State and Society: A Social and Political History of Britain, 1870-1992 (History of Britain)

By Martin Pugh

Book Overview

Covering the major social and political events of British history from the late Victorian era through to the present day, the 6th edition of this landmark textbook helps students critically examine the relationship between the British state and its citizens. With accessible and engaging prose, the book guides students through a mix of chronological and thematic coverage connecting key political, economic and social changes, helping them examine the main themes and trends in British political history.
Newly featuring definitions of key terms, and with 20 additional illustrations, the 6th edition has also been updated to cover events since the 2015 general election, including:

- The 2017 and 2019 general elections
- The Brexit vote and negotiations
- The COVID-19 pandemic
- The resignation of David Cameron, the fall of Theresa May, and the rise of Boris Johnson
- The rise of cultural politics, including feminism, Black Lives Matter, the centralisation of government and identity politics

This book is essential for anyone looking to for an introduction to modern British social and political history.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1350243108
• ISBN13: 9781350243101
• Release Date: March 2022
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Length: 616 Pages
• Weight: 2.05 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Interesting and in depth study

Martin Pugh has produced an in depth study of Britain's social and political history between 1870 and 1997. The book is divided into 5 sections which makes navigation of the subject matter easier. Section 1 deals with the period 1870-1902 and focuses on topics such as the retreat of industrial revolution, persistence of mass poverty, the myths and reality of Victorian values and the rise of the Labour movement. Section 2 covers Edwardian social reforms, class struggle, invasion scares, and the impact of war to name but a few of its themes and it spans the years 1902-1918. In section 3, 1918-1940, Pugh explores such issues as the legacy of war, Labours rise to power, social welfare, the housing revolution and Keynesianism. Section 4 (1940-1970) looks at the `Age of the Benign State', and covers such topics as race and immigration, collapse of British power, the permissive society, decolonisation and Britain's reluctant entry into Europe. The final section discusses multi-party politics, the decline of Labour, Thatcherism, the increase of environmentalism and economic depression and ends in 1997. There are tables and figures, some illustrations and a useful guide to further reading for those who wish to explore the subject further. This text should be very useful to undergraduates but would also appeal to anyone with an interest in British history. It is easy to read although admittedly a little `dry' at times but is full of relevant information and provides enough `in depth' information for even the most exacting of readers.