Consensus Politics: From Atlee to Major

by Dennis Kavanagh, Peter Morris

Margaret Thatcher's departure from office and the arrival of her successor, John Major, have had a profound impact on the way Britain is governed - and in this new edition of Consensus Politics , the authors examines the legacy of Thatcherite "conviction politics" and assesses the state of consensus in Britain's government today. This chronicle of the rise and fall of the post-war consensus in five key policy areas - the mixed economy, full employment, trade unions, welfare and foreign policy - remains a superb introduction to one of the major debates of recent political history.

168 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1989

Reviews

[Andrew Stone]

Written in 1987 but holds up well. A discussion of the validity of the concept of post-war consensus and when and why it broke down (hint: it is about Thatcher, but it's not just about Thatcher). Accessible enough for A-level students but doesn't talk down to the reader.

[Tom C]

Fantastic detail and well argued thesis that balanced analysis with summary well. Readable and broadly unobjectionable.