Political parties and party platforms Books

Book SynopsisThe political ambitions of the movement behind Bernie Sanders have never been limited to winning the White House. Since Bernie first entered the presidential primaries in 2016, his supporters have worked to organize a revolution intended to encourage the active participation of millions of ordinary people in political life. In Bigger than Bernie, activist writers Meagan Day and Micah Uetricht give us an intimate map of this movement to remake American politics top to bottom, profiling the grassroots organizers who are building something bigger, and more ambitious, than the career of any one candidate. As participants themselves, Day and Uetricht provide a serious analysis of the prospects for long-term change, offering a strategy for making "political revolution" more than just a campaign slogan. They provide a road map for how to entrench democratic socialism in the halls of power and in our own lives.This new edition offers unmatched insights into the people behind the most unique campaign in modern American history and explores how the political revolution has been re-tooled for a time of economic crisis and pandemic.Trade ReviewAn indispensable guide to twenty-first-century socialism from the viewpoint of clear-eyed,sharp-witted, smart, funny authors . They give me hope! -- Jane McAlevey, author of A Collective Bargain"Part history lesson, part guidebook; this is a love letter to the everyday people and movementswho transformed this country. Bigger than Bernie isn't just about the man who's spent themajority of his political career on the fringes. It's about fighters. It's about thinkers. It's aboutlove. It's about us." -- Phillip Agnew, Cofounder of the Dream DefendersAn exhilarating account of what we'll be doing in the coming years. Anyone who thinks, withdread or relief, that the work comes to an end after Election Day in 2020 will think again. I'mgoing to keep coming back to them and their book -- Corey Robin, author of The Enigma of Clarence ThomasBigger than Bernie is a comprehensive and necessary read . an essential roadmap forachieving permanent change, and an energizing account that brings socialism into the presenttense. -- RoseAnn DeMoro, former Executive Director of National Nurses UnitedUrgent and essential . no one could better capture the promise and perils of this once-in-a-generation moment. I try never to miss a word that they write, and you shouldn't either. -- Krystal Ball, cohost of Rising on HillTVDay and Uetricht are two of the most brilliant and courageous intellectuals of the Sandersmovement. This indispensable book is a powerful, pioneering analysis of these new radicaltimes and a compelling vision of where it all might be going -- Cornel West, author of Race Matters

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Book SynopsisIn July 1917, when the Provisional Government issued a warrant for his arrest, Lenin fled from Petrograd; later that year, the October Revolution swept him to supreme power. In the short intervening period he spent in Finland, he wrote his impassioned, never-completed masterwork The State and Revolution. This powerfully argued book offers both the rationale for the new regime and a wealth of insights into Leninist politics. It was here that Lenin justified his personal interpretation of Marxism, savaged his opponents and set out his trenchant views on class conflict, the lessons of earlier revolutions, the dismantling of the bourgeois state and the replacement of capitalism by the dictatorship of the proletariat. As both historical document and political statement, its importance can hardly be exaggerated.Translated and edited with an introduction by Robert ServiceTable of ContentsPart 1 Class society and the state: the state as the product of the irreconcilability of class contradictions; special bodies of armed men, prisons, etc.; the state as an instrument for the exploitation of the oppressed class; the "withering away" of the state and violent revolution. Part 2 The state and revolution - the experience of 1848-51: the eve of the revolution; the revolution in summary; the presentation of the question by Marx in 1852. Part 3 The state and revolution - the experience of the Paris Commune of 1871 - Marx's analysis: what was heroic about the Communards' attempt?; with what is the smashed state machine to be replaced?; the eradication of the parliamentarianism; organization of the unity of the nation; the destruction of the parasite state. Part 4 Continuation - supplementary clarifications by Engels: the housing question; the polemic with the anarchists; letter to Bebel; critique of the draft of the Erfurt Programme; the 1891 Preface to Marx's "The Civil War in France"; Engels on the overcoming of democracy. Part 5 The economic basis for the withering away of the state: the presentation of the question by Marx; the transition from capitalism to Communisim; the first phase of Communist society; the higher phase of Communist society. Part 6 The vulgarization of Marxism by the opportunists: Plekhanov's polemic with the Anarchists; Kautsky's polemic with the opportunists; Kautsky's polemic with Pannekoek. Part 7 The experience of the Russian Revolutions of 1905 and 1917.

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Book Synopsis''Engrossing'' Daniel Beer, Guardian''A beautiful book... incisive, radiant'' Olivia Laing''Illuminating, dramatic... majestic writing'' Spectator''Enthralling... a triumph'' Andrew SolomonAlex Halberstadt returns to Russia, the troubled, enigmatic land of his birth, where decades of Soviet totalitarianism shaped and fractured three generations of his family, in this haunting work of memoir and history.In Ukraine, Halberstadt tracks down his paternal grandfather - most likely the last living bodyguard of Joseph Stalin. He revisits Lithuania, his Jewish mother''s home, to examine the legacy of the Holocaust and the pernicious anti-Semitism that remains largely unaccounted for. And he returns to his birthplace, Moscow, where his grandmother designed homespun couture for Soviet ministers'' wives, his mother consoled dissidents at a psychiatric hospital, and his father made a dangerous living by selTrade ReviewAn act of literary archaeology... [in] finely wrought prose... melding the genres of biography, history and memoir. The book is more than just an account of one family's ordeals: it is an engrossing account of dictatorship, war and genocide, and how the toxic legacy they left behind has etched itself into successive generations of Soviet citizens. -- Daniel Beer * The Guardian *A loving and mournful account that's also skeptical, surprising and often very funny... Lush and moving. -- Jennifer Szalai * New York Times *Illuminating, dramatic... It's as if [Halbertstadt's] feelings about Russia were frozen in time when he emigrated, leaving shards of perception that are peculiarly incisive... Majestic writing. -- Matthew Janney * Spectator *Alex Halberstadt is a magnificent writer. Young Heroes of the Soviet Union is a beautiful book about trauma and its impact on one extraordinary family, and an incisive, radiant look at the long legacy of suffering and war.This terrific, gripping book, part family memoir, part history...[is] a superb evocation of the Soviet Union in the 1960s and '70s. -- David Herman * Jewish Chronicle *Enthralling... Alex Halberstadt describes the disjunction between his Soviet childhood and his American adolescence with incandescent wit, a sometimes bitter but always compelling nostalgia, and great literary flair. This book is a triumph. -- Andrew SolomonSurprising, sad, funny, and engrossing... This is history as memoir, and vice versa. -- John Jeremiah Sullivan[An] elegant testimony to the subordination of human life to the will of an overmighty state. -- Robert Leigh-Pemberton * Daily Telegraph *Fascinating. -- Julia Llewellyn Smith * Mail on Sunday *This truly excellent book will transform your understanding of what memoir can do. -- Wells Tower

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An essential introduction to Irish politics, Radicals and Realists expertly analyses the political parties that have influenced the history of pre- and post-partition Ireland. Lila Haines' rigorously researched guide provides concise histories of the island's 12 most significant political parties, revealing their ideals and deals, clashes and collaborations, and splinters and mergers. Dispassionate and insightful, Radicals and Realists discusses the achievements, trends and milestones of the contemporary two-jurisdiction island. It also demolishes popular myths and reveals the inconvenient truths about political ineptitude, corruption, authoritarianism or tolerance of terrorism that some parties may prefer to forget or rewrite. Radicals and Realists is an indispensable companion for all who wish to understand how political parties in Ireland have evolved, and how their electoral fortunes are shaping the future of the island they share.

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Book SynopsisThis book charts the development of political thought within the British Liberal Party and its successor, the Liberal Democrats. Beginning with Jo Grimond’s rise to the leadership in 1956, it follows the Liberal resurgence in the second half of the twentieth century through to the major setbacks of the 2015 general election and the 2016 referendum on UK membership of the European Union. Drawing on interviews with leading politicians and political thinkers, the book examines Liberal ideas against the background of key historical events and controversies, including the period of coalition government with the Conservatives.Trade Review'Well-researched, thorough and balanced.'Sir Vince Cable, Leader of the Liberal Democrats'Tudor Jones has written a meticulously detailed and scholarly account of the revival of the Liberal Party since the dog days of the 1950s, and of the tribulations of the Liberal Democrats since the merger with the SDP in the 1980s. The uneven path of British Liberalism will prove the standard work on the subject, and it is of particular relevance at a time when the Liberal Democrats seem on the brink of a revival. It is a contribution of great importance to recent political history.'Vernon Bogdanor, Professor of Government, King's College London‘Since the mid-1950s, when observers first discerned a revival in its fortunes, the electoral history of the British Liberal Party and its successor, the Liberal Democrats, has been characterised by a bewildering series of upturns and reversals. This uneven path has been accompanied by an ongoing internal debate – partisans might reject the suggestion of a dispute – over the party’s underlying philosophy and purpose. Much of this relates to Liberalism’s uneasy coalition of social and economic traditions and the extent to which they can be combined within the same political movement. Showing an impressive knowledge and understanding of the relevant literature, Tudor Jones expertly leads the reader through Liberalism’s ideological history over the last sixty years. His work is timely. With the Liberal Democrats again reclaiming a significant role in British politics, this book is one which students and practitioners of Liberalism will want to read.’David Dutton, Ramsay Muir Emeritus Professor of Modern History, University of Liverpool'Jones deftly interleaves a well-informed description of the party's internal philosophical debates with a clear account of its political fortunes, both good and not so good, between 1945 and 2017. The new chapters on the coalition and its immediate aftermath are notably fair and balanced, providing a valuable resource not only for historians but also for journalists and indeed anyone eager to get beyond partisan views of that still controversial period.'David Howarth, Professor of Law and Public Policy, University of Cambridge and MP for Cambridge from 2005–10 -- .Table of Contents1 Survival of a creed, 1954–562 The advent of Grimond: the creed revived, 1956–593 Of progress, realignment and disappointed hopes, 1959–674 The rise of community politics in uncertain times, 1967–765 Liberalism in a cul-de-sac, 1976–796 Liberalism within the Alliance: denting the mould, 1979–887 Liberals, Owen and the social market economy, 1983–888 Recovery after a painful infancy, 1988–979 Ashdown’s unfinished project, 1997–9910 Advance and debate, 1999–200511 Crisis, consolidation and reaffirmation, 2005–712 Into uncharted post-1945 territory: coalition government, 2010–1513 Electoral collapse, 2015 and the future of British LiberalismConclusionIndex

