Review
"This book is the best available for students who have to cover a blend of both government and politics in their degree studies. It is invaluable as an introductory text and contains material which will be of continued use in the second and third years. It has also been brought right up to date and thus reflects the most recent contemporary debates and issues." "Dr. Richard Grayson, Head of Politics, Goldsmiths College, University of London"
Product Description
First published in 1991, "Politics UK" is now in its sixth edition and continues to provide the most comprehensive, elegant and up to date coverage of all aspects of the British political system. The book presents a detailed examination of the core elements of the British political scene divided into six classic parts: context, defining the political world, the representative process, the legislative process, the executive process and the policy process. The sixth edition has been thoroughly updated and revised and is now in full colour throughout.
From the Back Cover
“This book is the best available for students who have to cover a blend of both government and politics in their degree studies. It is invaluable as an introductory text and contains material which will be of continued use in the second and third years. It has also been brought right up to date and thus reflects the most recent contemporary debates and issues.”
—Dr. Richard Grayson, Head of Politics, GoldsmithsCollege, Universityof London
Politics UK is the best-selling introductory text on British politics. First published in 1991 and now in its sixth edition, it continues to provide the most comprehensive, elegant and up-to-date coverage of all aspects of the British political system.
Suitable for both A-level students and undergraduates, Politics UK presents a detailed examination of the core elements of the British political scene divided into six classic parts: 1. Context; 2. Defining the political world; 3. The representative process; 4. The legislative process; 5. The executive process; and 6. The policy process. The sixth edition has, of course, been thoroughly updated and revised and is now presented in full colour throughout.
Classic features
· Outstanding, elegant and authoritative presentation with in-text features explaining and analysing complex concepts with the utmost clarity.
· Illustrations by some of the leading political cartoonists of today.
· Comprehensive glossary of key terms.
· Companion Website (www.pearsoned.co.uk/jones) – much-enhanced for this edition – containing regular updates on contemporary issues and keeps pace with the rapidly unfolding political landscape.
New to this edition
· ‘Britainin Context’ – a boxed feature found in every chapter places the issues facing Britain in a global framework and weaves a strong comparative thread throughout the book.
· ‘And another thing...’ – short essays by distinguished commentators, including Andrew Rawnsley and Simon Jenkins, provide interpretative analyses of key issues in British politics.
· Full coverage and analysis of the 2005 general election.
· An analysis of the London bombings in July 2005 and the issues raised by the government’s response, taking in civil liberties, citizenship and the power of the state.
· Coverage of the changes in party leadership, which have enlivened political debate and an analysis of New Labour in power, including an assessment of the Blair/Brown relationship.
· Expanded coverage of the war in Iraq.
About the Author
