A Nation Dividing?: The Electoral Map of Great Britain, 1979-1987

by Ronald John Johnston

This survey of the electoral geography of the British Isles analyzes recent voting patterns, shedding light on the question of which party wins the elections. Addresses, in particular, the apparent north-south divide (Conservative south, Labour north) of Thatcherite Britain, with clear analysis of the changing electoral geography since 1979, when Margaret Thatcher came to power. Also explores the implications of declining marginal constituencies for the main political parties. This is the first book to integrate survey, census, and electoral data for the period 1979 to 1987. The authors demonstrate that the divide indeed exists and that, in fact, it is getting wider. This is a remarkably readable synthesis of geography, political science, and sociology, with lessons for all democratic political systems.

379 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988