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Book SynopsisFor a brief moment in 2019 Britain’s politics looked like it might be transformed. Just when it seemed that the divisions within and across British political parties over Brexit could not get any more intense, 7 Labour and 3 Conservative MPs broke away to form The Independent Group (TIG) – later Change UK. This is the first book to explore the meteoric lifespan of that party, within the wider context of the experiences of other small political groupings in the House of Commons. Ultimately, it shows why the party failed and disbanded after just a few months. Timely and thoroughly researched, Louise Thompson’s book takes us deep inside the struggles facing MPs who leave behind the comforts of the large political parties. Drawing on interviews with current and former politicians, it explores the practicalities of being a small party MP in the Commons. What challenges face you? Who can you turn to? And just how can you make an impact? Crisply written for the non-specialist reader, this fascinating book opens a window onto the perilous world of parliamentary politics.Trade Review'Louise Thompson’s account of the short life and fast times of Change UK helps explain why no new governing party has emerged in the UK for a hundred years.'Mark D'Arcy, BBC Parliamentary Correspondent'A fascinating in-depth account of how small-parties, whether they be start-ups or established players, either sink or swim in an environment in which - given their relatively limited access to funding, air-time, and even space - the odds are all-too-often stacked against them.'Tim Bale, Professor of Politics, Queen Mary University of London and Co-Director, Mile End Institute'An outstanding book, packed with insights about the difficulties faced by independents and small parties in the House of Commons. It will be a go-to benchmark on these issues for many years to come. Highly recommended.' Alistair Clarke, Reader in Politics, Newcastle University -- .Table of Contents1 Three days in February2 Finding their feet3 Establishing and resourcing a new parliamentary party4 Making your voice heard 5 Whither the two-party system?BibliographyIndex

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Book Synopsis**WINNER OF THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING****WINNER OF THE ELIZABETH LONGFORD PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHY***Book of the year: The Times, Sunday Times, New Statesman, Spectator, Evening Standard*'Outstanding . . . We still live in the society that was shaped by Clement Attlee' Robert Harris, Sunday Times'The best book in the field of British politics' Philip Collins, The Times'Easily the best single-volume, cradle-to-grave life of Clement Attlee yet written' Andrew RobertsClement Attlee was the Labour prime minister who presided over Britain's radical postwar government, delivering the end of the Empire in India, the foundation of the NHS and Britain's place in NATO. Called 'a sheep in sheep's clothing', his reputation has long been that of an unassuming character in the shadow of Churchill. But as John Bew's revelatory biography shows, Attlee was not only a hero of his age, but an emblem of it; and his life tells the story of how Britain changed over the twentieth century. Here, Bew pierces Attlee's reticence to examine the intellect and beliefs of Britain's greatest - and least appreciated - peacetime prime minister. This edition includes a new preface by the author in response to the 2017 general election.Trade ReviewWinner of The Orwell Prize for Political WritingEasily the best single-volume, cradle-to-grave life of Clement Attlee yet written. Professor Bew updates but also betters all the other biographies with this intelligent, well-researched and highly readable book. Scholarly and perceptive, it tells the story of how quiet determination and impeccable political timing wrought a peaceful revolution * Andrew Roberts *If Labour is to return to power, it is not to Tony Blair and Harold Wilson to whom it should turn for inspiration but to the ethos and example of Attlee . . . Citizen Clem promises to be one of the highlights of the autumn season -- Jason Cowley * New Statesman *The brilliant young historian John Bew urges Labour to recapture something of the ethos of the Attlee period * Telegraph *In this monumental biography, John Bew sets out to explore, not just the scale of the achievement, but to discover what made Attlee tick . . . A good book about a remarkable man -- Chris Mullin * Guardian *Fascinating . . . He writes with flair and considerable intellectual confidence . . . Bew believes that Labour has lost a sense of historical mission . . . This insight seems right to me -- Jason Cowley * Financial Times *This biography makes a strong case for Attlee's greatness . . . Such contradictions deserve a discerning biographer, and in John Bew, Attlee has the man he deserves. He has written with verve and confidence a first-rate life of a man whom he correctly argues has been under-appreciated . . . What a life and what a man -- Daniel Finkelstein * The Times *Outstanding . . . This excellent new life of Labour's greatest leader . . . We still live in the society that was shaped by Clement Attlee . . . Bew's achievement is not only to bring this curious and introverted man to life, but to make him oddly loveable. He steps out like a character from the pages of the social novels of H. G. Wells or George Orwell . . . To read this book in the shadow of the present Labour leadership election is a salutary experience -- Robert Harris * Sunday Times *An absorbing new life of Clement Attlee shows how a quiet man from the suburbs became Labour's unlikely postwar hero . . . So how did a man who was the object of so much private derision by his peers come to preside over Labour's greatest (some might say only) radical government? Bew puts the question at the core of his story. He answers it convincingly by mixing arresting narrative with a thorough study of the people and policies of the Labour movement at a time of hardship interspersed by war and fierce ideological difference . . . The book is replete with amusing vignettes . . . This book will become required reading for the present-day Labour party -- John Kampfner * Observer *Magisterial . . . A great work of personal biography, social history, political philosophy, international relations and ferrets-in-a-sack Labour Party infighting . . . Bew explores in great detail Attlee's pilgrim's progress toward socialism with a thorough critique of his literary, cultural and political reading. . . As the Labour Party retreats towards ideological self-immolation, as Britain stumbles on the world stage, and as European social democracy stands in peril, we need another Attlee more than ever. In the absence of which, we have Bew's brilliant book -- Tristram Hunt * Prospect *Read this book to understand what Labour once was and what has been lost because of its embrace of identity politics and ultra-liberalism. Book of the Year -- Jason Cowley * New Statesman *A masterful portrait of a man who led the Labour Party for 20 years and arguably did more than any other UK politician to shape the postwar world . . . Attlee was a patriot who believed that tolerance was Britain's greatest gift to the world. Now, more than ever, it is tolerance we need. Book of the Year -- Tom Watson * New Statesman *Attlee was a distant and austere figure by reputation, but the book sweeps that away from the start, recalling Clem the street agitator and war hero. Book of the Year -- Roland White * Sunday Times *The author sets out to claim a place among the greats for his subject and succeeds . . . The lessons for modern politics are made clearly. Book of the Year -- Daniel Finkelstein * The Times *Bew has the detachment of a professional historian, but an understanding of politics and personalities. Book of the Year -- Kwasi Kwarteng * Evening Standard *The best book in the field of British politics. Book of the Year. -- Philip Collins * The Times *Bew is particularly good on the dynamics of his close relationship with Churchill . . . Bew's revelatory biography explains that achievement. But it also brings us a 3D, flesh and blood Citizen Clem, and boy, does he make him shine! -- Gordon Marsden * Times Higher Education *This is a big book in scope and depth and is a very good read besides. It is not just a political biography, but an explanation of the man, what made him, the roots of his patriotism, his military experience in the First World War, his love of literature . . . in a way Citizen Clem is a history of the twentieth century * Tablet *His true political genius and unflinching moral purpose are brilliantly reappraised in John Bew's Citizen Clem . . . This book is a rare beast - political biography at its finest, yet one that is deeply moving -- David Bell * Times Literary Supplement *Winner of the Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical BiographyBoth a magnificent renewal of the art of political biography and a monument to the greatest leader the Labour party has ever had. It presents us with a man whose socialism was learned, not acquired * Jonathan Derbyshire, Judge of The Orwell Prize *John Bew's survey of Labour's post-war hero Clement Attlee resurrects the idea of the political biography almost thought lost: encyclopaedic, analytical, massive in scope but intimate in understanding. * Waterstones Weekly *

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Book SynopsisA BARACK OBAMA AND A BILL GATES SUMMER READING PICK 2022 A NEW YORK TIMES AND WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER 'This book helped me understand modern politics better' - Bill Gates, Summer Reading Pick 2022 'Superbly researched and written' - Francis Fukuyama, The Washington Post 'It's been a long time since I learned so much from one book.' - Rutger Bregman author of Utopia for Realists 'Powerful [and] intelligent.' - Fareed Zakaria, CNN America's political system isn't broken. The truth is scarier: it's working exactly as designed. In Why We're Polarized, Ezra Klein reveals the structural and psychological forces behind America's deep political divisions, revealing how a system filled with rational, functional parts can combine into a dysfunctional whole. Neither a polemic nor a lament, this book offers a clear framework for understanding everything from Trump's rise to the Democratic Party's leftward shift to the politicisation of everyday culture. Klein shows how and why American politics polarised in the twentieth century, what that polarisation did to Americans' views of the world and one another, and how feedback loops between polarised political identities and polarised political institutions drive the system toward crisis. This revelatory book will change how you look at politics, and perhaps at yourself.Trade ReviewIt's been a long time since I learned so much from one book. He shows just how broken the American political system is. -- Rutger Bregman author of * Utopia for Realists *In this insightful book, Klein argues persuasively that the cause of [polarisation in America] is identity-the human instinct to let our group identities guide our decision making. The book is fundamentally about American politics, but it's also a fascinating look at human psychology. -- Bill GatesA fascinating book, rich in politics, history, psychology and more -- David Leonhardt * New York Times *Eye-opening . . . Klein's brilliant diagnosis and prescription provide a path to understanding--and healing. * O Magazine *By weaving together a composite of group psychological theory and political history in the trademark, rigorously logical style of Vox's Explainer series, journalism, Klein traces the path of polarization from a time when the Republican and Democratic parties were virtually indistinguishable from each other to today. -- Emma Levy * Seattle Times *Why We're Polarized delivers. . . . What Klein adds especially to [is] our understanding of how we got here--why Trump is more a vessel for our division than the cause, and why his departure will not provide any magical cure. . . . A thoughtful, clear and persuasive analysis. -- Norman Ornstein * New York Times Book Review *In this thoughtful exploration of American politics, Ezra Klein challenges the conventional wisdom about why and how recently we've come apart, and suggests that the fantasy of some unified American middle is perhaps at odds with the ongoing fight for truly representational politics. Why We're Polarized makes the compelling case that the centuries-long battle to perfect our union means we were built to be split; Klein's provocative question is whether America's democratic systems and institutions can bear up under the weight of our divides. -- Rebecca Traister * New York Times bestselling author of Good and Mad *The story of this impeachment is the story of American politics today: polarization. It affects almost every aspect of American political life and has been studied by scholars from many different angles, with dozens of good historical and experimental approaches. Wouldn't it be great if someone would digest all these studies, synthesize them and produce a readable book that makes sense of it all? Ezra Klein has done just that with his compelling new work, Why We're Polarized. It is likely to become the political book of the year. . . . Powerful [and] intelligent. -- Fareed Zakaria * CNN *Well worth reading. -- Andrew Sullivan * New York Magazine *Few books are as well-matched to the moment of their publication as Ezra Klein's Why We're Polarized. . . . Klein's careful book explains how different groups of Americans can see politics through such different lenses, examining how various psychological mechanisms allow committed partisans to rationalize almost anything their party does. . . . This book fully displays the attributes that have made Klein's journalism so successful. -- Dan Hopkins * Washington Post *Few books are as well-matched to the moment of their publication -- Dan Hopkins * Washington Post *

