The Oxford Handbook of Modern British Political History, 1800-2000

The two centuries after 1800 witnessed a series of sweeping changes in the way in which Britain was governed, the duties of the state, and its role in the wider world. Powerful processes--from the development of democracy, the changing nature of the social contract, war, and economic dislocation--have challenged, and at times threatened to overwhelm, both governors and governed. Such shifts have also presented challenges to the historians who have researched and written about Britain's past politics.

This Handbook shows the ways in which political historians have responded to these challenges, providing a snapshot of a field which has long been at the forefront of conceptual and methodological innovation within historical studies. It comprises thirty-three thematic essays by leading and emerging scholars in the field. Collectively, these essays assess and rethink the nature of modern British political history itself and suggest avenues and questions for future research. The Oxford Handbook of Modern British Political History thus provides a unique resource for those who wish to understand Britain's political past and a thought-provoking 'long view' for those interested in current political challenges.

David Brown studied at the Universities of East Anglia (BA), Wales (MA) and Southampton (PhD), before moving to Glasgow in 2001 to take up a lectureship in History at the University of Strathclyde, where he was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2007. In 2012 he moved to the University of Southampton as Professor of Modern History and since January 2016 he has been Head of the Department of History.


Robert Crawford studied History at the University of Leeds and was appointed as a Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh in 2011. He held an AHRC Early Career Fellowship in 2013-2014, and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2017. His interests centre on the character of democratic politics.

Gordon Pentland graduated from the University of Oxford in 1999 and returned to his hometown of Edinburgh to complete an MSc in 2000 and a PhD in 2004, after which he worked for eighteen months as a lecturer in European history at the University of York. He returned to Edinburgh in 2006 to take up a two-year Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship followed by a lectureship in history. He was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2011 and to Reader in 2013.

1. Introduction, David Brown, Robert Crowcroft, and Gordon Pentland
Part I. Concepts and Historiographies
2. Political Ideas and Languages, David Craig
3. High Politics, Steven Fielding
4. Popular Politics, Malcolm Chase
Part II. Institutions, Structures and Machinery
5. The State, Philip Harling
6. Parliament, Philip Salmon
7. Prime Minister and Cabinet, Andrew Blick
8. The Civil Service, Hugh Pemberton
9. Trade Unions, Richard Whiting
10. The Press, David Brown
11. Devolution, James Mitchell
12. Local Government, Ben Weinstein
13. The Monarchy, Andrzej Olechnowicz
14. Religion and the Churches, Simon Green
Part III. Parties, Doctrines and Leaders
15. Political Parties, Angus Hawkins
16. Ideology in Action, Jeremy Nuttall
17. Whigs and Liberals, Ian Packer
18. Tories and Conservatives, John Charmley
19. The Labour Party, Lawrence Black
20. 'Third' and Fringe Parties, Kevin Morgan
21. The Role of the Politician in the Democratic Regime, Robert Crowcroft
Part IV. Elections and Popular Politics
22. Parliamentary Reform, Gordon Pentland
23. Elections, Luke Blaxill
24. Women and Politics, Jennifer Davey
25. Political Communication, Laura Beers
26. Petitioning and Demonstrating, Henry Miller
Part V. Challenges
27. Democracy, James Thompson
28. The Economy, Jim Tomlinson
29. Imperial Policy, Simon Smith
30. War and the State, Simon Ball
31. Britain and Europe, Geoff Hicks
32. Welfare and the State, Pat Thane
Epilogue
33. In Defence of Contemporary History, Anthony Seldon and Mark Davies