Contemporary British Politics

Politics and International RelationsSchool of Social and Political Science

UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

Course Guide PLIT10087

Semester Two 2011-12

Course OrganisersDr Patrick Bell & Professor Mark Aspinwallaelred.patrick.bell@gmail.com ; Mark.Aspinwall@ed.ac.uk

N.B. All email enquiries to Dr Bell in the first instance.

Office HourPlease email for an appointment.

Course Description and ObjectivesThis course is concerned with the domestic and global context of British politics. The domestic focuses on the main political parties in government and opposition since 1979, and constitutional reform since 1997; the global on the environment, European Union and Britain's place in the world in the twenty-first century. Parliamentary sovereignty and democratic accountability are two themes of the course. The historical context is post–1945. To understand the way Britain has been governed since 1979, we need to understand the way it was governed after 1945. Through close analysis of contemporary issues in British politics, the course anticipates how Britain is likely to be governed in the future. By the end of the course students will be able to analyse these issues in their historical context and through the evaluation of contemporary literature. Research skills will be developed through the submission of written summaries of preparatory reading for seminars. Communication, presentational and written skills will be developed through the delivery of extended length oral presentations, participation in peer group debate and submission of scholarly essays.

Students will acquire knowledge and understanding of a range of contemporary domestic and international issues in British Politics, including:

* the performance of the main political parties in government and opposition

* party competition and ideological convergence since 1979

* the impact of the European Union and globalisation on parliamentary sovereignty.

Teaching ArrangementsThis course is taught during the second semester of the academic year 2011/2012 for 10 weeks. It consists of 1 two hour seminar per week. Suggested topics for discussion and indicative reading are provided

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below. You are strongly encouraged to pursue independent reading in those areas that are of particular interest to you.

Seminars: Fridays, Group 1 at 11.10–13.00 (Room 2.5, 10 Buccleuch Place) Group 2 at 14.00–15.50.(Room 1.07, 42 Buccleuch Place).

You are required to sign up for one of the seminar groups via WebCT.

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AssessmentThere are two elements to assessment: a 2,500 word essay (40%) and an unseen 2 hour examination (60%) during the examination period. The semester 2 examination period runs from 30 April – 25 May. Generalised exam feedback will be available on WebCT by no later than 30 June 2012.

Essays will normally be returned within three working weeks of their deadlines with both comments and a mark. The mark for coursework is provisional, since coursework may also be seen by the External Examiners and the mark may sometimes be amended. Students will also receive generalised feedback on their exam performance.

Students are expected to attend all seminars and to complete their coursework in a timely manner. Failure to do so can result in the student concerned being debarred from sitting the final examination.

Essay Essays need to be submitted by 12 NOON on Friday 9 March 2012. Essays submitted later than 12 NOON will be penalised. You must submit two paper copies of your essay and also submit it electronically via WebCT (instructions below). The essay must not exceed 2,500 words; essays over the stipulated word length will be penalised.

Essay Questions

1. To what extent were the Blair/Brown governments 1997–2010 recognisably traditionally Labour?

2. Why did David Cameron’s modernising candidacy for the Conservative Party leadership succeed in 2005 where Michael Portillo’s failed in 2001?

3. The election of Nick Clegg as leader of the Liberal Democrats in 2007 was at odds with the party’s trajectory since its formation in 1988. Discuss.

4. To what extent has constitutional reform since 1997 weakened the Westminster model?

Plagiarism

Although discussion between students is encouraged, all essays, dissertations and other coursework are accepted for assessment on the understanding that they are, in the end, the student’s own work. Copying out passages from books and articles without putting the passages into quotation marks must be avoided. All sources must be properly acknowledged. Occasionally cases have come to light of copying from

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other students’ essays: this will not be condoned. Serious cases of plagiarism will normally lead to automatic failure on the whole course, and may also lead to action under the University’s Code of Discipline. See the apposite section in the Honours handbook for more information on plagiarism (and the consequences thereof).

The School is now using the ‘Turnitin’ system to check that submitted essays do not contain plagiarised material. Turnitin compares every essay submitted against a constantly-updated database, which highlights all plagiarised work. All coursework on this course must be submitted electronically. Essay SubmissionStudents must deposit two hard copies of their essay in the Politics and IR Honours Essay Box, located in the wall outside room 1.11, Chrystal Macmillan Building. When doing so, students must complete a Politics IR Honours coversheet (available outside room 1.11), indicating their examination number and tutor’s name, and signing a plagiarism form (see below).

Guidelines to note Submit two hard copies of the essay. Put only your Exam number on each copy of the essay. Complete ONE Essay Front Coversheet and be sure you complete the

Plagiarism Statement at the bottom of it. Staple the first copy of the essay to the front cover sheet and

paperclip thesecond to both of them.

Post the completed essays into the Politics essay box situated outside room 1.11, Chrystal Macmillan Building by 12 NOON on the day of deadline.

NOTE: All students should pay particular attention when completing the Plagiarism segment of the Essay Front Coversheet. If it is not completed correctly, coursework will not be marked until the student returns to the office to complete/correct the section.

Electronic Submission to WebCTGuidance on how to submit online will be made available on the course WebCT page nearer the deadline.

Penalties for late or over-long submission

Five marks per working day (i.e. excluding weekends) for up to 5 days;

Coursework handed in more than 5 days late will receive a zero Over-long essays will be penalised by deducting two points for

every 50 words over the word count. If there are factors beyond your control which make it essential for

you to submit work after the deadline you must fill in a ‘Lateness

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Penalty Waiver’ (LPW) form, copies of which can be found outside room 1.11, CMB, stating the reason for the request. You should submit requests as soon as possible, preferably before the deadline in question. But you should always submit an LPW form when work is late, even if you are unable to submit the form until after the missed deadline. Please refer to the Honours handbook that sets out the rules for late submission of assessed work.

