Dennis Kavanagh

Originally published in 1983, this book locates the behavioural approach to the study of politics in its social science and historical context. The text reviews the findings in a number of fields – public opinion, electoral behaviour, political participation, policy outputs, political recruitment, political welfare and socialisation, among others. The book is comprehensive and when first published it was the first single-author study to integrate the diverse findings of many studies both from the UK and North America. It was particularly written for students on courses in political analysis, political methods, political sociology and political behaviour

Originally published in 1983, this book locates the behavioural approach to the study of politics in its social science and historical context. The text reviews the findings in a number of fields – public opinion, electoral behaviour, political participation, policy outputs, political recruitment, political welfare and socialisation, among others. The book is comprehensive and when first published it was the first single-author study to integrate the diverse findings of many studies both from the UK and North America. It was particularly written for students on courses in political analysis, political methods, political sociology and political behaviour

The British General Election of 2017 is the definitive and authoritative account of one of the most dramatic elections in British history. Throwing aside her natural caution, Theresa May called a snap election and was widely expected to crush Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party. Her gamble backfired spectacularly as the Conservatives lost their Commons majority to a resurgent Labour led by one of the most unconventional politicians to lead a major British political party. Drawing on hundreds of interviews, with unparalleled access to all the key players, The British General Election of 2017 offers a revelatory guide to what really happened. The 20th edition in this prestigious series of books dating back to 1945, it is designed to appeal to everyone — from Westminster insiders and politics students to the wider general public.

The British General Election of 2015 is a must-read for anyone wanting to know how the action unfolded in the most unpredictable election for a generation. Drawing on hundreds of confidential interviews with all the key players, it offers a compelling insider's guide to the election's background, campaign, and the results which led to the formation of the first majority Conservative government in eighteen years. Designed to appeal to everyone from Westminster insiders, politics students and the wider general public, this is the authoritative account of the 2015 election. Continuing a proud Palgrave Macmillan tradition, The British General Election of 2015 is the 19th edition and celebrates the 70th year of this prestigious series.

The British General Election of 2015 is a must-read for anyone wanting to know how the action unfolded in the most unpredictable election for a generation. Drawing on hundreds of confidential interviews with all the key players, it offers a compelling insider's guide to the election's background, campaign, and the results which led to the formation of the first majority Conservative government in eighteen years. Designed to appeal to everyone from Westminster insiders, politics students and the wider general public, this is the authoritative account of the 2015 election. Continuing a proud Palgrave Macmillan tradition, The British General Election of 2015 is the 19th edition and celebrates the 70th year of this prestigious series.

The British General Election of 2010 is a must-read for anyone wanting to know how the action unfolded in the most dramatic election for a generation. Drawing on hundreds of confidential interviews with all the key players, it offers a compelling insider's guide to the election's background, campaign and results, including a detailed account of what really happened in the formation of the UK's first coalition government since the second world war. Designed to appeal to everyone from Westminster insiders, to politics students and to the wider general public, this is the authoritative account of the 2010 election. Continuing a proud Palgrave Macmillan tradition, The British General Election of 2010 is the eighteenth in the prestigious series of books dating back to 1945.

The British General Election of 2010 is a must-read for anyone wanting to know how the action unfolded in the most dramatic election for a generation. Drawing on hundreds of confidential interviews with all the key players, it offers a compelling insider's guide to the election's background, campaign and results, including a detailed account of what really happened in the formation of the UK's first coalition government since the second world war. Designed to appeal to everyone from Westminster insiders, to politics students and to the wider general public, this is the authoritative account of the 2010 election. Continuing a proud Palgrave Macmillan tradition, The British General Election of 2010 is the eighteenth in the prestigious series of books dating back to 1945.

Short, yet comprehensive. Completely up to date. Great value for money textbook by two established scholars .

Short, yet comprehensive. Completely up to date. Great value for money textbook by two established scholars .