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Book SynopsisWITH AN INTRODUCTION BY DAVID AARONOVITCHThe Communist Manifesto was first published in London, by two young men in their late twenties, in 1848. Its impact reverberated across the globe and throughout the next century, and it has come to be recognised as one of the most important political texts ever written. Maintaining that the history of all societies is a history of class struggle, the manifesto proclaims that communism is the only route to equality, and is a call to action aimed at the proletariat. It is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand our modern political landscape.Trade ReviewA brilliant piece of writing, easily accessible, and which really did change the world * Daily Mail *Contemporary, ironic, cool, biting writing style * Observer *Irreverent, mocking, sarcastic, witty, savage, provocative and with a driving, irresistible argument * Independent *As a force for change, its influence has been surpassed only by the Bible. As a piece of writing, it is a masterpiece * Guardian *A short work, written in punchy, accessible style. It can be read in an hour. * Sunday Mirror *

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Book SynopsisIn recent years, the once familiar landscape of British politics has fundamentally changed. The Conservative Party in particular has undergone a profound transformation. Centre-right values that steered British politics for decades – internationalism, respect for the rule of law, fiscal responsibility, belief in our institutions – were cast aside in the wake of the Brexit referendum to the detriment of UK prosperity, electoral trust and the long-term fortunes of the Conservative Party. But this radical rightwards shift can and must be reversed. In this bold intervention, David Gauke and other leading figures on the centre right – including Michael Heseltine, Rory Stewart, Amber Rudd, Gavin Barwell and Daniel Finkelstein - explore how the Conservative Party morphed into a populist movement and why this approach is doomed to fail. Together they make the case for a return to the liberal centre right, arguing with passion and conviction that the values that once defined the best of British conservatism remain essential both to the party and to the UK’s political future.Trade Review"A superb case for the centre-right of politics – and a classic indictment of the deceptions of populism."—The Rt Hon Sir John Major KG CH"In an era of superficial sloganising and breathless soap opera it is easy to forget that what really matters in politics is ideas. This book is brimful of them. The Case for the Centre Right deserves to be at the heart of any debate about how to revive the Conservative Party and the country."—Nick Robinson"A timely and compelling intervention in the debate on the future of Conservatism."—Andrew Gamble, University of Sheffield“thoughtful and thought-provoking”—Stephen Bush, Financial Times“I can recommend The Case for the Centre Right, edited by David Gauke, which includes intelligent essays by contributors such as Rory Stewart, Dominic Grieve and Amber Rudd.”—Matthew D’Ancona, Prospect“The Case for the Centre Right contains much that is needed. All those who care for moderation in politics, from the centre left as well as the centre right, should applaud David Gauke for assembling an excellent collection of essays that sets out the issues starkly.”—William Waldegrave, New Statesman “In The Case for the Centre Right, David Gauke, Rory Stewart and other unfashionable types anatomise populism with cool intelligence.”—Daniel Hannan, Telegraph

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Book SynopsisThe Conservative Private Members (1922) Committee is an important but elusive force in British politics. Despite becoming almost a household name during the leadership crises of 2022, it remains little understood beyond the corridors of Westminster.Established in 1923 by a group of Conservative MPs elected the year before, the Committee offers backbenchers an opportunity to discuss their views and coordinate independently of the frontbench. Over time it has become the kingmaker of the Conservative Party, overseeing leadership elections and confidence votes such as that faced by Boris Johnson over ‘partygate’.How did the Committee come together? How is it structured and how much power does it really wield? These are among the questions the book considers. Providing unprecedented insights into this long-standing institution, it is essential reading for anyone who cares about the integrity of our political system.Trade Review'Impeccable scholarship and a degree of charm'Simon Heffer, The Sunday Telegraph'With unrestricted access to its records, Lord Norton’s masterful account sheds fresh light on the workings of this mysterious committee.'Lord Lexden, The House magazine'The 1922 is probably the most significant body in British politics that almost no one knows anything about – and what they do think they know is probably wrong. Philip Norton does a superb job at disentangling myth from reality.'Philip Cowley, Professor of Politics, Queen Mary University of London'Nobody knows more about parliament, or about the Conservative Party, than Philip Norton. So he is the perfect guide to the little-understood but increasingly newsworthy 1922 Committee. This meticulously researched history illustrates how much of parliament’s most important influence really goes on behind the scenes.'Meg Russell, Professor of British and Comparative Politics, University College London 'This highly insightful and accessible book sheds important new light on the history, organisation and politics of the Conservatives' backbench 1922 Committee. Drawing on his decades of experience observing and analysing parliamentary politics, Philip Norton reveals how the Committee works, its day-to-day power and its occasional role in terminating premierships.'Isabelle Hertner, Senior Lecturer in Politics, King’s College London'Anyone who wants to really understand the British Conservative Party, and indeed parliamentary parties in general, would be well advised to read this book.'Tim Bale, Party Politics'An admirable textbook about this obscure body which plays a vital role in crowning and defenestrating Conservative leaders, and therefore in the British Constitution.'Andrew Gimson, ConservativeHome -- .Table of Contents1 Setting the scene: parliamentary parties in perspectivePart I: History2 Modest beginnings: the origins of the 19223 Speaking truth to power: in war and peace4 Wielding the sword: the era of electing the leader5 The maker and slayer of leaders: from Cameron to SunakPart II: Organisation and leadership6 Who and when: membership and meetings7 Engaging members' interests: backbench committees8 Transforming or presiding? Leadership in the '22Part III: The impact of the 19229 What's going on? Bedding in and being heard10 Collective action: a trade union for backbenchers11 Us versus them: maintaining the integrity of the party12 'May I have a word, minister?' Influencing policy, challenging ministers13 'The men in grey suits': choosing a leader14 Conclusion: the 1922 in British politicsIndex

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Book SynopsisWhat is socialism? Does it have a future, or has it become an outdated ideology in the 21st century?This Very Short Introduction considers the major theories in socialism, and explores its historical evolution from the French Revolution to the present day. Michael Newman argues that socialism has always been a diverse doctrine, while nevertheless containing a central core of interconnected values and goals: a critique of capitalism; an optimistic view of human beings; and the belief that it is possible to establish societies based on egalitarianism, social solidarity, and co-operation. In this new edition, he draws on case studies such as Cuba, Sweden, and Bolivia, to consider attempts to implement socialism in practice, before discussing New Left challenges to conventional notions of socialism on such questions as feminism, climate change, and direct action. Rejecting the widespread view that socialism is an out-dated doctrine, Newman argues that it remains ultimately relevant in today''s world. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books ar the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewThis edition of Socialism: A Very Short Introduction is informative and accessible. It will benefit both graduate and undergraduate students in all disciplines, and it would be useful for the Core programs and the general reader. * Arab Studies Quarterly *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements List of Illustrations Introduction 1: Socialist traditions 2: Cuban communism and Swedish social democracy 3: New Lefts - enrichment and fragmentation 4: Beyond the Dominant Orthodoxies 5: Socialism today and tomorrow References Further reading Index

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Book SynopsisNothing like it had ever been done before. In January 2019, the Brexit Party was just a name. Over a matter of weeks, the party would be launched, stand candidates across seventy seats and become the largest single party in the European Parliament. Along the way, it fought Establishment quangos, the courts, Parliament, the Speaker and the government - hammering the Conservatives so hard it forced the resignation of their Prime Minister - to win nearly twice as many seats as its nearest rival. It was a success beyond anyone's dreams (or, indeed, anyone's worst nightmare). And the inside story of how it happened may serve as a manual of how to - and occasionally how not to - do it. This unique book details the wild ride of the brand-new Brexit Party as it heads from triumph in the European elections to disaster in the general election six months later. Packed with hilarious anecdotes about the reality of setting up a new party, it takes the reader on a journey through building the entire apparatus in an impossibly short time frame; losing key players to enemy action; and facing chaotic scenes created by a cat's cradle of legal complications - before arriving at the conclusion that politics is much more difficult than it looks.

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Book SynopsisA unique source of reference, the "Dictionary of Labour Biography" brings together biographies of more than 300 individuals who have made significant contributions to the history of the Labour Party or the development of socialism in Britain.

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Book SynopsisThe Communist Manifesto is a timeless classic providing intelligent insight into socialism, communism and today’s group identity politics. This pocket edition includes a new introduction by the economist and bestselling author of Adults in the Room, Yanis Varoufakis.The Communist Manifesto was first published in London in 1848, by two young men in their late twenties. Its impact reverberated across the globe and throughout the next century, and it has come to be recognised as one of the most important political texts ever written. Maintaining that the history of all societies is a history of class struggle, the manifesto proclaims that communism is the only route to equality, and is a call to action aimed at the proletariat. It is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand our modern political landscape.