PLEASE NOTE that failure to submit an electronic version along with the hard copy of your coursework will be treated as failure to submit, and subject to the same lateness penalties set out above

‘Protocols’ on the use of e-mail and special circumstances

Please refer to the Honours handbook that sets out guidance on the use of e-mail and special circumstances.

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Students with Learning DifficultiesSSPS welcomes students with disabilities (including those with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia) and is working to make all its courses accessible. If you have special needs which may require adjustments to be made to ensure access to such settings as lectures, tutorials or exams, you should discuss these with your Director of Studies who will advise on the appropriate procedures.

You can also contact the Student Disability Service, (Main Library in George Square alongside the Student Counselling and Careers Services), (telephone 0131 650 6828) and an Advisor will be happy to meet with you. The Advisor can discuss possible adjustments and specific examination arrangements with you, assist you with an application for Disabled Students' Allowance, give you information about available technology and personal assistance such as note takers, proof readers or dyslexia tutors, and prepare a Learning Profile for your School which outlines recommended adjustments. You will be expected to provide the Student Disability Service with evidence of disability - either a letter from your GP or specialist, or evidence of a specific learning difficulty. For dyslexia or dyspraxia this evidence must be a recent Chartered Educational Psychologist's assessment. If you do not have this, Student Disability Service can put you in touch with an independent Educational Psychologist.

Advice, guidance and a range of support materials is available to students with learning difficulties. Students should contact - in advance of coursework deadlines - the Disability Office for further information:  See the Disability Office's website: http://www.disability-office.ed.ac.uk/

Visiting StudentsVisiting and exchange students are expected to be assessed in the same way as Edinburgh students. If you are unable to be assessed in the normal way (that is, including completing the examination) you must contact the course organiser as soon as possible to make appropriate arrangements.

WebCTWebCT will be used in this course. Lecture slides will be uploaded after the lecture. Links for some seminar readings will also be available via WebCT.

ReadingsThere is no set text for this course, but students may find R. Heffernan, P. Cowley and C. Hay (eds.), Developments in British Politics 9 (2011) useful. Previous editions in this series are equally useful. Literature for each seminar topic is included below.

Resources

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The reading list for each topic is by no means exhaustive. Many of the recommended texts have extensive bibliographies. Students are encouraged to seek additional sources independently.

JournalsRelevant journals for this course include: The Political Quarterly, Parliamentary Affairs, Political Studies, Government and Opposition, British Journal of Politics and International Relations, Contemporary British History.

Please note that a number of journals can be accessed electronically via the library webpage.

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The InternetStudents are also encouraged to use the Internet – discerningly. Some useful, but by no means exhaustive, websites include:

Cabinet Office http://www.cabinet office.gov.ukConservative Party http://www.conservatives.comDepartment of the Environment http://www.defra.gov.ukDepartment for Int. Development http://www.dfid.gov.ukEuropean Union http://www.europa.euForeign and Commonwealth Office http://www.fco.gov.ukGreen Party http://www.greenparty.org.ukHansard http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.ukHouse of Commons http://www.parliament.uk/commonsHouse of Lords http://www.parliament.uk/lordsLabour Party http://www.labour.org.ukLiberal Democrats http://www.libdems.org.ukScottish National Party http://www.snp.orgScottish Parliament http://www.scottish.parliament.ukSupreme Court http://www.supremecourt.gov.uk10 Downing Street http://www.number-10.gov.ukThe Treasury http://www.hm-treasury.gov.ukUnited Nations http://www.un.org

Seminar timetable

20 January Introduction and arrangements for the course27 January Contemporary British Politics in context03 February New Labour in Government 1997–201010 February Conservative Party modernisation 1997–201017 February Liberals and Liberal Democrats

02 March Remaking the United Kingdom: constitutional reform since 199709 March The European Union in British Politics

Essay Deadline: Friday 9 March 2012, 12 noon

16 March The Environment in British Politics23 March Britain in the World30 March Remaking the Post-War Settlement: the state since 1979

SeminarsStudents are expected to attend and participate in all seminars. You are also expected to submit a short written summary of your preparatory reading each week.

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Each seminar will include presentations by one or two students. Presentations should generally be 10-15 minutes in duration. Provision of a handout is optional. You are prohibited from presenting a paper on the same topic as your assessed essay question. The job of the presenter(s) is to stimulate discussion, not to lecture. Try to avoid simply reading from a prepared statement, but rather aim to present information in a format which promotes discussion. Seminar Programme & Reading ListThere are no set questions to prepare for seminars. Preparatory reading should be directed to the themes identified under each seminar heading. These are neither prescriptive nor exhaustive and students are encouraged to introduce additional analysis arising from their reading.

20 January 2012: Introduction and arrangements for the courseThis seminar outlines the culture of the course, including teaching method and expected level of student participation. Seminar presentation topics will be allocated at this point. Key themes of the course will be introduced in an informal session designed to familiarise students with the learning culture in preparation for the first substantive seminar.

27 January 2012: Contemporary British Politics in contextTo understand how Britain has been governed since 1979, we need to understand how Britain was governed between 1945 and 1979. This seminar considers domestic decline (in an era of class, party and voter dealignment) in terms of an overvalued currency, stop-go economics, inflation and trade union power. Discussion of Britain’s decline abroad includes Suez, decolonisation and two unsuccessful applications for EEC membership.

Addison, P. (1975), The Road to 1945.Barnett, C. (1995), The Lost Victory.Blake, R. (1997), The Conservative Party from Peel to Major.Childs, D. (2006), Britain since 1945.Dutton, D. (1997), British Politics since 1945.George, S. (1998), An Awkward Partner.Hennessy, P. (2001), The Prime Ministe: the office and its holders since 1945.Hennessy, P. and Seldon, A. (1987), Ruling Performance: British Governments from

Attlee to Thatcher.Hollowell, J. (Ed.) (2003), Britain since 1945.Jefferys, K. (1993), The Labour Party since 1945.Lloyd, T.O. (2002), Empire, Welfare State, Europe, 1906–2001.Morgan, K.O. (2001), Britain since 1945: The People’s Peace.Morgan, K.O. (1985), Labour in Power 1945–51.Sked, A. and Cook, C. (1993), Post-War Britain 1945–1992. (4th edition.)

