The Boundaries of the State in Modern Britain

An innovative collection of essays on state involvement in British life - past, present and future.

S. J. D. Green (Edited by), R. C. Whiting (Edited by)

9780521455374, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 8 February 1996

418 pages, 17 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.7 cm, 0.78 kg

"This volume provides seventeen historical and interpretative essays exploring the expansion and contraction fo teh British State's involvement in people's lives. The essays are informative, providing a wealth of insight, history and references." Joel Wolfe, British Politics Group Newsletter

This innovative book provides an essential historical perspective on the boundaries of the state in modern Britain. The collection of inter-disciplinary studies gathered here is unimpressed by the apparent 'rise' of the state before 1979 and its supposed 'decline' in the wake of Thatcherism. The Boundaries of the State in Modern Britain constitutes a comprehensive and coherent attempt to delineate the many and varying aspects of public involvement in private life during the twentieth century. It shows how the state has advanced into some areas of life, whilst vacating others. It explores the impact of these changes on civil society and intellectual life in Britain. Finally, the contributors consider where the state might be going in the twenty-first century.

1. Introduction: the shifting boundaries of the State in modern Britain S. J. D. Green and R. C. Whiting
Part I. The State and Political Theory: 2. Political thought and the state Jose Harris
3. 'Boundaries' in theoretical language about the British state Michael Bentley
4. The twilight of the British state? Henry Dubb versus sceptered awe David Marquand
5. Thinking about the state and the economy Robert Skidelsky
Part II. The Economy: 6. The size and scope of the public sector Roger Middleton
7. The boundaries of taxation R. C. Whiting
8. Economic knowledge and the state in modern Britain G. C. Peden
Part III. Welfare and Social Policy: 9. The dilemmas of welfare: Titmuss, Murray and Mead Alan Deacon
10. Medicine and the English state Anne Digby
11. The English state and educational theory Adrian Wooldridge
Part IV. Conflict and Order: 12. British national identity and the First World War J. M. Winter
13. A state of siege: the state and political violence Charles Townshend
Part V. Religion and Morality: 14. Survival and autonomy: on the strange fortunes and peculiar legacy of ecclesiastical establishment in the modern British state, c.1920 to the present day S. J. D. Green
15. Churches, sects and the state Bryan Wilson
16. The British state and the power of life and death Christie Davies
17. Conclusion: on the past developments and future prospects of the state in modern Britain S. J. D. Green and R. C. Whiting.

Subject Areas: 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000 [HBLW], British & Irish history [HBJD1]