novel reinterpretation of British social and political history since 1800 in light of the continuing debate about democratisation. As such, the book goes far beyond standard histories of political reform. In common with the politics in Northern Europe, North America and Australasia, Britain's democratisation began early and in highly favourable circumstances. The process took place in stages, only half-consciously and in the context of a generally benign economic cycle. The country possessed a vibrant civil society at most levels of its adult population, along with a flexible, competitive and opportunistic set of political elites. Partly as a result, the popular expectations and demands released by democratisation were modest and untroublesome. Countries undergoing democratisation since 1918 have been far less fortunate, and the process in thereby much more difficult. Thus this book may be seen as portraying an 'ideal type' against which to compare and contrast these later experiences.
Democratisation in Britain combines the disciplines of political science and history, and will be of interest to scholars and students in both fields.