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Book Synopsis'THE POLITICAL BOOK OF THE YEAR' Tim ShipmanA blistering narrative exposé of infighting, skulduggery and chaos in Corbyn's Labour party, now revised and updated.* A Times, Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Sunday Times and i Newspaper Book of the Year *Left Out tells, for the first time, the astonishing full story of Labour's recent transformation and historic defeat.Drawing on unrivalled access, this blistering exposé moves from the peak of Jeremy Corbyn's popularity and the shock hung parliament of 2017 to Labour's humbling in 2019 and the election of Keir Starmer. It reveals a party at war with itself, and puts the reader in the room as tensions boil over, sworn enemies forge unlikely alliances and lifelong friendships are tested to breaking point.This is the ultimate account of the greatest experiment seen in British politics for a generation.'Gripping... Every bit as good as people say' Guardian'Reads like a thriller...told with panache and pace' Financial Times'The definitive post-mortem of the Corbyn project' Sunday TimesTrade ReviewA stunningly good book with jaw-dropping revelations on every page, Left Out is the ultimate inside story of how Jeremy Corbyn went from the brink of victory to one of the worst defeats in British political history. It is both a breath-taking work of political journalism and a gripping first draft of history that is unlikely ever to be bettered. Unquestionably the political book of the year -- TIM SHIPMAN, author of All Out WarAn outstanding, balanced account of the Corbyn leadership from 2017-2019. My one tip? Don't read it late, you won't be able to sleep because of the anger -- Aaron BastaniDeeply reported ... reads like a thriller ... one of the more riveting stories in modern British political history ... told with panache and pace ... Gossip aside, Left Out delivers a piercing analysis of the pressures on Labour's leadership as the party broke on the rocks of Brexit * Financial Times *Brimming with such jaw-dropping moments, forensically gleaned from interviews with virtually all the leading characters from this extraordinary political period ... entertaining and immensely readable ... the scars and grudges, captured magnificently by Pogrund and Maguire, are still fresh ... The authors don't attempt to take sides ... instead they give ample space to both sides ... to allow readers to make up their own minds ... as sensational a tale as any TV drama ... one of the most remarkable periods in British political history, and Left Out is an objective, fact-packed and fascinating record of it * Telegraph***** *It really is every bit as good as people say; superbly written, exceptionally detailed, scrupulously fair, but above all gripping. It's hard to put down -- Andrew Sparrow * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisBritain’s first Labour government took office on 22 January 1924. Its centenary provides an opportunity to reassess the party's performance over the last 100 years, and with an election pending, the character and purpose of the modern party. Labour defined the dominant political settlement of much of the Twentieth Century: the welfare state. It has achieved much in pursuit of material change, social reform and equality. It has challenged patriarchy, racism and the legacy of imperialism, promoted human rights and delivered democratic and constitutional renewal. Yet any honest assessment must acknowledge a century littered with failures and missed opportunities. In this compelling book, Jon Cruddas, one of the country's foremost experts on Labour politics, details the vivid personalities and epic factional battles, the immense achievements and profound disappointments that define a century of Labour. Uniquely framed around competing visions of socialist justice within the Party, he provides a way to rethink Labour history, the divisions and factions on the left and to reassess key figures at the helm of the movement from Keir Hardie through to Keir Starmer.Trade Review‘This dense history of ideas is not a breezy read – but it adds up to a heartfelt plea for pluralism from a Labour thinker whose parliamentary career is drawing to a close just as his party enters a new chapter.’The Guardian'Jon Cruddas is a member of that relatively rare species, an active politician who is also an intellectual.'Chris Mullin, The Spectator ‘If the Labour Party is to win office and govern effectively, it should study A Century of Labour, and embrace the deep lessons it offers about success built on tolerance, respect and pluralism.’Neal Lawson, Director of Compass‘Cruddas’ clear-eyed analysis gets to the very heart of the ideas and the personalities that have united and divided the Labour Party. A must-read from one of Labour’s most insightful and original thinkers.’Lisa Nandy MP‘A brilliantly bold and bracing journey through Labour’s rich yet troubled history.’Adrian Pabst, author of Postliberal Politics‘An outstanding dissection and celebration of the modern Labour movement. Jon Cruddas is that rarest of breeds, a genuine scholar-politician.’Jesse Norman MP, author of Adam Smith: What He Thought, and Why it Matters‘Quite simply the best history of the Labour Party I have read. Cruddas’ retrieval of the ethical tradition will serve as a guide to the Labour Party’s future.’Lord Glasman, Labour Peer ‘An incisive, original, and thought-provoking account of the different political strands that have defined the Labour party’s outlook over the decades. This book will be required reading, not only for those engrossed in the party’s past, but for those concerned about its future under Keir Starmer.’Mark Wickham-Jones, University of Bristol‘In this absorbing new history of the Labour party Jon Cruddas analyses the party’s successes and failures…An important contribution to the debate on Labour’s future.’Andrew Gamble, University of Sheffield‘important and authoritative’ Labour Hub‘a thorough and enlightening analysis of Labour’s strengths and weaknesses’Professor Pat Thane, Society‘timely […] full of excellent analysis’Morning StarTable of ContentsAcknowledgements Preface Chapter 1: History Chapter 2: Justice Chapter 3: Origins Chapter 4: Minorities: 1924-1931 Chapter 5: Thirties: 1931-1939 Chapter 6: Jerusalem: 1939-1951 Chapter 7: Waste: 1951-1964 Chapter 8: Strife: 1964-1979 Chapter 9: Wilderness: 1979-1987 Chapter 10: Revival: 1987-1997 Chapter 11: Landslides: 1997-2010 Chapter 12: Isolation: 2010-2024 Chapter 13: Purpose Appendices Notes Index

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Book SynopsisThis is the first full-length study of the material and visual culture of the British labour movement in almost half a century. It draws together the fruits of recent research into a comprehensive material and visual analysis of the nineteenth-century labour movement’s development. It analyses the meaning of ‘labour things’, the role they played in the lives of working people and the ways they have influenced the writing of labour history. Over ninety beautifully illustrated, expertly contextualised objects are used to narrate the history of British labour in its most crucial phase of development. Chapters on curation and preservation, a directory of museums where labour things may be seen, and a full bibliography complete the treatment of this important and rapidly developing field, making the book not just essential academic reading but a handbook for anyone who wishes to explore this vital part of our shared culture.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Foreword by Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester Preface List of images 1 Understanding labour things 2 Images and objects 3 Preservation, collections, curation and conservation 4 Directory of places that have nineteenth- century labour and working- class objects Notes Select bibliography

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Book SynopsisNUMBER 1 BESTSELLER IN THE IRISH NON-FICTION CHARTSRough Beast is shocking, important and unputdownable. Roddy DoyleRough Beast is Máiría Cahill''s harrowing story of her life and of what she went through at the hands of what is now Ireland's largest and richest party. That story is told here for the first time in full detail and with unsparing honesty. It is a story of unimaginable trauma and political corruption. It brings to life a world of paramilitary secrecy and parallel laws, but above all it is the story of one young woman's defiance of the power wielded by ex-gunmen inspiring fear and silence, and their influence over elected politicians.Máiría Cahill grew up steeped in the traditions of Irish republicanism and the shadowy world of the IRA: her great-uncle Joe was one of the main founders of the Provisional IRA and her grandfather was Gerry Adams''s mentor in the republican movement. From an early age she seemed des

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewRichly nuanced, the most stimulating book I have read on Labour in ages. -- Martin Kettle * The Guardian *A brilliant book ... a reading of left-wing politics that suggests a road ahead. -- John Rentoul * Independent *Wide-ranging, clever and original, it's a vital read for anyone interested in not just left populism, but any sort of populism at all. -- Andrew Sparrow * The Guardian *A splendid critique of left-wing populism and Labour's electoral woes ... a thesis that convincingly accounts for the defeats of leaders as outwardly disparate as Michael Foot, Neil Kinnock and Ed Miliband, not to mention Jeremy Corbyn and, perhaps ultimately, his successor. -- James O'Brien * Times Literary Supplement *Chris Clarke's thought-provoking examination of the populist issues that have bedevilled the modern left is a bracing corrective to complacency. This dismantling of myths and memes alike, along with dispelling the belief that the left has any kind of monopoly on morality, is an essential read and a reminder that Keir Starmer has quite a job on his hands. -- Alexander Larman * The Observer *The best book written about the Labour Party in recent years ... a must read for those of us wanting the Labour Party to become once again a Party of Government. -- Douglas Alexander, former Minister of State for TradeA highly original take on Labour mythology and how this impacts the party's ability to connect with the voters ... offers one of the most innovative explanations of how Labour has lost its way over the past decade. -- Anthony Broxton * The Critic *

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Book SynopsisIn 2015, the New Democratic Party won an unprecedented victory in Alberta. Unseating the Progressive Conservatives-who had won every provincial election since 1971-they formed an NDP government for the first time in the history of the province.Orange Chinook is the first scholarly analysis of this election. It examines the legacy of the Progressive Conservative dynasty, the PC and NDP campaigns, polling, and online politics, providing context and setting the stage. It highlights the importance of Alberta's energy sector and how it relates to provincial politics with focus on the oil sands, the carbon tax, and pipelines.Examining the NDP in power, Orange Chinook draws on Indigenous, urban, and rural perspectives to explore the transition process and government finances and politics. It explores the governing style of premier Rachel Notley, paying special attention to her response to the 2016 For McMurray wildfire and to the role of women in politics.Orange Chinook brings together Alberta's top political watchers in this fascinating, multifaceted analysis.Trade Review"A useful baseline for considering the future of Alberta politics." -- Trevor Harrison, AlbertaViewsTable of Contents Preface I. Setting the Scene Introduction: Out of an Orange coloured Sky Richard Sutherland II. The Tory Fall and the NDP Victory Politics, Alberta Style: The Rise and Fall of the Progressive Conservatives, 1971-2015 David Taras Death of a Dynasty: The Tories and the 2015 Election Duane Bratt Ready for Rachel: The Alberta NDP's 2015 Campaign Melanee Thomas Marginally Better: Polling in the 2015 Alberta Election Janet Brown and John B. Santos Alberta Politics Online: Digital Retail Politics and Grassroots Growth, 2006-16 Peter Malachy Ryan III. Oil Sands, Carbon Tax, and Pipelines Betting on Bitumen: Lougheed, Klein, and Notley Gillian Steward The Politics of Alberta's Carbon Tax Kevin Taft Notley: The Accidental Pipeline Advocate Deborah Yedlin IV. The NDP in Power After Forty-Four Years: The Alberta New Democrats and the Transition to Government Keith Brownsey Fiscal Constraints on the Orange Chinook Ron Kneebone and Jennifer Zwicker Beyond the ""Lovey-Dovey Talk"": The Orange Chinook and Indigenous Activism Brad Clark Alberta's Cities under the NDP James Wilt The End of Exceptionalism: Post-rural Politics in Alberta Roger Epp V. Notley's Governing Style A League of Their Own: Alberta's Women Party Leaders Lori Williams Notley and the Beast: An Analysis of the Crisis Communication of Rachel Notley During the 2016 Wildfire Chaseten Remillard and Sheridan McVean VI. Alberta's Future Political System What's Past is Prologue: Ontario 1990 and Alberta 2015 Graham White Out of the Blue: Goodbye Tories, Hello Jason Kenney Anthony M. Sayers and David K Steward Appendices Index

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Book SynopsisA fascinating history of how the unfolding drama of each election from 1900 to 2024 has shaped the Labour Party and modern Britain.