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Whitehead, P. (1985), The Writing on the Wall: Britain in the Seventies.

03 February 2012: New Labour in government 1997–2010This seminar considers the record of the Labour Governments, 1997–2010 and the extent to which New Labour policies were recognisably traditionally Labour (e.g. the minimum wage and Sure Start) and how the Blair/Brown premierships used a neo-liberal economic framework to produce social democratic outcomes. The ideological implication of such a strategy is also considered.

Journal ArticlesVarious (2010), ‘Reassessing New Labour’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 81, Supplement.

Bevir, M. (2007), ‘New Labour in Time’, Parliamentary Affairs, 60.2, pp.332–40.

Glaze, S. (2008), ‘The Gordon Brown Problem: New Labour and the Two “Adam Smiths”’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 79.3, pp.377–387.

Hindmoor, A. (2004), ‘Public Policy: But Domestic Policy Didn’t Stop’, Parliamentary Affairs, 57.2, 315–28.

Hindmoor, A. (2002), ‘Public Policy: developing a distinctive identity?’, Parliamentary Affairs, 55.2, 287–298.

Kellner, P. (2005), ‘Clearing the Fog: What Really Happened in the 2005 Election Campaign’, The Political Quarterly, Vol. 76.3, pp.323–332.

McAnulla, S. (2007), ‘New Labour, Old Epistemology?’; ‘New Labour Beyond

Blair’, Parliamentary Affairs, 60.2, pp.313–31 and pp.341–45.Moran, J., ‘The Strange Birth of Middle England’, The Political Quarterly, Vol. 76,

No. 2, April-June 2005, pp.232–240.Mullard, M. and Swaray, R. (2010), ‘New Labour Legacy: Comparing the

Labour Governments of Blair and Brown to Labour Governments since 1945’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 81.4, pp.511–521.

Taylor, M. et al. (2001), ‘Auditing New Labour’, The Political Quarterly, 72.1, 1–106.

Wickham-Jones, M. (2007), ‘The Future of Socialism and New Labour’, in The

Political Quarterly, 78.2, pp.224–40.

BooksBlair, T. (2010) A Journey.Butler, D. and Kavanagh, D. (2002), The British General Election of 2001.Butler, D. and Kavanagh, D. (2005), The British General Election of 2005.Chadwick, A. and Heffernan, R. (2003), The New Labour Reader.Coates, D. and Lawler, P. (2000), New Labour in Power.Driver, S. and Martell, L. (2002), Blair’s Britain.Driver, S. and Martell, L. (1998), New Labour.

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Fielding, S. (2003), The Labour Party.Geddes, A. and Tonge, J. (1997), Labour’s Landslide.Hay, C., ‘Managing Economic Interdependence: The Political Economy of

New Labour’, in Dunleavy, P. et al, (2006), Developments in British Politics 8.

Heath, A. et al. (2001), The Rise of New Labour.Jones, N. (1999), Sultans of Spin: The Media and the New Labour Government.Kampfner, J. (2004), Blair’s Wars.Kavanagh, D, and Cowley, P. (2010), The British General Election of

2010.Ludlam, S. and Smith, M.J. (eds), (2004), Governing as New Labour.Ludlam, S. and Smith, M. (2001), New Labour in Government.Ludlam, S. and Smith, M. (eds), (2000), Labour in government.Mandelson, P. (2010), The Third Man.Martell, L. and Driver, S. (1998), New Labour.Peston, R, (2006), Brown’s Britain.Plant, R., Beech, M.. and Hickson, K. (2004), The Struggle for Labour’s Soul.Quinn, T. (2004), Modernising the Labour Party.Rentoul, J. (2001), Tony Blair.Richards, S. (2010), Whatever It Takes: The Real Story of Gordon Brown

and New Labour.Riddell, P. (2000), Parliament Under Blair.Seldon, A. and Lodge, G. (2010), Brown at 10.Seldon, A. et al, (2007), Blair Unbound.Seldon, A. (ed.) (2007), Blair’s Britain, 1997–2007. Seldon, A. (2004), Blair.Seldon, A. and Kavanagh, D. (2005), The Blair Effect: 2001-5. Seldon, A. ed. (2001), The Blair Effect: The Blair Government 1997-2001.Seldon, A. and Hickson, K. (eds), (2004), New Labour, Old Labour.Shaw, E. (2007), Losing Labour’s Soul?Toynbee, P. and Walker, D. (2010), The Verdict.Toynbee, P. and Walker, D. (2005), Better or worse? has Labour delivered?Toynbee, P. and Walker, D. (2001), Did Things Get Better? An Audit of Labour’s

Successes and Failures.Worcester, R. and Mortimore, R. (1998), Explaining Labour’s Landslide.Worcester, R. and Mortimore, R. (2001), Explaining Labour’s Second Landslide.

10 February 2012: Conservative Party modernisation 1997–2010This seminar considers the Conservative Party’s period in opposition, 1997–2010 and its choice of leaders. Modernisation is a key theme, particularly the contrasting fortunes of Michael Portillo and David Cameron in the leadership contests of 2001 and 2005 respectively. The

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Hague and Duncan Smith leaderships are considered in terms of a continuing preoccupation with internal divisions. In this context, Michael Howard arguably emerges as a pivotal leader, 2003–2005.

Journal ArticlesVarious (2009)’ ‘Special Issue: Cameron’s Conservatives’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 80.2.Various (2004), ‘Special Feature: The Conservatives since 2001’, Political Quarterly, Vol.

75.4.Various. (1998), ‘The Conservative Predicament’, Political Quarterly, 69.2 (7 articles).