Detailed Contents EditorsGuided tourPrefaceAcknowledgements PART 1 CONTEXT 1 Introduction: explaining politics Definitions and decision making The critical political questions Politics, government and the state Approaching the study of politics Themes and issues in British politics 2 Historical context - globalization What is globalisation? Why is it important? Britainin the world Sensitivity to globalisation 3 The social and economic contexts Britainin a global setting Urban problems and the city Work and unemployment Wealth, poverty and the social structure Multi-ethnic and multi-cultural Britain The economic structure: the public and the private Economic structure: the balance of sectors The structure of ownership British society and the wider world And another thing. . . Civil societies: social capital in Britain PART 2 DEFINING THE POLITICAL WORLD 4 Ideology and the liberal tradition What is ideology? The liberal tradition Fukuyamaand the end of history 5 Political ideas: key concepts What is a concept? Human nature Nationalism Class Freedom Equality Social justice Rights The market Planning 6 Political ideas: the major parties The Conservative Party Impact of Thatcherism The Labour Policy and socialism The Liberal Democrats 7 Political ideas: themes and fringes Gender issues The English/British sense of identity Green thinking The political fringe And another thing . . . Who's steering this ship? Power in British politics PART 3 THE REPRESENTATIVE PROCESS8 Elections Why elections? What are elections? Who votes? Constituency boundaries The electoral system The electoral process 9 Voting behaviour Explanations of voting behaviour Party support The 2001 general election The 2005 election The liberal democrat dilemma 10 The mass media and political communication Tabloids Broadcasting Media organizations and the political process The political impact of the media: the process The mass media and the theory of pluralist democracy The media and politics: future developments 11 Pressure groups Definitions Civil society and groups Pressure groups and government Theoretical perspectives From the politics of production to the politics of consumption 12 Political parties The role of political parties The Conservative party The Labour party Other parties Problems for parties 13 Pathways into politics Democracy and participation Democracy and non-participation Democracy and political recruitment Changing patterns of participation and recruitment 14 Devolution Core-Periphery theory Nationalism Labour and devolution Ireland Scotland Wales Devolution and the EU Englandand its regions Citizenship Devolution has changed the nature of British government And another thing . . . Voting with our feet: The turn-out ' problem' in Britain PART 4 THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS Introduction to Part 4 15 The changing constitution The constitution Challenges to the traditional constitution Parties and the constitution The continuing debate 16 The crown Development of the monarchy Political significance of the crown The contemporary role of the monarchy Criticisms of the monarchy Proposals for change 17 The House of Commons Origins of Parliament The development of Parliament The House of Commons Scrutiny and influence Members under pressure The House under pressure Pressure for change Explaining Parliamentary power 18 The House of Lords History Membership and attendance Composition Activity Procedures Functions Scrutiny and influence Reform: stage one Reform: stage two The future of the second chamber? And another thing . . . The Premier League: Ranking Tony Blair PART 5 THE EXECUTIVE PROCESS 19 The Cabinet and Prime Minister The Prime Minister's roles The Prime Minister Cabinet Ministers 20 Ministers, departments and civil servants Departments Ministerial power Explaining ministerial power 21 Civil service management and policy Inside the civil service The public-private mix The delivery agenda 22 Local government British local government: from confusion to cohesion Inter-governmental relations: general competence or general dogsbody? Local government and local politics Creating a new form and approach to local politics Local government: a changing policy environment The citizenry: consultation and participation The regional agenda Local government and the European Union 23 The Judiciary A subordinate branch? An autonomous branch? The courts Judicial activism Enforcing EU law Enforcing the ECHR The impact of devolution Demands for change And another thing . . . The marriage of true minds? The Blair/Brown relationship PART 6 THE POLICY PROCESS 24 The policy making process How policy is made Models of policy making The policy cycle Case studies in policy making 25 The politics of law and order Law, order and political ideas The current extent of the problem Responses to crime The security services and related Home Office matters 26 Social policy The nature of social policy Why is the welfare state so important? Issues in welfare policy New Labour and the welfare state: from welfare state to work state? 