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Book SynopsisThe British Labour Party has at times been a force for radical change in the UK, but one critical aspect of its makeup has been consistently misunderstood and underplayed: its Britishness. Throughout the party's history, its Britishness has been an integral part of how it has done politics, acted in government and opposition, and understood the UK and its nations and regions. The People's Flag and the Union Jack is the first comprehensive account of how Labour has tried to understand Britain and Britishness and to compete in a political landscape defined by conservative notions of nation, patriotism and tradition. At a time when many of the party faithful regard national identity as a toxic subject, academics Gerry Hassan and Eric Shaw argue that Labour's Britishness and its ambiguous relationship with issues of nationalism matter more today than ever before, and will continue to matter for the foreseeable future, when the UK is in fundamental crisis. As debate rages about Brexit, and the prospect of Scottish independence remains live, this timely intervention, featuring contributions from a wealth of pioneering thinkers, offers an illuminating and perceptive insight into Labour's past, present and future.

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Book SynopsisDespite being described as 'a remarkably successful partnership' by John Howard and a 'triumph of trust' by his counterpart, Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson, the art of coalition government is a delicate (and sometimes difficult) balancing of policy, politics and personalities. The relationship between the Liberal and Nationals parties ensured the Howard Government's stability and provided a solid foundation for its legislative program between 1996 and 2007. While the Coalition partnership has been pivotal to Australian politics since the Second World War, under the Howard prime ministership – despite occasional tensions – the two parties changed key aspects of Australian life through gun control, telecommunications and taxation reform, and balancing the budget.In The Art of Coalition, Joel Fitzgibbon, Zareh Ghazarian, Tom Frame, Linda Courtenay Botterill, Paul Davey, Tony Abbott and others convey the complexities of maintaining a strong political partnership, and the importance of trust in an effective coalition.

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Book SynopsisThe bestselling book that inspired the Bafta-winning BBC dramaCorruption. Blackmail. Conspiracy to murder. A Very English Scandal has all the hallmarks of a classic thriller with one difference. It''s all true.In the late 1960s Jeremy Thorp, the charismatic leader of the Liberal Party, was at the height of his political career. But homosexuality had only just been legalized, and a former relationship with a younger man named Norman Scott threatened to destroy Thorp''s carefully curated facade. Helped by fellow politicians, Thorpe schemed, deceived and embezzled until he saw only one way to silence his ex-lover for good.Meticulously researched and endlessly extraordinary, Thorp''s trial captured the moment that British society discovered the truth about its political class - and learned just how far the Establishment will go to protect its own.''Gripping. A story of cack-handed assassins, buffoonish policemen, dodgy Home Secretaries'' Trade ReviewThe shocking true story of the first British politician to stand trial for murder * Publisher's description *This is a brilliant, sad, startling nonfiction novel about the Jeremy Thorpe murder-plot scandal. It is as funny and dark as anything by Evelyn Waugh or Jonathan Coe. And in these post Cyril Smith/Jimmy Saville days, it's so timely and relevant * Jon Ronson *A terrific book and brilliantly researched. John Preston writes wonderful dead-pan prose and reveals the depths of depravity, the absurd power of snobbery and the old boy networks of the time -- Claire TomalinA brilliant exploration of an extraordinary political scandal... deeply researched, fluently written, and darkly comic, it reads like a thriller -- Ben MacintyreI loved it; eccentric, dark, humane and English in the very best sense. It's going to be a sure fire-hit -- Alain de BottonThe most forensic, elegantly written, compelling account of one of the 20th century's great political scandals... a real page-turner' * Observer *Very funny and endlessly extraordinary... makes for amazing reading -- Catherine Shoard * Guardian *Impeccably researched... full of shocks, surprises and laugh-out-loud moments. Preston revives a forgotten era and delves into the personalities behind the headlines. * Times Crime Club *Retold with masterful skill... It grips like a detective story, as compelling as BBC2's Life of Duty and every bit as dirty in what it exposes about the upper echelons of society in the Sixties and Seventies * Daily Mail Book of the Week *This brilliant account made me feel I was hearing the tale for the first time ... Preston is an enthralling narrator * Mail on Sunday *Gripping ... cack-handed assassins, buffoonish policemen, dodgy Home secretaries and sozzled judges. The conclusion of an Establishment cover-up is hard to avoid * Daily Telegraph *The unbelievable truth... Preston is a natural storyteller ... he provides the context for actions that seem unbelievable today * The Times *Wonderfully readable ... John Preston is the ideal author, having researched for years many minor characters and talked to dozens of well-known political and literary friends and enemies of Thorpe * Standpoint *Fluent, readable ... a vivid tableau of the players in Thorpe's long, tragic downfall * Evening Standard *I spent a thrilling 48 hours reading it. The narrative is so vivid, the characterisation so brilliant... I thought I knew all about these events, but the full horror of them has only now become apparent -- Antonia FraserA gripping account of the Jeremy Thorpe case. The details make one laugh out loud or gasp with amazement -- Charles Moore * Spectator *The whole affair is retold here compellingly and fluently, bringing to life the cast of characters with some verve * The i *Nothing comes close to the eyepopping outrageousness of the gay murder shenanigans that engulfed and almost destroyed a Liberal leader. Reads like a comic thriller -- Rachel JohnsonA wonderful, wonderful read -- Nick Robinson, BBC Today Programme

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Book SynopsisHistories of Fascism and Anti-Fascism in Australia provides a history of fascist movements and anti-fascist resistance in Australia over the past century.In recent years, the far right has become a resurgent force across the globe, resulting in populist parties securing electoral victories, social movements organising on the streets, and acts of right-wing terrorism. Australia has not been immune to this. However, this is not merely a recent phenomenon; it has a long history of fascist and far-right groups and individuals. These groups have attempted to situate themselves within the wider settler colonial political landscape, often portraying themselves as the inheritors of a violent and exclusionary colonial past. Concurrently, these groups have linked into globalised anti-communist and white supremacist networks. At the same time, Australia has often seen resistance to fascism and the far right, from the political centre to the far left. Covering the period from tTrade Review"This is an original and timely book with a stellar line-up of scholars. While research on the far right and fascism in Australia has grown over the years, anti-fascism and resistance have remained under explored and this book fills this significant gap magnificently."Aurelien Mondon, University of Bath, UK"This collection brings together the leading authorities on fascism and anti-fascism in Australia with a new generation working in the archives. It challenges our inherited understanding of the militant anti-fascism of the 1930s, and the early movements against the White Australia immigration regime. Lively and accessible, it documents the immediate predecessors to the racial populists of our own times, and the generations who resisted them."David Renton, author of No Free Speech for Fascists"In a world where right wing extremism continues to flourish, this history of fascism and anti-fascism is both timely and illuminating. There is an impressive depth of empirical research together with insights drawn from global fascism and anti-fascism studies, and it’s all told with clarity and style. The chapters, by both well-established and emerging scholars, explore in depth the shifting relationships between extremist and mainstream political movements. A key theme is the manner in which Australia’s distinctive forms of racism – expressed in Indigenous and immigration policies, public discourse, and popular culture – have shaped its historical experience of fascist ideas and movements. Histories of Fascism and Anti-Fascism in Australia also explores the achievements as well as the limitations and failures of anti-fascist movements in the past, making for a multi-faceted and nuanced work of history with both scholarly and practical value."Ann Curthoys, Professor Emerita, Australian National University, and co-author with Shino Konishi and Alexandra Ludewig of The Lives and Legacies of a Carceral Island: A Biographical History of Wadjemup/Rottnest IslandTable of Contents1. Introduction: Fascism and Anti-Fascism in Australian History 2. An Uncomfortable Past: Historiographical Reflections on Fascism and Interwar Australia 3. Labour ‘Armies’ in the 1930s Depression: From Industrial Disputes to Anti-Fascism 4. Egon Kisch and Black Australia 5. ‘The Renaissance of our Fatherland’: Fascist Rhetoric and Intra-Communal Tension, Loveday Internment Group Camp 14A, 28 October 1942 6. ‘War on the Whiteman’: Australia in the Racial and Political Imagination of Britain's Far Right, 1945–1970 7. Fascism in Exile: Ustasha-Linked Organisations in Australia 8. European and Australian Fascisms: The Case of Ferenc Molnár and National Socialism in Cold War Australia 9. Fascism and Anti-Fascism in Perth in the 1980s 10. Far Right, Far Left and Australian Engagement with Libya in the 1980s 11. ‘I cop this shit all the time and I’m sick of it’: Pauline Hanson, the Far Right and the Politics of Victimhood in Australia 12. Discourses of Western Civilisation in the Australian Federal Parliament 13. Fascists In and Out of Uniform: Situating Street Fascism in the Broader Context of White Supremacy