Alderman, K. and Carter, N. (2002), ‘The Conservative Leadership Election of 2001’, Parliamentary Affairs, 55.3, 569–585.

Alderman, K. (1999), ‘Revision of Leadership Election Procedures in the Conservative Party’, Parliamentary Affairs, 52.2, 260–274.

Alderman, K. (1998), ‘The Conservative Party Leadership Election of 1997’,

Parliamentary Affairs, 51.1, 1–16.Bale, T., Hanley, S. and Szczerbick, A. (2010), ‘May Contain Nuts? The Reality behind

the Rhetoric Surrounding the British Conservatives’ New Group in the European

Parliament’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 81.1, pp.85–98.Bale, T. (2006), ‘PR Man? Cameron’s Conservatives and the Symbolic Politics of

Electoral Reform’, The Political Quarterly, Vol. 77.1, pp.28–34.Battle, M. (2011), ‘The Nature of Conservative Party Modernisation Under David

Cameron: The Trajectory of Employment Relations Policy’, Parliamentary Affairs,

Vol. 64.3, pp.513–529.Collings, D. and Seldon, A. (2001), ‘Conservative in opposition’, Parliamentary Affairs,

54.4, 624–637.Commentary, ‘New Conservative?’, The Political Quarterly, Vol. 77, No. 1,

January–March 2006, pp.1–2.Denham, A. and Dorey, P. (2006), ‘A Tale of two Speeches? The

Conservative Leadership Election of 2005’, The Political Quarterly, Vol. 77, No. 1, pp.35–42.

Denham, A. and O’Hara, K. (2007), ‘Cameron’s Mandate: Democracy, Legitimacy and Conservative Leadership’, Parliamentary Affairs, 60.3, pp.409–423.

Garnett, M. and Lynch, P. (2002), ‘Bandwagon Blues: The Tory fightback fails’, Political Quarterly, 29–37.

Green, J. (2010), ‘Strategic Recovery? The Conservatives Under David Cameron’, Parliamentary Affairs, Vol. 63.4, pp.667–688.

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Hayton, R. (2010), ‘Conservative Party Modernisation and David Cameron’s Politics of the Family’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 81.4, pp.571–582.

Hayton, R. and Heppell, T. (2010), ‘The Quiet Man of British Politics: The Rise, Fall and Significance of Iain Duncan Smith’, Parliamentary Affairs, Vol. 63.1, pp.425–445.

Heppell, T. and Hill, M. (2009), ‘Transcending Thatcherism? Ideology and the Conservative Leadership Mandate of David Cameron’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 80.3, pp.388–399.

Kellner, P., ‘Clearing the Fog: What Really Happened in the 2005 Election Campaign’, The Political Quarterly, Vol. 76, No. 3, July-Sept 2005, pp.323–332.

Kelly, R. (2003), ‘Party Structures and the Politics of Reinvention’, Political Quarterly, 74.1, 109–115.

Kelly, R. (2002), ‘The party didn’t work: Conservative reorganisation and electoral

failure’, Political Quarterly, 73.1, 38–43.Kelly, R. (2001), ‘Conservatism under Hague: The Fatal Dilemma’,

Political Quarterly, 72.2, 197–203.Kerr, P. (2007), ‘Cameron Chameleon and the Current State of Britain’s

Consensus’, Parliamentary Affairs, 60.1, pp.46–65.Lees-Marshment, J. and Quayle, S. (2001), ‘Empowering the Members or

Marketing the Party? The Conservative Reforms of 1998’, Political Quarterly, 72.2, 204–212.

Norton, P. (2008), ‘The Future of Conservatism’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 79.3, pp.324–332.

Riddell, P., ‘Impressions of the Election’, The Political Quarterly, Vol. 76, No. 3, July-Sept 2005, pp.319–322.

BooksBale, T. (2010), The Conservative Party : From Thatcher to Cameron.Ball, S. and Seldon, A. (eds.), (2005), Recovering Power: The Conservatives in

Opposition since 1867.Blake, R. (1997), The Conservative Party from Peel to Major.Butler, D. and Kavanagh, D. (2002), The British General Election of 2001.Butler, D. and Kavanagh, D. (2005), The British General Election of 2005.Garnett, M. And Gilmour, I. (1997), Whatever Happened to the Tories:

The Conservative Party since 1945.Garnett, M. and Lynch, P. (eds), (2003), The Conservatives in Crisis.Kavanagh, D, and Cowley, P. (2010), The British General Election of

2010.Turner, J. (2000), The Tories and Europe.

17 February 2012: Liberals and Liberal DemocratsThis seminar considers the political progress of the Liberal Party since 1979, including the alliance with the Social Democratic Party and the

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1983 general election result, when a 26% share of the vote yielded only 23 seats. Particular consideration is given to Paddy Ashdown, under whose leadership the Liberal Democrats made gains at national and sub-national level, secured the election of its first MEPs and participated in government in Scotland (1999–2007). This seminar also considers how a party that fought three successive general elections to the left of Labour ended up in coalition with the Conservatives in 2010.

Journal ArticlesVarious (2007), ‘Special Issue on the Liberal Democrats’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 78.1.

Alderman, K. and Carter, N. (2000), ‘The Liberal Democrat Leadership Election of

1999’, Parliamentary Affairs, Vol. 53.2, pp.311–327.Berrington, H. And Hayes, R. (1997), ‘The Liberal Democrat Campaign

1997’, Parliamentary Affairs, Vol. 50.4, pp.555–568.Cole, M. (2009), ‘Growing Without Pains? Explaining Liberal Democrat MPs’

Behaviour’, British Journal of Politics and International Relations, Vol. 11.2, pp.259–

279.Cowley, P. and Stuart, M. (2003), ‘Labour in disguise? Liberal

Democratic MPs, 1997–2001’, British Journal of Politics and International Relations, Vol. 5.3, pp.393–404.

