State and Society: A Social and Political History of Britain Since 1870

As a vigorous interpretation of political and social developments in Britain since the late-Victorian era, State and Society is one of the most respected and widely-read introductions to modern British history. Martin Pugh explores as his central theme the relationship between the British state and its citizens with characteristic skill and insight. In this new fifth edition, Pugh brings his final chapter on Crisis and Coalition right up to the result of the May 2015 general election. An introduction and conclusion explain why and how far the secure idea of national identity enjoyed by the British in 1870 had unravelled by 2015. The text throughout has also been revised and extended to address themes such as women’s history, social class, Scottish nationalism, the working of the monarchy and the British system of government, new perspectives on the history of the Labour Party, secularism and British attitudes towards Europe since the 1970s. Pugh explores these and other themes with perceptive and accessible prose, maintaining an ideal balance of socio-economic and political issues.Also including new images, annotated further reading lists and appendices of election data, lists of ministries and other key political facts, this new edition of State and Society reaffirms its position as an essential text for students of modern British history.

Reviews of State and Society: A Social and Political History of Britain Since 1870

As well as being an enjoyable read from cover-to-cover, the book is a superb resource for teaching and learning. It also possesses the advantage of being incredibly judicious and balanced. Christopher Hill, Birmingham City University, UK Bringing his well-established book down to the present, Martin Pugh continues to be hard-hitting, contentious and disturbing. Readers wanting a sustained and straightforward passage to sunlit uplands should look elsewhere. Across the entire period social structures, political programmes, foreign and economic policies, gender relations, industrial and commercial performance, wealth and poverty are among the many matters that come under critical scrutiny in compact, well-structured and easily accessible sections. Connect them, and you will find a coherently sustained picture of modern Britain which invites debate and argument. Keith Robbins, formerly University of Wales, Lampeter, UK State and Society is one of the best introductions to British political history in the long twentieth century available now. Pugh shows the connections between key political, economic and social changes. This synthesis is the book's most impressive achievement because it presents a clear and decisive, yet not simplistic, narrative. State and Society is an accessible and thought-provoking survey for university students at all levels and curious general readers alike. Toby Harper, Providence College, USA No single text better illustrates the interconnections between party politics and economic policy in relation to their long-term consequences for the lives of individuals. State and Society delivers an engaging analysis of the broad sweep of British history, and with a level of detail that makes it possible to understand how core areas such as budget priorities, currency values, and the balance of trade shaped critical decisions. It provides readers with the means to better grasp the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, and to understand how political and economic forces have shaped those rights and responsibilities over time. Charles Upchurch, Florida State University, USA