27 Economic policy The nature of economic policy The machinery of economic policy Three themes in economic policy 28 British foreign and defence policy under the Blair government Background Ethical foreign policy The Strategic Defence Review Relations with the United States 29 Environmental policy The impact of Europeon British environmental policy From environmental policy to sustainable development The sustainable development agenda Devolution and environmental policy Central government and its agencies The rural conservation agencies Local government and environmental policy Pressure groups and government: the case of road transport Climate change and energy policy 30 Northern Ireland The development of Northern Ireland Paramilitary violence Explanations of the problem The political parties: the rise of the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein The search for political agreement The peace process 31 Britainand European integration Britainand Europeintegration: the context The EU's institutions and decision making The key policy areas Britainand the EU in the new millennium: continuing The UK, the EU and multi-level government 32 Labour in government: An assessment Blair and abroad Public services The Conservative opposition And another thing . . . Waging wars: foreign policy and terrorism GlossaryIndex
如果要用一個詞來形容我的整體感受,那就是“震撼”。這本書的格局之大,視野之開闊,實屬罕見。它不僅僅局限於探討某一國度的政治實踐,而是試圖將局部問題置於更宏大的全球化和意識形態競爭的背景下進行審視。作者對於“體製惰性”的分析,尤其發人深省。他沒有將體製視為一個僵死的機械體,而是將其描繪成一個不斷自我適應、自我延續的生命體,這種描述極具啓發性。書中對“觀念政治化”的深入剖析,精準地抓住瞭當下社會信息碎片化帶來的認知偏差。作者展示瞭當事實被情緒和標簽所取代時,政治決策的邏輯鏈條是如何斷裂的。閱讀過程中,我不斷地被引導去質疑自己習以為常的那些政治判斷,去審視那些被我們視為理所當然的政治共識是否真的堅不可摧。這本書的論證過程是極其嚴謹的,每一步都建立在前文紮實的基礎之上,形成瞭一個邏輯自洽的知識體係,讓人不得不佩服作者在構建這個復雜論述結構時所投入的心血。
评分我最近讀完的這本著作,給我的感受是——它像一把鋒利的手術刀,毫不留情地剖開瞭當代政治肌理中那些看似光鮮亮麗卻又韆瘡百孔的結構。它的行文風格極其犀利,帶著一種不容置疑的批判精神,但這種批判並非建立在空洞的道德譴責之上,而是深深根植於對製度設計缺陷的深刻理解。書中對權力集中化趨勢的警示,尤其令人不寒而栗。作者用大量翔實的數據和案例,構建瞭一個令人信服的論證鏈條,揭示瞭在信息不對稱的時代,精英階層是如何巧妙地引導公共輿論,實現其既定目標的。這種洞察力,使得許多過去模糊不清的政治事件,一下子變得清晰可辨,仿佛突然開啓瞭“上帝視角”。我特彆欣賞作者在描述不同利益集團之間的博弈時所采用的那種近乎冷酷的現實主義視角,它摒棄瞭所有不切實際的浪漫幻想,直麵政治的本質——利益的分配與維護。對於那些習慣於接受官方說辭的讀者來說,這本書無疑是一劑強力的“清醒劑”。它不提供安慰,隻提供真相,盡管這個真相可能令人感到沉重和不安。
评分這本書帶給我的最直接的收獲,是一種重新審視“公共領域”的視角。它不是那種教條主義地告訴你“應該如何”的指南,而更像是一份詳盡的“政治病理學報告”。作者對各種政治權謀的描繪,充滿瞭洞悉人性的智慧,但這種智慧並非嘲弄,而是一種深沉的理解。他擅長捕捉那些不易察覺的“政治潛規則”,比如不同層級官僚體係之間微妙的利益交換,以及在看似鐵闆一塊的集體決策背後,個人動機是如何發揮作用的。這本書的敘述風格非常富有畫麵感,尤其是在描述關鍵的政治博弈場景時,作者的用詞精準而富有張力,仿佛電影鏡頭般徐徐展開。我尤其欣賞它對“政治倫理”與“政治現實”之間永恒張力的探討,作者並沒有試圖解決這個矛盾,而是誠實地呈現瞭這種張力如何驅動著曆史的滾滾嚮前。這本書的閱讀體驗是極其充實的,讀完後,感覺自己看待日常政治新聞的濾鏡都被徹底更換瞭,變得更加審慎和洞察力十足。
评分這本書的閱讀體驗,對我而言,更像是一次沉浸式的田野調查,而非傳統的學術研讀。作者在描述政治文化的演變時,所展現齣的那種細膩入微的筆觸,讓我仿佛置身於那些曆史場景之中,親眼目睹著社會觀念是如何潛移默化地被重塑的。敘事上,它跳脫瞭傳統的綫性時間軸,采用瞭多重交叉敘事的手法,將宏觀的政治製度變遷與微觀的個人命運緊密地聯係在一起。這種結構安排,極大地增強瞭作品的文學性和可讀性。例如,書中穿插的那些簡短的、關於普通公民在政治風暴中的側寫,雖然篇幅不長,但其情感衝擊力卻不亞於任何厚重的曆史章節。我發現自己常常會停下來,思考書中所描繪的那些生活在製度陰影下的人們,他們的選擇和掙紮,與我們今天的處境有著何種隱秘的關聯。這本書的語言風格是富有韻律感的,即使在討論最晦澀的憲政理論時,也保持著一種優雅的剋製,使得即便是對政治學不甚瞭解的讀者,也能被其敘事的魅力所吸引,從而自然而然地進入更深層次的思考。
评分這本書,坦白說,初次翻開時,我懷著一種混閤著期待與審慎的復雜心情。封麵設計簡潔,帶著一種老派的學院風,讓人想起那些厚重的、內容紮實的政治學教材。然而,一旦真正沉浸進去,我發現它遠非那種枯燥的理論堆砌。作者似乎有一套獨特的敘事節奏,他不是簡單地羅列曆史事件或者政策演變,而是將它們編織成一張錯綜復雜的人性圖譜。書中對於不同政治派彆內部張力的描繪尤其精彩,那種微妙的妥協、暗流湧動的權力鬥爭,簡直如同觀看一場精心編排的室內劇。我尤其欣賞作者在分析重大轉摺點時,那種抽絲剝繭的能力——他不會武斷地下結論,而是將所有可能的變量都擺在桌麵上,讓讀者自己去權衡利弊。比如,在探討某個特定時期社會福利製度改革的章節裏,那種對底層民眾生活狀態的細緻觀察,與對高層決策者博弈過程的冷靜剖析相結閤,産生瞭一種強烈的代入感。讀到那些關於選民心理變化的段落時,我不禁會聯想到當下身邊正在發生的一些現象,思考我們所處的環境是如何被這些曆史的漣漪所塑造的。這本書的價值不在於提供一個“標準答案”,而在於它提供瞭一套極其精妙的分析工具,幫助我們理解這個復雜係統的運行邏輯。
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