Cutts, D., Fieldhouse, E. And Russell, A. (2010), ‘The Campaign That Changed Everything and Still Did Not Matter? The Liberal Democrat Campaign and Performance’, Parliamentary Affairs, Vol. 63.4, pp.689–707.

Debus, M. (2011), ‘Portfolio Allocation and Policy Compromises: How and Why the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats Formed a Coalition Government’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 82.2, pp.293–304.

Denham, A. and Dorey, P. (2007), ‘The ‘Caretaker’ Cleans Up: The Liberal Democrat Leadership Election of 2006’, Parliamentary Affairs, 60.1, pp.26–45.

Denver, D. (2001), ‘The Liberal Democrat campaign’, Parliamentary Affairs, 54.4, 638–649.

Holmes, A. (2007), ‘Devolution, Coalitions and the Liberal Democrats: Necessary Evil or Progressive Politics?’, Parliamentary Affairs, Vol. 60.4, pp.527–547.

Laffin, M. (2007), ‘Coalition-Formation and Centre-Periphery Relations in a National Political Party: The Liberal Democrats in a Devolved Britain’, Party Politics, Vol. 13.6, pp.651–668.

Kellner, P., ‘Clearing the Fog: What Really Happened in the 2005 Election Campaign’,

The Political Quarterly, Vol. 76, No. 3, July-Sept 2005, pp.323–332.Leaman, A. (1998), ‘Ending Equidistance’, Political Quarterly, 69.2, 160–

169.Liberal Democrats, (2005), General election manifesto.

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McAnulla, S. (2009), ‘Explaining the Forced Exit of Charles Kennedy: Pushing the

Public/Private Boundary’, Politics, 29.1, pp.37–44.Meadowcroft, J. (2008), ‘Are the Liberal Democrats the Party of Liberty?’, Economic

Affairs, 28.2, p.93.Meadowcroft, J. (2000), ‘Is There a Liberal Alternative? Charles Kennedy and the

Liberal Democrats’ Strategy’, Political Quarterly, 71.4, 436–442.Riddell, P., ‘Impressions of the Election’, The Political Quarterly, Vol. 76, No. 3,

July–Sept 2005, pp.319–322.Russell, A. (2005), ‘The Liberal Democrat Campaign’, Parliamentary Affairs, Vol. 58.4,

pp.743–756.Russell, A. et al. (2002), ‘The anatomy of Liberal support in Britain, 1974–1997’, British

Journal of Politics & International Relations, 4.1, 49–74.Seyd, P. (1998), ‘In Praise of Party’, Parliamentary Affairs, 51.2, 198–208.Webb, P. (2003), ‘Parties and Party Systems: Prospects for Realignment’,

Parliamentary Affairs, 56.2, 283–296.Williams, S., ‘The General Election: a Retrospective’, The Political Quarterly, Vol.

76, No. 3, July-September 2005, 337–340.

BooksAshdown, P. (2001), The Ashdown Diaries: Volume Two 1997-1999.Ashdown, P. (2000), The Ashdown Diaries: Volume One 1988-1997.Butler, D. and Kavanagh, D. (1974), The British General Election of

February 1974.Butler, D. and Kavanagh, D. (1975), The British General Election of

October 1974.Butler, D. and Kavanagh, D. (1980), The British General Election of 1979.Butler, D. and Kavanagh, D. (1984), The British General Election of 1983.Butler, D. and Kavanagh, D. (1988), The British General Election of 1987.Butler, D. and Kavanagh, D. (1992), The British General Election of 1992.Butler, D. and Kavanagh, D. (1997), The British General Election of 1997.Butler, D. and Kavanagh, D. (2002), The British General Election of 2001.Butler, D. and Kavanagh, D. (2005), The British General Election of 2005.Cook, C. (2002), A Short History of the Liberal Party: 1900-2001.Crewe, I. and King, S. (1995), SDP: The Birth, Life and Death of the

Social Democratic Party.Dutton, D. (2004), A History of the Liberal Party in the Twentieth

Century, esp. pp.235-293.Garner, R. and Kelly, R. (1998), British Political Parties Today, Second

Edition.Kavanagh, D, and Cowley, P. (2010), The British General Election of

2010.Kennedy, C. (2001), The Future of Politics.

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Robins, L. et al, eds, (1994), Britain’s Changing Party System. Russell, A. and Fieldhouse, E. (2005), Neither left nor right: The Liberal Democrats and the

electorate.Seldon, A. (1990), UK Political Parties Since 1945.Stevenson, J. (1993), Third Party Politics Since 1945: Liberals, Alliance and Liberal

Democrats.Walter, D. (2003), The Strange Rebirth of Liberal England.Ware, A (1996), Political Parties and Party Systems.Wilson, D. (1987), Battle for Power: The Inside Story of the Alliance and the 1987

General Election.

02 March 2012 : Remaking the United Kingdom: Constitutional reform since 1997This seminar considers constitutional reform since 1997 in terms of the Whitehall and Liberal models and Jack Straw’s assessment that ‘Freedom of information is for oppositions, not for governments’. Particular consideration is given to the proposition that rearranging the constitutional furniture of the United Kingdom is too important to be left the governing party of the day.

Journal ArticlesBogdanor, V. et al (2007), ‘Should Britain Have a Written

Constitution?’, Political Quarterly, 78.4, 499–517.Commentary, ‘Constitutional Reform: A Second Wave?’, The Political Quarterly,

Vol. 76, No. 2, April-June 2005, pp.15 –160.Erdos, D. (ed.) (2009), ‘Charter 88 and the Constitutional Reform Movement: Twenty

Years On’, Parliamentary Affairs, Vol.62.4, pp.537–662.Flinders, M. (2007), ‘Analysing Reform: The House of Commons, 2001–5’, Political

Studies, 55.1, pp.174–200.Hazell, R. (2007), ‘The Continuing Dynamism of Constitutional Reform’,

Parliamentary Affairs, 60.1, pp.3–25.Hazell, R., Russell, M., Seyd, B. and Sinclair, D. (2000), ‘The British

Constitution in 1998-99: The Continuing Revolution’, Parliamentary Affairs, 53.2, 242–261.

