This book is an up-to-date analysis and review of the trends and events which marked the slow and uncertain progress of Britain towards representative parliamentary democracy from 1830 to 1918. Set in the general context of world democratic development, the book deals with debates, popular participation and achievements in regard to franchise extension, the secret ballot, female suffrage, elimination of electoral corruption, proportional representation and restriction of the veto powers of the House of Lords. The book concludes by raising questions about the adoption, in the future, of a more...

Opposition to the Stuarts as an imperial dynasty led to revolution in all three kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland that shaped different perceptions of Britain. Allan Macinnes' wider contextualizing of a British revolution--which challenges the anglocentric dominance of British History--takes account of apocalyptic visions, baronial politics and commercial networks as well as confessional allegiances, representative images and written texts.

England was the most centralised state in medieval Europe. The Tudors built on this situation to reduce still further the provincial power of the nobility, and to eliminate the remaining jurisdictional franchises. But sixteenth century England was not monolithic, nor homogeneous. There were still strong local identities, both political and culture, and the Tudors achieved success by working through the local elites, rather than against them.

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.

This book examines the difficulties and challenges which faced attempts to create a British identity. Taking its perspective from the cultural, social and political margins of the British Isles, it demonstrates how fragile the supposed political consensus of the eighteenth century was. To read it is to revaluate our understanding of the culture of England in relation to other societies of these islands.