Preface.

1. Introducing British Politics.

Part1: The Constitutional System, Political Parties and Elections.

2. The Changing Constitution and the Rules of the Political Game.
3. The Party System, Political Parties and Party Funding.
4. Choosing our Leaders: the Sociology of Voting.
5. Choosing our Leaders 2: The Economics, Geography and Politics of Voting.

Part2: Pressures, Power and the State.

6. Influencing our Leaders: Perspectives on Interests and Groups.
7. The Central State Introduction.
8. Beyond the Central State: Local, Regional and Devolved Governance.
9. Who Really Runs Britain?

Part III: Ideas and Issues.

10. Beyond Left and Right?
11. The Constitution as an Issue.
12. Managing the Economy.
13. The Rise and Fall of the Welfare State?
14. Maintaining Civil Society.

Part IV: Britain and the World.

15. Globalization and the Autonomy of the British State.
16. The European Union: A New Superstate?
17. Concluding Remarks.

Preface.

1. Introducing British Politics.

What is Power?
Perspectives on Political Power.
What is Britain?
Organization of the Book.
References and Guide to Further Reading

Part I: The Constitutional System, Political Parties and Elections.

2. The Changing Constitution and the Rules of the Political Game

Introduction.
The Constitution and State Power.
What is the British Constitution?
How to Study the Constitution.
The Origins of the Constitution.
The Balanced Constitution.
The Liberal Constitution.
The Liberal-Democratic Constitution: Representative Democracy
Conclusion
References and Guide to Further Reading.

3. The Party System, Political Parties and Party Funding.

Introduction
The Functions of the Political Parties
The Classification of Party Systems
The British Party System
Party Development and Social Cleavages
Party Organization
British Political Parties
Party Funding
Conclusion
References and Guide to Further Reading

4. Choosing our Leaders: the Sociology of Voting.

Introduction
Voting Studies
Party Identification
Theory and Social Class
Dealignment and 'New' Cleavages
Conclusion
References and Guide to Further Reading

5. Choosing our Leaders 2: The Economics, Geography and Politics of Voting

Introduction
The Economics of Politics: Public Choice Theory and Rational Choice
The Geography of Voting
The Politics of Voting: Labour and the 1997 General Election Conclusion
References and Guide to Further Reading

Part II: Pressures, Power and the State.

6. Influencing our Leaders: Perspectives on Interests and Groups.

Introduction
Interest Group Concepts
Classic Pluralism: Perfect Competition
Imperfect Competition
Neopluralism
Hyperpluralism and Demand Overload
Corporatism: Closed Competition
New Social Movements and Direct Action
The Problem of Collective Action
The Problem of Insider Lobbying by MPs
Conclusion
References and Guide to Further Reading

7. The Central State Introduction

Introduction
The Civil Service
The Bank of England
The Armed Forces
The Security Services
The Judiciary
Conclusion
References and Guide to Further Reading

8. Beyond the Central State: Local, Regional and Devolved Governance.

Introduction
Local Government
Quangos
Regional Administration and Government
Devolution and National Government
Conclusion
References and Guide to Further Reading

9. Who Really Runs Britain?

Introduction
Is There a British Power Elite?
Is There a Ruling Class in Britiain?
Systemic and Institutionalized Power
Conclusion
References and Guide to Further Reading

Part III: Ideas and Issues.

10. Beyond Left and Right?

Introduction
Old Labour and the Pursuit of Socialism
Conservatism and the New Right
The Birth of New Labour
Conclusion
References and Guide to Further Reading

11. The Constitutional Issue: Crisis and Change.

Introduction
Towards Constitutional Crisis
Constitutional Criticisms
Constitutional Changes
Conclusion: Constitutional Futures
References and Guide to Further Reading

12. Managing the Economy.

Introduction
The Long-Term Decline of the British Economy
The Golden Age of Liberalism: From the Great Exhibition to the Great War
The Retreat from Liberalism: From the Great War to the Great Depression
Nationalization and Economic Planning: the War and the Postwar Labour Government
Demand Management: The Mixed Economy and the Long Postwar Boom
Corporatist Planning: 1962-1979
The Return to a Market Strategy: Thatcherism After Thatcher: Economic Policy in the 1990s
Conclusion
References and Guide to Further Reading

13. The Rise and Fall of the Welfare State?

Introduction
Before the Welfare State
The Development of the Welfare State
The Welfare State Under Attack
Thatcher, Major and the Marketization of Welfare
New Labour and Welfare Reform
Conclusion
References and Guide to Further Reading

14. Maintaining Civil Society.

Introduction
Is There a Dominant Ideology?
The Traditional Agencies of Socialization and Informal Social Control
'Modern' Agencies of Socialization and Social Control
The Dominant Ideology
Thesis Revisited
Enforcing Order: Policing, Crime and the Authoritarian State Conclusion
References and Guide to Further Reading

Part IV: Britain and the World.

15. Globalization and the Autonomy of the British State.

Introduction
Globalization A Global Economy?
The Decline of the Nation-State?
Can Nation States Still Make a Difference?
The Sceptical Challenge
International Organizations
Conclusion
References and Guide to Further Reading

16. The European Union: A New Super State?

Introduction
History Institutions and the Policy-Making Process
Revenue and Expenditure
The Single Currency and the Question of National Sovereignty Federalism, Sovereignty and the Democratic Deficit
Why Has Britain been such a 'Bad European'?
Conclusion
References and Guide to Further Reading

17. Concluding Remarks

Introduction
How is State Power Formally Organized?
Who Runs or Influences the State?
What are the Outputs from the State and Who Benefits?
What are the External Constraints on the State?
Conclusion: Muddling Through?

Conclusion.
Acknowledgements
Index.