Hazell, R. and Sinclair, D. (2000), ‘The British Constitution in 1997-98: Labour’s Constitutional Revolution’, Parliamentary Affairs, 52.2, 161–178.

Kelly, R. (2008), ‘It’s Only Made Things Worse: A Critique of Electoral Reform in

Britain’, Political Quarterly, 79.2, 260–268.

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Loveland, J. (1999), ‘Incorporating the European Convention on Human Rights into UK Law’, Parliamentary Affairs, 52.1, 113–127.

Maer, L. et al, ‘The Constitution: Dragging the Constitution Out of the Shadows’, Parliamentary Affairs, 57, 2, April 2004, pp.253–268.

McAllister, L. (1998), ‘The Welsh Devolution Referendum: Definitely, Maybe?’, Parliamentary Affairs, 51.2, 149–165.

Mitchell, J. (ed.) (2010), ‘Devolution: Ten Years On’, Parliamentary Affairs, Vol. 63.3, pp.85–172.

Mitchell, J., Denver, D., Pattie, C. and Bochel, H. (1998), ‘The Devolution Referendum in Scotland’, Parliamentary Affairs, 51.2, 166–181.

Shell, D. (2000), ‘Labour and the House of Lords: A Case Study in Constitutional Reform’, Parliamentary Affairs, 53.2, 290–310.

Wilson, R., ‘Consitutional Change: A Note by the Bedside’, The Political Quarterly, Vol. 76, No. 2, April-June 2005, pp.281–287.

BooksBlackburn, R. and Plant, R. (1999), Constitutional Reform: The Labour

Government’s Constitutional Reform Agenda.Bogdanor, V. (2009), The new British constitution.Bognador, V. (2003), The British constitution in the twentieth century.Brazier, R. (2008), Constitutional Reform: Reshaping the British Political System.Hazell, R. (2010), The Conservative-Liberal Democrat agenda for

constitutional and political reform.Hazell, R. (2010), The Conservative agenda for constitutional reform.Hazell, R. (ed.) (2008), Constitutional Futures Revisited: Britain’s

Constitution to 2020.Hazell, R. (1999), Constitutional Futures: A History of the Next Ten

Years.Johnson, N. 2004), Reshaping the British Constitution: essays in political interpretation.O’Neill, M. (eds), (2004), Devolution and British Politcs.Plant, R. (1999), Constitutional Reform.Toynbee, P. and Walker, D. (2010), The Verdict.Trench, A. (ed.) (2008), State of the Nations 2008.Trench, A. (ed.) (2007), Devolution and Power in the United Kingdom.Trench, A. (ed.), (2005), The Dynamics of Devolution.Trench, A. (2004), Has Devolution Made a Difference?

09 March 2012: The European Union in British PoliticsThis seminar considers Britain’s relationship with its European partners from the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951 through to the Lisbon Treaty in 2007. British ‘awkwardness’ is considered in terms of competing models of western European reconstruction after 1945, and Britain’s emphasis on free trade and US security guarantee. Consideration is also given to the impact of British membership on domestic politics, specifically party unity, and to the

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proposition that further political integration in inevitable in a multi-polar world witnessing the rise of the populous BRIC countries.

Journal ArticlesBaker, D., ‘Islands of the Mind: New Labour’s Defensive Engagement

with the European Union’, The Political Quarterly, Vol. 76, No. 1, January-March 2005, pp.22–36.

Baker, D.(2004), ‘Britain and Europe: Europe and/or America?’, Parliamentary Affairs, Vol. 57.2, pp.347–65.

Baker, D. (2003), ‘Britain and Europe: Treading Water or Slowly Drowning?’, Parliamentary Affairs, 56.2, 237–254.

Baker, D. (2002), ‘Britain and Europe: more blood on the euro-carpet’, Parliamenatry Affairs, 55.2, 317–330.

Baker, D. (2001), ‘Britain and Europe: The Argument Continues’, Parliamentary Affairs, 54.2, 276–288.

Baker, D., Gamble, A. and Ludlam, 5. (1994), ‘The Parliamentary Siege of Maastricht 1993: Conservative Divisions and British Ratification’, Parliamentary Affairs, 47, 37–60.

Baker, D. and Sherrington, P., ‘Britain and Europe: The Dog That Didn’t Bark’,

Parliamentary Affairs, 58, 2, April 2005, pp.303–317.Blair, A. (1998), ‘Swimming with the Tide? Britain and the Maastricht Treaty

Negotiations on Common Foreign and Security Policy’, Contemporary British

History, 12.3, 87–102.Carter, N. (2003), ‘Whither (or Wither) the Euro? Labour and the Single

Currency’, Politics, 23.1, 1–9.Charlton, M. (1981), ‘How and Why Britain Lost the Leadership of

Europe (I): “Messina! Messina!” or, “The Parting of the Ways”’, Encounter, 57.2, 8–22.

Charlton. M. (1981), ‘How (and Why) Britain Lost the Leadership of Europe (II): A Last Step Sideways’, Encounter, 57.3, 22–35.

Charlton, M. (1981), ‘How (and Why) Britain Lost the Leadership of Europe (III): The Channel Crossing’, Encounter, 57.4, 22–33.

Diamond, P. and Liddle, R. (2008), ‘Options for Britain: Europe’, Political Quarterly, Vol.79, Supplement, pp.165–182.

Gamble, A. and Kelly, G. (2000), ‘The British Labour Party and Monetary Union’, West European Politics, 23.1, 1–25

Hefferman, R. (2001), ‘Beyond Euro-scepticism: Exploring the Europeanisation of the Labour Party since 1983’, Political Quarterly, 72.2, 180–189.

Judge, D. (1986), ‘The British Government, European Union and EC Institutional Reform’, Political Quarterly, 57, 321–328.