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Book SynopsisSebastian Payne is the director of the think tank Onward and the former Whitehall Editor for the Financial Times. He is the author of the acclaimed Broken Heartlands, which was The Times' Political Book of the Year. Sebastian presented the Payne's Politics podcast, which was shortlisted for News Podcast of the Year' at the National Press Awards. The Fall of Boris Johnson is his second book and was a winner at the Parliamentary Book Awards.Trade ReviewAn entertaining and illuminating fly on the wall romp through Boris Johnson's final nine months, where the fly, Seb Payne, must frequently have thought he was on hallucinogens. It's more fun than a Downing Street party and contains a suitcase full of news. -- Tim ShipmanA timely reminder of the fine art of defenestration written by one of Fleet Street’s most trusted insiders. Delicious detail, break-neck pace and a curiosity which is both urgent yet empathetic. We are lucky to have Sebastian Payne. One of the finest of his generation. -- Emily MaitlisA genuinely page turning, gripping account of some of the most extraordinary days in modern British history. Very well sourced, this is a book historians will be turning to for a long time to come. The fall of emperors often seems a more interesting theme than their rise; Seb Payne triumphantly confirms it. -- Andrew MarrBrilliant, a devastating piece of contemporary history and I’d recommend anyone with a remote interest in politics reads it. However bad you thought the Boris Johnson denouement was, Payne shows that it was much worse. -- Fraser NelsonAny Tory MP tempted by a Johnson comeback should be prescribed this book by their GP -- The Times, A Political Book of the YearPayne writes with great skill . . . borders on the best of Tom Sharpe . . . revelatory * The Daily Telegraph *I urge you to read -- Nick CohenRevealing stories . . . delicious detail * The Times *Seasoned Westminster commentator Payne brilliantly, breathlessly and low-blow by low-blow captures the car crash at Downing Street -- Daily Mail, A Book of the YearHas all the pace, intrigue, complexity and dirt worthy of the finest Netflix drama * Metro *Payne tells the inside story, charting the crescendo of scandals that led to the resignation of a prime minister * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisThe global financial crisis of 2007–8 did not offer the political and economic opportunities to the left that many thought it would. As financial institutions collapsed, traditional left-wing issues were apparently back on the agenda. However, instead of being a trigger for a resurgence of the left, in many European countries left-wing parties have suffered savage electoral defeat. At the same time, the crisis has led to austerity programmes being implemented across Europe. This book brings together essays that consider ten EU member states, including all bail-out recipients and some of the main 'donor' states, in an examination of this crucial period for the left in Europe from a number of perspectives. Comparisons are presented between the various EU member states, as well as different party families of the left, from social democracy through green left to radical left.Table of ContentsList of figures and tables Notes on contributors Glossary and abbreviations 1 The European left and the crisis: opportunity or catastrophe? Michael Holmes and Knut Roder 2 The Greek left and the crisis: the demise of PASOK and the rise of SYRIZANikolaos Nikolakakis3 The changing nature of the Spanish left: an uncertain balanceCarlos Rico Motos4 Geringonça: the Portuguese left approach to the crisisCláudia Toriz Ramos5 ‘Frankfurt’s way or Labour’s way’: the Irish left and the crisisMichael Holmes6 The Cypriot Left and the crisis: one step forward, two steps back Yiannos Katsourides7 The Italian left and the crisis: the case of Matteo Renzi’s Partito DemocraticoJorge del Palacio Martín8 The financial crisis and the curse of Latvian left partiesKarlis Bukovskis and Ilvija Bruge9 Navigating through troubled times: the left and the euro crisis in FinlandTapio Raunio10 Take a walk on the left side: the impact of austerity politics in FranceAntonella Seddone and Julien Navarro11 In the shadow of Merkel: the German left and the crisisKnut Roder12 Between Scylla and Charybdis: Europe, nationalism and left politics Andy Storey13 Alter-Europeanism? The left and European integration after the crisis?Michael Holmes and Knut RoderIndex

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Book SynopsisNo one saw it coming. No pundit, no pollster and no political leader predicted David Cameron’s Conservative Party would win a majority of seats in Parliament and his three main opponents would resign as party leaders. The consequences of the coalition also became clear as the Liberal Democrats fell dramatically from grace, and lost their spot as Britain’s third party. And despite Scotland voting ‘NO’ to independence in 2014, the election result also threatens the Union, with the Scottish National Party winning all but three of the country’s seats. In this timely edition, Richard S. Grayson analyses Britain’s changing political landscape, and explores the role of the media, the European Union and the UK’s ‘special relationship’ with the US. Thorough and incisive, British Politics: A Beginner’s Guide is the perfect introduction to the structure, parties and personalities of British Government today.Trade Review‘Fresh and accessible. Grayson manages to convey with clarity some of the vital issues and writes with one eye on the current mood of cynicism about politics and politicians. An excellent starting-point.’ * Professor Michael Kenny – Director of the Mile End Institute, Queen Mary University of London *‘Combines personal insights with historical and academic context to map out why we should all care about British politics.’ * Mark Bennister – Teaching Fellow in British Politics, University College London *‘A highly readable and informative introduction to British politics since 1945.’ * James Panton – former Lecturer in Politics, St John’s College, University of Oxford *

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Book SynopsisFollowing in the footsteps of the highly successful Queer: A Graphic History, illustrator Jules Scheele teams up with Dr Laura Locker in this comic-book introduction to the political history of the Land of Opportunity.How dida political outsider like Trump win the 2016 presidential election? Why do someAmericans feel so strongly about gun rights? Is there a role for more than twopolitical parties in the system?Politicsisn't something that just occurs in the West Wing or the gleaming Capitolbuilding - it comes from the interaction between state and society, theAmerican people living their daily lives. In this unique graphic guide, wefollow modern citizens as they explore everything from the United States'political culture, the Constitution and the balance of power, to socialmovements, the role of the media, and tensions over race, immigration, and LGBTrights.Stepright up, and see what lies beneath the pageantry and headlines of this greatnation.Trade ReviewUpbeat and optimistic, it reminds us that one awful president can't sink history's most powerful democracy.' * The Bookseller *

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Book SynopsisWith the strong possibility of Labour forming our next government, it is fascinating to consider the last time the party stood on the verge of power, back in 1997. At that time, future Europe Minister Denis MacShane had a ringside seat that he would occupy for the next decade or so, living through Cool Britannia, the Good Friday Agreement, Peter Mandelson’s multiple resignations, Princess Diana’s death and Tony Blair’s seeming invincibility. New Labour may be remembered as an unstoppable force, but MacShane’s diaries reveal that while, outwardly, all seemed to be going well, the personal rivalries, slights and petty jealousies between the party’s big beasts meant that it was never far from disaster. MacShane was a regular in Downing Street from the moment of Labour’s election victory, and his candid, intimate diaries show figures such as Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Robin Cook, Peter Mandelson, Clare Short and Alastair Campbell in a light in which they’ve never been seen before, detailing the personalities as much as the politics of Labour’s most successful stint in government.

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Book SynopsisThe biblical adage that 'if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand' remains sound theological advice. It also essential counsel for any political party that aspires to win elections. Though both major parties have been subject to internal conflict over the years, it is the Labour Party which has been more given to damaging splits. The divide exposed by the Corbyn insurgency is only the most recent example in a century of destructive infighting. Indeed, it has often seemed as though Labour has been more adept at fighting itself than in defeating the Tory party. This book examines the history of Labour's civil wars and the underlying causes of the party's schisms, from the first split of 1931, engineered by Ramsay MacDonald, to the ongoing battle for the future between the incumbent, Keir Starmer, and those who fundamentally altered the party's course under his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn.

