Consensus Politics from Attlee to Thatcher

by Dennis Kavanagh, Peter Morris

British politics from the end of the Second World War until the rise of Thatcherism was characterized by the practice of consensus. In 1979 Margaret Thatcher proclaimed, "it must be a conviction government" - a view incompatible with consensus as a style of governing - and set about challenging the shared assumptions of the previous three decades. 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 assess 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.

137 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1989

Reviews

[Andrew Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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