Kinnock, N. (2002), ‘Accountability and reform of internal control in the European Commision’, Political Quarterly, 73.1, 21–28.

Mullen, A. and Burkitt, B., ‘Spimming Europe: Pro-European Union Propaganda Campaigns in Britain, 1962-1975’, The Political Quarterly, Vol. 76, No. 1, January-March 2005, pp.100–113.

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Sowermine, M (1996), ‘The Conservative Party and European Integration’, Party Politics, Vol. 2.1, pp.77–97.

Stephens, P., ‘Britain and Europe: An Unforgettable Past and Unavoidable Future’, The Political Quarterly, Vol. 76, No. 1, January-March 2005, pp.12–21.

Williams, S. (2009), ‘Britain in the European Union: A Way Forward’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 80, pp.233–250.

Windlesham, Lord. (2007), ‘Britain and the European Constitution’, Parliamentary Affairs, 60.1, pp.102–110.

BooksAspinwall, M. (2004), Rethinking Britain and Europe.Brown, G. (20/06/2001), ‘Chancellor’s Speech at the Mansion House’,

www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press/2001/p69-01.htmlde Grauwe, P. (1997), The Economics of Monetary Integration.Garland, D. and Turner, A. (2000), Reluctant Europeans: Britain and European

Integration 1945-1998.George, S. (1998), An Awkward Partner (Third Edition)George, S. (1996), Politics and Policy in the European CommunityPilkington, C. (2001), Britain and the European Union Today.Preston, C. (1997), Enlargement and Integration in the European Union.Taylor, P. (1996), The European Union in the 1990s.Toynbee, P. and Walker, D. (2010), The Verdict.Turner, J. (2000), The Tories and Europe.Young, H. (1998), This Blessed Plot: Britain and Europe from Churchill to

Blair.

16 March 2012: The Environment in British PoliticsThis seminar considers how the British government’s definition of environmentalism has evolved from the built environment of the early 1970s (when Edward Heath appointed Peter Walker to the Cabinet as the first Secretary of State for the Environment) to embrace the sustainable development and global warming theses. Consideration is given to how successive British governments have found it more difficult to reconcile environmentalism with the politics of electoral competition.

Journal ArticlesBirch, S. (2009), ‘Real Progress: Prospects for Green Party Support in Britain’,

Parliamentary Affairs, Vol. 62, No.1, pp.53–71.Carter, N. (2009), ‘Vote Blue, Go Green? Cameron’s Conservatives and

the Environment’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 80.2, pp.233–242.Carter, N. (2008), ‘Combating Climate Change in the UK: Challenges and

Obstacles’, Political Quarterly, 79.2, 184–193.Carter, N. (2006), ‘Party Politicization of the Environment in Britain’, Party Politics,

Vol.12, no.6, pp.747–767.

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Compston, H. (2010), ‘The Politics of Climate Policy: Strategic Options for National

Governments’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 81.1, pp.107–115.Douglas, R. (2007), ‘Growthism and the Green Backlash’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 78.4,

pp.547–555.Jordan, A. and Lorenzoni, I. (2007), ‘Is There Now a Political Climate for Policy Change?

Policy and Politics after the Stern Review’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 78.2, pp.310–

319.McLean, I. (2008), ‘Climate Change and UK Politics: From Brynle Williams to Sir

Nicholas Stern’, Political Quarterly, 79.2, 194–205.Meadowcroft, J. (2000), ‘Sustainable Development: a New(ish) Idea for a

New Century’, Political Studies, 48.2, 370–387.Ward, N. and Lowe, P. (2007), ‘Blairite Modernisation and Countryside Policy’, Political

Quarterly, 78.3, 412–421.

BooksBramwell, A. (1994), The Fading of the GreensCurran, S. (2001), The Environment: Confronting the Issues.Dobson, A. (2000), Green Political Thought, 3rd edition.Dryzek, J. et al. (2003), Green States and Social Movements. Dryzek, J. (1997), The Politics of the Earth.Garner, R. (1996), Environmental Politics.Gray, J. (1993), Beyond the New Right.Jordan, G. and Maloney, W. (1997), The Protest Business? Kennedy, P. (1994), Preparing for the Twenty First Century.Lomborg, B. (2006), How To Spend $50 Billion to Make the World a Better Place.Lomborg, B. (2001), The Skeptical Environmentalist.McCormick, J. (1995), The Global Environmental Movement.McCormick, J. (1991), British Politics and the Environment.Robinson, M. (1992), The Greening of British Party Politics.Rowell, A. (1997), Green Backlash: Global Subversion of the

Environmental Movement.Wall, D. (1999), Earth First! and the Anti-Roads Movement.Wissenburg, M. and Levy, Y. (eds), Liberal Democracy and Environmentalism.Young, S. (1993), The Politics of the Environment.

23 March 2012: Britain in the worldThis seminar considers Britain’s role in the world in the twenty-first century in terms of hard and soft power. Consideration is given to the proposition that while Britain remains a nation willing to deploy its armed forces, its continuing claim to a world role rests more on its

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unrivalled cultural, diplomatic and economic reach. Britain in the twenty-first century is the nation of humanitarian intervention and ring-fenced overseas aid.

Journal ArticlesAbrahamsen, R. and Williams, P. (2001), ‘Ethics and Foreign Policy: The Antinomies

of New Labour’s ‘Third Way’ in Sub-Saharan Africa’, Political Studies, 49.2,

249–264. Baker, D. and Sherrington, P. (2004), ‘Britain and Europe: Europe and/or

America?’, Parliamentary Affairs, 57.2, 347–65.Barder, B. (2001), ‘Still Looking for that Role?’, Political Quarterly, 72.3,

366–374.Dixon, R. and Williams, P. (2001), ‘Tough on debt, tough on the causes of

debt? New Labour’s Third Way foreign policy’, British Journal of Political & International Relations, 3.2, 150–172.