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Book SynopsisMichael Chessum is a journalist and activist. He has written for the Guardian and Observer, the New Statesman, The Independent, Vice, Novara, The London Review of Books and many others. He co-founded the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts, playing a prominent role in the student protests of 2010 and the anti-austerity movement that followed. In 2016-17, he was a member of Momentum's first Steering Committee, serving as its Treasurer, and worked as a press officer and speechwriter on Jeremy Corbyn's second leadership campaign. As National Organiser for the left wing anti-Brexit group Another Europe is Possible, he became a dissident within Corbynism and a prominent voice in the public debate on Brexit and migrants' rights.Trade ReviewPacey but sober, witty but often very stark – that nevertheless left me feeling so optimistic. -- Zoe Williams * The Guardian *[Chessum] writes passionately and eloquently. Here he examines how the emergence of Corbynism and its mass mobilisation came about and what we can learn from its rise and demise taking us on a roller-coaster ride through the history of rebellion and opposition during recent decades, both in Britain and abroad, capturing the excitement, the passion and the disappointments … There is too much useful information and too many perceptive insights in this book to detail here. Read it yourself; I highly recommend it. -- John Green * Morning Star *‘If I had to stick a book in a time capsule to explain UK left movement politics to future generations, it'd be this one. Michael's insight is, to coin a phrase much in current use, “forensic”.’ * Clive Lewis, MP *‘Wherever you stand on the political spectrum, however impossible you thought the Corbyn project, here is a rivetingly well-written view from inside the left’s capture of the Labour party.’ * Polly Toynbee, Guardian columnist *‘Michael Chessum provides not just a necessary hard-nosed assessment of the Corbyn project from someone who was at the heart of its creation, he also poses the tough challenging questions that need to be addressed for the revival of the left.’ * John McDonnell, MP *'This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand where the new left generation came from and where we go from here. Michael Chessum describes the mass movement that underpinned Corbyn’s leadership so richly that from the demonstrations to the committee rooms, you’ll feel like you’re there.' * Nadia Whittome, MP *Eloquent … It is timely stuff. -- Tom Clark * Times Literary Supplement *Featuring “unparalleled access” and a range of interviews with left-wing figures including Owen Jones, Ash Sarkar and John McDonnell MP, this is the inside story of how the Left came back to life in the 2010s, and what it can (and should) do now. * The Bookseller *A member of Momentum’s first steering committee and general figure in the rooms where it happened, Chessum is an able guide through the tumultuous period covered by the book. -- Morgan Jones * Renewal *An essential read. -- Barry Coppinger * Open Labour *'A fascinating insider’s assessment of the rise and impasse of the latest new left that gained political expression, but not realisation, through Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party. At once both controversial and sympathetic , it is essential reading for creative strategic thinking in the future.' * Hilary Wainwright, author of ‘A New Politics From the Left’ *With a lively combination of vivid first-hand reportage, insightful interviews and original analysis, This is Only the Beginning offers the most compelling account to date of the movements and circumstances that made the Corbyn moment possible, and of what needs to happen for the radical left to thrive rather than slip back into irrelevance. * Professor Jeremy Gilbert, University of East London, UK *A clear-eyed and compelling contribution to the post-mortem of the Corbyn era, this is required reading for anyone who wants to understand the movement that provided so much of the energy behind Corbyn's rise. * Gabriel Podrund, co-author of 'Left Out' *Hugely impressive … full of depth … this is a read the left needs right now. -- Mark Perryman * Philosophy Football *The story of the rise of a new left in British politics, from a leading figure in the anti-Brexit Another Europe is Possible (AEIP), is not a Court History of the Corbyn Project. It offers a picture of the movements and ‘politics from below’ that propelled the left to leadership of the Labour Party. -- Andrew Coates * The Chartist *Packed full of detailed information … written in a pacy style … [and] something of a page turner … [It] is essential reading for anyone on the left who wants to understand why the Corbyn project failed and the lessons to be drawn so that the vital and urgently needed new movement does not repeat the errors made. -- Roger Welch * Anti-capitalist Resistance *Table of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgements Introduction PART ONE: 2010-2015 Chapter One: Students in a dream world Chapter Two: A generation without a history Chapter Three: The wave breaks PART TWO: 2015-2020 Chapter Four: The riptide Chapter Five: The movement versus the machine Chapter Six: The machine strikes back: Brexit Conclusion: What now? Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisFollowing the Arab Spring, Syria descended into civil and sectarian conflict. It has since become a fractured warzone which operates as a breeding ground for new terrorist movements including ISIS as well as the root cause of the greatest refugee crisis in modern history. In this important book, former Special Envoy of the Netherlands to Syria, Nikolaos van Dam, explains the recent history of Syria, covering the growing disenchantment with the Asad regime, the chaos of civil war and the fractures which led to an immense amount of destruction in the refined social fabric of what used to be the Syrian nation. Through an in-depth examination, van Dam traces political developments within the Asad regime and the various opposition groups from the Arab Spring to the present day, and provides a deeper insight into the conflict and the possibilities and obstacles for reaching a political solution.Trade Review'[A] monumental work on Syrian power politics' - Robert Fisk, The Independent, 'An excellent book' - Patrick Seale, 'An admirable study... invaluable for anyone with a serious interest in Middle Eastern politics' - Peter Mansfield, 'The most informative explanation of the effects of sectarianism and regionalism on Syrian politics' - Philip S. Khoury, MERIP Reports, '[An] excellent study of the sectarian bases of Syrian politics' - Foreign Affairs, 'Only a handful of important books have been written on modern Syria; and Nikolaos van Dam's The Struggle for Power in Syria is one of them' - Joshua Landis, International Journal of Middle East Studies, 'Nikolaos van Dam is a rare species: An academic analyst and an excellent diplomat who has accompanied and shaped recent Syrian history in theory and practice. He is also brutally honest, including with Western policy failures, and hard to be put into a political camp in this polarized conflict. On the basis of profound studies of the Baath system, he explains how Syria's disaster inevitably unfolded in the context of the Arab Spring, the brutal internal logic of an encrusted regime, and the vested interests of foreign powers. Van Dam's insights from old and new Syria make this book a valuable guide in the complex web of this worst conflict of our century. We get a taste of the difficult search for a new social contract and a political solution in Syria - if this is still possible before the state fails.' - Carsten Wieland, author of Syria: A Decade of Lost Chances, 'Nikolaos van Dam is simply one of the top experts on Syria. Setting the Syrian conflict within its historical and contemporary contexts, he draws on his unique combination of scholarly excellence and practical diplomatic experience. This book is a sophisticated, yet accessible and readable analysis of a highly complex situation. It substantially updates and advances our understanding of the ever evolving war in Syria.' - David W. Lesch, Ewing Halsell Distinguished Professor of History at Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas and author of Syria: The Fall of the House of Assad.Table of ContentsPreface 1 Introduction 2 Ba’thist history before the Syrian Revolution (2011) 3 Could the War in Syria have been avoided? 4 Confrontation between the military of the regime and the opposition 5 The ambivalent Western approach to the Syria conflict 6 Intra-Syrian talks but no negotiations 7 Conclusions Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisAndrew Rawnsley''s bestselling The End of the Party lifts the lid on the second half of New Labour''s spell in office.Through riveting inside accounts of all the key events from 9/11 and the Iraq War to the financial crisis and the parliamentary expenses scandal, Rawnsley takes us through the triumphs and tribulations of New Labour. With entertaining portraits of the main playershe exposes the astonishing feuds and reconciliations between Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Peter Mandelson.''Rawnsley has talked to everyone who has counted over the past ten years ... A brilliant account...a sheer delight for the political connoisseur. Almost every page provides a fresh insight or piece of information not previously in the public domain'' Peter Oborne, Daily Mail ''The book''s authority rests on an impressive breadth of research ... This lively Shakespearian account ... the most thorough, the most enjoyable and the most original book yet written about Ne

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Book SynopsisThe Political Party in Canada provides a comprehensive exploration of contemporary Canadian political party composition and organization and draws on rich original data to consider where power lies and how it is exercised.Table of Contents1 Political Parties and their Place in Canadian Democratic Life2 The Parties’ Members3 The Parties’ Local Associations4 The Parties’ Candidates5 The Parties’ Donors6 The Party in Central Office7 The Party in Public Office8 Political Parties and the Challenges of Complexity, Representation, and PersonalizationAfterword; Appendix; Notes; References; Index

