As the United Kingdom approaches the general election, understanding the multifaceted landscape of British politics is more crucial than ever.
This reading list examines some of the core areas shaping the election discourse: Westminster dynamics, policy frameworks, economic conditions, welfare systems, and the role of gender in politics.
Whether you are a student, researcher, or engaged citizen, these readings will provide valuable insights into the forces shaping the political landscape and the future of the United Kingdom.
Inside Westminster
The Battle of Ideas in the Labour Party
By Dimitri Batrouni
Providing powerful insights from interviews with some of the most influential thinkers, advisors and MPs in the party, he goes on to examine the phenomenal emergence of Corbynism, the impact of Brexit and what lies ahead for the party.
It’s the Government, Stupid
By Keith Dowding
Governments have developed a convenient habit of blaming social problems on their citizens, placing too much emphasis on personal responsibility and pursuing policies to ‘nudge’ their citizens to better behaviour.
Keith Dowding shows that, in fact, responsibility for many of our biggest social crises – including homelessness, gun crime, obesity and drug addiction – should be laid at the feet of politicians.
Who Enters Politics and Why?
By James Weinberg
Exploring unique survey and interview data on the personality characteristics of British politicians, this book provides a timely psychological analysis of those individuals who pursue political careers and how they represent their constituents once elected.
Voting outcomes and policy changes
Affective Polarisation
Edited by Jana Gohrisch and Gesa Stedman
Using a broad concept of social inequality, the book incorporates aspects of economy and society, language, and emotion culture, as well as interviews and film in historical and transnational perspectives.
The Conservative Governments and Social Policy
Edited by Hugh Bochel and Martin Powell
Focusing on the policy approaches of Conservative governments since 2015, this book examines key social policy areas including education, health, housing, employment, children and young people, and more.
Politics and Policy Making in the UK
By Paul Cairney and Sean Kippin
The book equips students with a robust and up-to-date understanding of UK public policy and enables them to locate this within a broader theoretical framework.
It’s the economy
The Richer, The Poorer
By Stewart Lansley
This landmark book shows how, for 200 years, Britain’s most powerful elites have enriched themselves at the expense of surging inequality, mass poverty and weakened social resilience.
Taxation and Social Policy
Edited by Andy Lymer, Margaret May and Adrian Sinfield
The impact of taxation as an instrument of social policy is central in influencing redistribution and behaviour. This broad-based edited collection fills a significant gap in both literatures, bringing together disparate debates in this emerging area of analysis.
The Future of Social Democracy
Edited by Colin McDougall, George Kendall and Wendy Chamberlain
Leading figures explore a wide range of contentious policy areas such as the economy, housing and globalisation. Together, they set out a vision for the country and for the Liberal Democrats that has social justice at its core.
The state of welfare
The Next Welfare State?
By Christopher Pierson
In this book, Christopher Pierson argues that we need to think quite differently about how we can ensure our collective well-being in the future.
How to Fix the Welfare State
By Paul Spicker
Dismissing false and misleading narratives, this book profiles the real problems that need to be addressed and offers inspiration for a better path forward.
Gender-based political challenges
Women and Welfare Conditionality
By Sharon Wright
This book draws on a wealth of qualitative longitudinal evidence to cast light on women’s lived experiences of welfare and work.
Women, Media, and Elections
By Emily Harmer
This book provides a systematic analysis of electoral coverage by charting how women candidates, voters, politicians’ spouses, and party leaders have been portrayed in newspapers since 1918.
Welfare That Works for Women?
By Kate Andersen
This book offers a compelling narrative and crucial policy recommendations to improve the gendered impact of Universal Credit and make the social citizenship framework in the UK more inclusive of women.
All of the books are available on the Bristol University Press website in print or as an EPUB.
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