Dorman, A. (2007), ‘Britain and its Armed Forces Today’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 78.2, pp.320–327.

Various, (2010), ‘The Politics of Getting the Defence and Security Review We Need’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 81.3.

Whitman, R. (2010), ‘The Calm After the Storm? Foreign and Security Policy from Blair to Brown’, Parliamentary Affairs, Vol. 63.4, pp.834–848.

Williams, P., ‘Blair’s Commission for Africa: Problems and Prospects for UK Policy’, The Political Quarterly, Vol. 76, No. 4, October-December 2005, pp.529–539.

BooksBlair, T. (2010) A Journey.Buller, J., ‘New Labour’s Foreign and Defence Policy: External Support

Structures and Domestic Politics’, in Ludlam, S. and Smith, M.J. (2001), New Labour in Government.

Byrd, P. ed. (1988), British Foreign Policy Under Thatcher.Cook, R. (2003), The Point of Departure.Gamble, A., ‘Britain in the World’, in Heffernan, R., Cowley, P. And Hay,

C., (eds.), (2011), Developments in British Politics 9, pp.303–317.Gamble, A. (2003), Between Europe and America:The Future of British

Politics.Greenwood, S. (2000), Britain and the Cold War 1945-91.Greenwood, S. (1992), Britain and European Co-operation since 1945.Kampfner, J. (2003), Blair’s Wars.Lawler, P., ‘New Labour’s Foreign Policy’, in Coates, D. and Lawler, P.

(2000), New Labour in Power.Little, R. and Wickham-Jones, M. (2000), New Labour’s Foreign Policy: A

New Moral Crusade?Riddell, P. (2003), Hug Them Close: Blair, Clinton, Bush and the Special

Relationship.

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Sanders, D. (1990), Losing an Empire, Finding a Role: British Foreign Policy Since 1945.

Smith, M., Smith, S. and White, B. (1988), British Foreign Policy: Transition, Change and Transformation.

Toynbee, P. and Walker, D. (2010), The Verdict.Toynbee, P. and Walker, D. (2005), Better or worse? has Labour delivered?Toynbee, P. and Walker, D., ‘Blair Abroad’, in Toynbee, P. and Walker, D.

(2001), Did Things Get Better? An Audit of Labour’s Successes and Failures.

Williams, P. (2005), British Foreign Policy under New Labour, 1997–2005.

Young, R.A., ‘New Labour and International Development’, in Coates, D. and Lawler, P. (2000), New Labour in Power.

30 March 2012: Remaking the post-war settlement: The state since 1979This seminar considers how the role of the state has changed since 1979, and the extent to which the Thatcher governments, 1979–1990, recast the post-war settlement. Nationalised industries were rationalised and privatised, direct taxation was reduced and the power of the trade unions curtailed. Yet when Margaret Thatcher left Downing Street in 1990, the state remained the key provider of education, health and welfare. The proposition that Labour’s post–1997 reforms in these areas paves the way for a radical reinvention of the state by the Conservative–Liberal government will be also be considered.

Journal ArticlesVarious (1995), ‘Remaking the State’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 66.4,

pp.237–319.Various (1991), ‘The Current State of Welfare’, Political Quarterly, Vol.

62.4, pp.409–450.

Crouch, C. (1997), ‘The Terms of the New Neo-Liberal Consensus’, Political Quarterly,

Vol. 68, pp.352–360.Dorey, P. (1993), ‘One Step at a Time: The Conservative Government’s Approach to the

Reform of Industrial Relations Since 1979’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 64, pp.24–36.Faulkner, D. (2008), ‘Government and Public Services in Modern Britain: What Happens Next?’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 79.2, pp.232–240.Field, F., “Welfare Reform: A Lost Opportunity’, The Political Quarterly Vol. 77, No.

1, January-March 2006, pp.53–60.Flinders, M. (2008), ‘The Future of the State’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 79,

Supplement, pp.19–40.

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Hay, C. (1997), ‘Blaijorism: Towards a One-Vision Polity?’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 68, pp.372–378.

Higgins, P., James, P. and Roper, I., (2005), ‘The Role of Competition in Best Value: How Far Does it Differ From CCT?’ Local Government Studies, Vol. 31, No. 2, pp.219–235.

Joseph, K. and Seldon, A., ‘Escaping the Chrysalis of Statism’, Contemporary British History, 1987, no.1, pp.26–31.

Marquand, D. (1993), ‘The Twilight of the British State? Henry Dubb versus Sceptered Awe’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 64, pp.201–221.

Martin, S. (2000), ‘Implementing “Best Value”: Local Public Services in Transition’, Public Administration, 78.1, 209–227.

Painter, C. (1994), ‘Public Service Reform: Reinventing or Abandoning Government?’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 65, pp.242–262.

Rhodes, R. (1994), ‘The Hollowing Out of the State: the Changing Nature of Public Services in Britain’, Political Quarterly, Vol. 65, pp.138–151.

Various (2001), ‘A Symposium on New Labour and the Modernisation of Public Management’, Public Administration, 79.1, 1–103.

BooksFlinders, M., and Smith, M. (eds.), (1999), Quangos, Accountability and

Reform.Hay, C. (ed.), (2002), British Politics Today.Kavanagh, D. and Seldon, A. (eds.) (2001), The Blair Effect.Kavanagh, D. and Seldon, A. (eds.) (1994), The Major Effect.Kavanagh, D. (1990), Thatcherism and British Politics (2nd edition).Lees, C. (2001), Market-Driven Politics.Moran, M. (2003), The British Regulatory State.O’Toole, B. and Jordan, G. (eds.), (1995), Next Steps: Improving

Management in Government?Powell, M. (ed.) (2008), Modernising the Welfare State: the Blair Legacy.Richards, D. and Smith, M. (2002), Governance and Public Policy.Seldon, A. (ed.) (1989), The Thatcher Effect.Stoker, G. (2004), Transforming local governance: from Thatcherism to

New Labour.

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