Regional Dynamics: The Basis of Electoral Support in Britain
Type
Book
Authors
ISBN 10
0714647829
Category
324.94 POLITICAL PROCESS-Britain
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Publication Year
1997
Publisher
Frank Cass Publishers, United States
Pages
210
Subject
Elections -- Great Britain; Dependency; Great Britain -- Economic conditions -- Regional disparities; Great Britain -- Economic conditions -- 1945-1993; Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1979-;
Abstract
Many have noticed the ‘North-South divide’ in British politics. In this study, William Field points out that this divide marks the resurgence of a core-periphery cleavage which was also dominant in British politics in the years before 1914. He shows how similar the geographical pattern of the vote was in the general election of 1989 to that in the two general elections of 1910, the last before the outbreak of World War I. Many of the same constitution issues - devolution and reform of the second chamber were coming to the fore then as now.
Are we now seeing the resurgence of a pattern which, from the end of the First World War to the 1980s, was submerged by the politic of class? Is the decline of the class system leading to the resurrection of older cleavages? Was Thatcherism so dominant in British politics in the 1980s, more a consequence of profound social and geographical changes than a cause? William Field examines these questions, and brings to his analysis a deep understanding of statistics and a rigout not always found in historical analysis.
In a valuable postscript, professor field examine the 1977 general election results, and report that while the conservatives were humiliated all across the country, the shift towards labor did little to reserve the north-south divide-instead 1997 saw the continued polarization of Britain into two regionally concentrated and opposing camps.
Are we now seeing the resurgence of a pattern which, from the end of the First World War to the 1980s, was submerged by the politic of class? Is the decline of the class system leading to the resurrection of older cleavages? Was Thatcherism so dominant in British politics in the 1980s, more a consequence of profound social and geographical changes than a cause? William Field examines these questions, and brings to his analysis a deep understanding of statistics and a rigout not always found in historical analysis.
In a valuable postscript, professor field examine the 1977 general election results, and report that while the conservatives were humiliated all across the country, the shift towards labor did little to reserve the north-south divide-instead 1997 saw the continued polarization of Britain into two regionally concentrated and opposing camps.
Description
There is a perceived North-South divide in British politics. In this study, William Field points out that this divide marks the resurgence of a core-periphery cleavage which was also dominant in British politics in the years before 1914. Other similarities are pointed out. - from Amzon
Biblio Notes
Contents
1. The electoral geography of Britain, 1885-1992 ……………………......…p. 27
2. current explanation for regional change - a critical evaluation ………p. 64
3. the core-periphery cleavage - concepts and interpretations …………..p. 78
4. a dynamic model of core and periphery …………………………...........……p. 100
5. stability in change in British politics …………………………………..............p. 166
6. PostScript: the 1997 General Election in the context of
the core-periphery continuum ……………………………………........................….p. 183
7. Appendix: data sources and expansions ………………………………..........p. 189
1. The electoral geography of Britain, 1885-1992 ……………………......…p. 27
2. current explanation for regional change - a critical evaluation ………p. 64
3. the core-periphery cleavage - concepts and interpretations …………..p. 78
4. a dynamic model of core and periphery …………………………...........……p. 100
5. stability in change in British politics …………………………………..............p. 166
6. PostScript: the 1997 General Election in the context of
the core-periphery continuum ……………………………………........................….p. 183
7. Appendix: data sources and expansions ………………………………..........p. 189
Number of Copies
1