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Book SynopsisSebastian Payne is the Director of the think tank Onward and the former Whitehall Editor for the Financial Times. He is the author of the acclaimed Broken Heartlands, which was The Times' Political Book of the Year. Sebastian presented the Payne's Politics podcast, which was shortlisted for News Podcast of the Year' at the National Press Awards. The Fall of Boris Johnson is his second book and was a winner at the Parliamentary Book Awards.Trade ReviewAn entertaining and illuminating fly on the wall romp through Boris Johnson's final nine months, where the fly, Seb Payne, must frequently have thought he was on hallucinogens. It's more fun than a Downing Street party and contains a suitcase full of news. -- Tim ShipmanA timely reminder of the fine art of defenestration written by one of Fleet Street’s most trusted insiders. Delicious detail, break-neck pace and a curiosity which is both urgent yet empathetic. We are lucky to have Sebastian Payne. One of the finest of his generation. -- Emily MaitlisA genuinely page-turning, gripping account of some of the most extraordinary days in modern British history. Very well sourced, this is a book historians will be turning to for a long time to come. The fall of emperors often seems a more interesting theme than their rise; Seb Payne triumphantly confirms it. -- Andrew MarrBrilliant, a devastating piece of contemporary history and I’d recommend anyone with a remote interest in politics reads it. However bad you thought the Boris Johnson denouement was, Payne shows that it was much worse. We’re living in a time of epic political implosions, and the definitive history of this one has just been written. -- Fraser NelsonAny Tory MP tempted by a Johnson comeback should be prescribed this book by their GP -- The Times, A Political Book of the YearPayne writes with great skill . . . borders on the best of Tom Sharpe . . . revelatory * The Daily Telegraph *I urge you to read -- Nick CohenRevealing stories . . . delicious detail * The Times *Seasoned Westminster commentator Payne brilliantly, breathlessly and low-blow by low-blow captures the car crash at Downing Street -- Daily Mail, A Book of the YearHas all the pace, intrigue, complexity and dirt worthy of the finest Netflix drama * Metro *Payne tells the inside story, charting the crescendo of scandals that led to the resignation of a prime minister * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisConventional wisdom emerging from China and other autocracies claims that single-party legislatures and elections are mutually beneficial for citizens and autocrats. This line of thought reasons that these institutions can serve multiple functions, like constraining political leaders or providing information about citizens. In United Front, Paul Schuler challenges these views through his examination of the past and present functioning of the Vietnam National Assembly (VNA), arguing that the legislature's primary role is to signal strength to the public. When active, the critical behavior from delegates in the legislature represents cross fire within the regime rather than genuine citizen feedback. In making these arguments, Schuler counters a growing scholarly trend to see democratic institutions within single-party settings like China and Vietnam as useful for citizens or regime performance. His argument also suggests that there are limits to generating genuinely "consultative authoritarianism" through quasi-democratic institutions. Applying a diverse range of cutting-edge social science methods on a wealth of original data such as legislative speeches, election returns, and surveys, Schuler shows that even in a seemingly vociferous legislature like the VNA, the ultimate purpose of the institution is not to reflect the views of citizens, but rather to signal the regime's preferences while taking down rivals.Trade Review"Why does a single-party state have well-developed electoral and legislative institutions? Schuler provides a compelling answer to this question in this persuasive, far-reaching account. His work pushes forward our understanding of institutions not only in one of the few remaining Communist states, but also in authoritarian regimes more broadly." -- Jennifer Gandhi * Emory University *"A firecracker of a book and a critical contribution to scholarship on authoritarian institutions and Vietnamese politics. In punchy and thrilling prose, using deep knowledge and cutting-edge empirical tools, Schuler challenges existing theories that parliaments resolve informational problems for autocrats, arguing instead that they are better suited to signal dominance and promote popular legitimacy." -- Edmund Malesky * Duke University *"As a study of political science, Schuler makes a major contribution by challenging the dominant view in scholarship that often conflates legislatures in single-party regimes with other authoritarian or hybrid regimes... Schuler has written an outstanding book that deserves to be read widely by both political scientists and Vietnam experts." -- Tuong Vu * Pacific Affairs *Table of ContentsContents and AbstractsIntroduction: Introduction chapter abstractThe introduction presents the book's central research question and the theory and evidence used to explore it: Why might the Vietnam National Assembly and some single-party legislatures be empowered with greater responsibilities and greater electoral competitiveness? Recent work suggests that legislative institutionalization demonstrates "resilient" or "consultative" authoritarianism, whereby autocrats can inform or constrain themselves through limited debate in a legislature and limited electoral competitiveness. This book challenges this view, arguing that single-party legislatures and elections do not inform or constrain autocrats but instead are meant to signal strength. When such legislatures are active, they are supposed to direct their activity against the autocrat's agents in the government. Elections serve to mobilize compliance with the regime. The theory of this book suggests that autocrats cannot simultaneously encourage input and signal strength through the same institutions. The introduction concludes with a preview of the chapters. 1The Signaling Trap: Why Single-Party Legislatures Must Be Controlled chapter abstractThis chapter examines existing explanations for the role of authoritarian legislatures and elections, raising questions about the applicability of these theories to Vietnam. It also lays out the book's core theoretical argument that while autocrats may use institutions such as legislatures and elections to achieve multiple goals, some goals are incompatible. In particular, if autocrats hope to use legislatures and elections to signal strength, this compromises their ability to use those same institutions to constrain or inform themselves. The chapter then argues that autocrats in single-party regimes are more likely to use legislatures and elections to signal strength at the expense of constraint or information provision because these institutions are publicly visible and state sanctioned. The chapter concludes with the observable implications of the argument for legislative organization, electoral behavior, delegate behavior, and public opinion. 2How Elections Work in Vietnam chapter abstractThis chapter lays out the structure of Vietnam's electoral system, highlighting some of the key institutions that block linkages between citizens and delegates. It focuses in particular on party management of campaigns and vetting institutions to show how the "five gates" system effectively keeps genuinely independent candidates from winning seats. The chapter shows how the regime further undermines the competitiveness of elections by manipulating the districts such that even candidates who survive vetting face bias in favor of the regime's preferred candidates. This chapter serves two purposes: providing important background on Vietnam's electoral institutions, and highlighting important institutions that facilitate the signaling value of elections and give the regime control over legislative behavior. 3"Unconditional Party Government": Legislative Organization in the VNA chapter abstractThis chapter examines legislative organization in the VNA, describing the extremely hierarchical system as "unconditional party government." Building from a theory of "conditional party government" to explain party control of legislatures in democracies, this chapter describes the extreme dominance of the VNA Standing Committee over legislative proceedings and agenda setting. Given the party's role in deciding who will serve on the Standing Committee and fill vital full-time roles in the legislature, the party ensures its control over legislative output and the legislative agenda. As with elections, party dominance of legislative output through the Standing Committee ensures that the VNA serves to signal strength to the population at the expense of the legislature's capacity to inform or constrain. 4Explaining the Evolution of the VNA chapter abstractThis chapter explores the institutionalization of the VNA to examine the argument that the Vietnam Communist Party empowered it to check the government rather than to constrain or inform the party leadership. Before defending this argument, which contradicts existing accounts of the development of authoritarian legislatures and the VNA, the chapter also establishes that the VNA is a most likely case for the competing arguments for authoritarian legislative institutionalization and a least likely case for the book's signaling argument. The chapter then defends the signaling argument by examining the role party leaders played versus those of political and economic reformers at critical moments when the legislature gained increased powers. An examination of the decisions to empower the legislature with greater staff, televised query sessions, and a regularized vote of confidence measure shows that it was the party leaders who supported the measures rather than economic liberalizers in the government. 5Mobilized or Motivated? Voting Behavior in Vietnamese Elections chapter abstractThis chapter examines how electoral institutions impact electoral behavior in a single-party regime. Existing work suggests that citizens in authoritarian regimes vote in a partially informed manner and provide information through their votes. By contrast, this chapter argues that party strength rather than voter interest drives electoral behavior. Using unique data from Vietnam, which for the first time combine actual electoral returns with district-level survey data, this chapter shows little evidence of strategic voting, competitiveness driving turnout, or knowledge of candidates. Instead, connection to the party drives participation. The findings imply that Vietnamese voters are ill informed about their candidates and that their votes contain little informational content. Consequently, elections are largely an exercise in mobilizing public compliance and support for the party. 6Explaining Oversight Behavior: Position Taking or Position Ducking? chapter abstractThis chapter examines legislative behavior in the VNA. The signaling and blame deflection theory of the book holds that the legislature should not criticize the party. By contrast, when the legislature is critical, it should direct its attention toward government leaders. Using an original dataset of public opinion data and legislative behavior, this chapter uses automated text analysis to show that the VNA only debates hot-button issues on government-controlled issues. When issues arise on party-controlled portfolios, the legislature is not called into action. The findings imply that the legislature does not primarily inform or constrain the party through legislative behavior but rather serves to damage rivals in the government. 7Intimidation or Legitimation? The Signaling Value of the VNA chapter abstractA final implication of the book's signaling theory is that legislative behavior and elections should increase support for the party and reduce the likelihood of public resistance. Such an effect could operate through two potential channels. First, it could convince citizens that resistance is futile. Alternatively, it could convince citizens more directly to support the regime. Using an Internet-based survey experiment in Vietnam, this chapter shows that legislative behavior and elections seem to boost public confidence in the legitimacy of the legislature and the electoral process. This in turn leads to greater support for the party and satisfaction in the overall political environment in Vietnam. Conclusion: Conclusion: Curbing our Expectations for the VNA, Single-Party Legislatures chapter abstractThe conclusion examines the implications of the theory and findings for broader understanding of the role of legislatures in single-party and hybrid regimes outside Vietnam. This chapter argues that while elections for legislatures in hybrid regimes may be more informative than in single-party contexts, the importance of legislatures for policy outcomes is likely minimal in these contexts as well. The chapter then examines why such legislatures have been associated with improved investment and economic growth if they have little policy input. It suggests that one reason is that legislative closures are typically correlated with the process of consolidation, which hinders these outcomes. The chapter also considers the implications of the argument for theories of democratization and Vietnam's political development. It argues that while the VNA may facilitate a smoother transition should democratization occur, the VNA and other single-party legislatures are not likely to spearhead such a transition.

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Book SynopsisNo other Marxist text has come close to achieving the fame and influence of The Communist Manifesto. Translated into over 100 languages, this clarion call to the workers of the world radically shaped the events of the twentieth century. But what relevance does it have for us today? In this slim book Slavoj Zizek argues that, while exploitation no longer occurs the way Marx described it, it has by no means disappeared; on the contrary, the profit once generated through the exploitation of workers has been transformed into rent appropriated through the privatization of the ‘general intellect’. Entrepreneurs like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg have become extremely wealthy not because they are exploiting their workers but because they are appropriating the rent for allowing millions of people to participate in the new form of the ‘general intellect’ that they own and control. But, even if Marx’s analysis can no longer be applied to our contemporary world of global capitalism without significant revision, the fundamental problem with which he was concerned, the problem of the commons in all its dimensions – the commons of nature, the cultural commons, and the commons as the universal space of humanity from which no one should be excluded – remains as relevant as ever. This timely reflection on the enduring relevance of The Communist Manifesto will be of great value to everyone interested in the key questions of radical politics today.

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Book SynopsisThis book offers an original interpretation of Britain’s relationship with Europe over a 25 year period: 1959-84 and advances the argument that the current problems over EU membership resulted from much earlier political machinations. This evidence based account of the seminal period analyses the applications for EEC membership, the 1975 referendum, and the role of the press. Was the British public misled over the true aims of the European project? How significant was the role of the press in changing public opinion from anti, to pro Common Market membership? Why, after over 40 years since Britain became a member of the European community, does the issue continue to deeply divide not only the political elite, but also the British public? These, and other pertinent questions are answered in this timely book on a subject that remains topical and highly controversial.Table of ContentsIntroduction1 Political elites2 Sovereignty3 The first application4 The second application5 Taken in by Heath6 The 1975 Referendum on EEC membership7 Post referendum8 Positions taken on Europe, 1959-1984Conclusion Appendix 1: Labour Parliamentary Private Secretaries sacked by Wilson – May 1967Appendix 2: The 33 Labour rebels – May 1967Appendix 3: The full termsAppendix 4: The 69 Labour rebels – October 1971Appendix 5: House of Commons three-day debate – April 1975Appendix 6: Conservative and Labour trajectoriesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisWith Trump's four years in the White House now in the rearview, an unprecedented period in American political history is concluded. The transition, however, has set off a mad scramble for control of a Republican Party that for so long has reflected the domineering image of one man-and might even still in the years ahead. Who emerges from the warring factions and familial rivalries that proliferated and quietly festered during Trump's presidency could determine the fate of the GOP for a generation, and the first hint of what's to come begins with the 2024 campaign to crown the first Republican nominee, and national party leader, of the post-Trump era.With Trump's exit, a singular era in American political history has ended-and the Republican Party, whose identity had for so long been centered around one man, will be forced to redefine itself for the future.Featuring profiles of everyone from Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, and Nikki Haley to Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and those in the Trump family, IN TRUMP'S SHADOW tells the story of a GOP under-and after-the forty-fifth president, and all of those jousting for influence over the party's direction in the wake of Donald Trump.

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Book SynopsisBrexit - a revolutionary moment in British politics. Voters in long-forgotten English towns made their disenchantment clear, overwhelmingly voting to `take back control' from a remote and defective economic system. Despite this decisive message in 2016, the concerns of these forgotten towns have continued to be all but ignored. David Skelton grew up in Consett, a north-eastern town where the steel industry has deep roots. When the steelworks closed almost forty years ago it lost everything, a story echoed in towns across England. Skelton uses Consett's experience to discuss what has gone wrong and how we can put it right. He considers a broken social contract and the economic and identity liberalism which has neglected the needs of a great bulk of the population. Little Platoons calls for a revival of One Nation to recognise the needs of people in such towns. It argues that a brave Tory Party can shatter decades-old boundaries and redraw the political map by marrying social reform with private enterprise, enhancing community values and allowing long-ignored voters to genuinely take back control.Trade Review"Digs deep into the challenges facing Britain's struggling towns and the trends that delivered Brexit." The Financial Times

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