‘Kavanagh and Seldon’s view of 20th-century British politics from behind the doors of Number10 should be compulsory reading. “The Powers Behind the Prime Minister” rattles along like some great pageant on the theme of “Yes, Minister”.’ Sue Cameron, Sunday Telegraph In this exclusive and important book, Dennis Kavanagh and Anthony Seldon reveal, for the first time, the truth about Number 10 Downing Street and how successive Prime Ministers have used the house to consolidate their power. Their book is to Number 10 what Peter Hennessy’s study was to Whitehall – a close examination of a British Prime Minister’s power centre – showing how successive PMs have wielded power within its walls. The authors had unprecedented access to contacts inside 10 Downing Street who agreed to speak to them exclusively and for the first time – civil servants, political advisors, secretaries and politicians. They have also talked to every Prime Minister still living. The book, as a result, contains controversial material never disclosed before. It also looks closely at the workings of power within Number 10 and the importance of geography inside the house for access to the Prime Minister, and to information and influence. ‘The Powers Behind the Prime Minister’ sheds sensational new light on many of our PMs. ‘The best account of the Blair inner circle.’ Peter Riddell, The Times Books of the Year

This volume brings together for the first time the British Labour Political Party General Election Manifestos, dating back to 1900, and including the most recent General Election manifesto of 1997.The project provides an indispensible source of data about the Labour Party's political ideologies and policy positions, as well as charting their changes over time.The volume has a new introduction written by Dennis Kavanagh, who is Professor of Politics at Liverpool University, and who has already published Political Science and Political Behaviour with Routledge.In addition to the new introduction, the volume includes a comprehensive index, making the volume easy to use.

The fifth edition of British Politics is a significantly expanded work that draws on the contribution of three new political scientists and redresses the balance between the historical context of British Politics and key theoretical debates. British Politics 5/e overcomes the traditional problem of looking at Britain in isolation and the narrow, institution-based approach to politics by re-focusing on the international context in which Britain operates, and the way in which globalization, Europeanization, and the marketization of the state have conditioned the nature of politics today. The text is both theoretically and practically informed, combining a descriptive account of the institutions and processes of the British political system with a lively and engaging discussion of new issues and policies. It addresses numerous contemporary topics, including the impact of a third term Labour Government; the threat to individual liberty in a post-9/11 world; the London 2005 bombings; Britain's destiny as a European partner; the implications of race and asylum-seeking; the growth and effect of direct action on the political system; and a health-check on democracy in an age of electoral decline. It also considers contemporary issues surrounding the public service; participation and representation; and democracy and accountability; while providing a detailed and accessible examination of a range of policy areas (economic, welfare, transport, education, law, immigration and defence) based on recent interviews conducted by the authors themselves with key political actors. ONLINE RESOURCE CENTRE For lecturers: seminar activities, essay questions, case studies, all figures and tables from the text. For students: annotated web links, political commentaries, multiple-choice questions and a time-line.

A short but comprehensive textbook for students of British politics which interprets changes over the last thirty years and analyses institutions within the context of British society and economics.

This volume brings together for the first time the British Labour Political Party General Election Manifestos, dating back to 1900, and including the most recent General Election manifesto of 1997.The project provides an indispensible source of data about the Labour Party's political ideologies and policy positions, as well as charting their changes over time.The volume has a new introduction written by Dennis Kavanagh, who is Professor of Politics at Liverpool University, and who has already published Political Science and Political Behaviour with Routledge.In addition to the new introduction, the volume includes a comprehensive index, making the volume easy to use.

The most authoritative study of a landmark British General Election - the fifteenth book in the renowned Nuffield series of election studies. This highly readable account covers all the salient features - the background, the campaign, the results and the consequences of Labour's victory. Based on close observation of party headquarters, it explores each party's strategic decisions and their implementation, showing how 1997 saw campaigning techniques at an altogether new level of sophistication. The battle in the media and the constituencies is analysed in detail. There is a mass of data and thorough statistical analysis of the campaign and results. Plates and cartoons entertainingly illustrate the campaign trail and recapture the drama of the election.

The Reordering of British Politics clarifies for the new student the terrain of British politics today. Building on Dennis Kavanagh's classic Thatcherism and British Politics: The End of Consensus? , this clear and engaging text assesses the influence of the Thatcher era and the reordering of British politics that has occurred in her wake. Covering the transition to Majorism and the impact of John Major on the Conservative Party and British politics, it also tracks the development of a new consensus in post-Thatcher and post-Socialism Britain, and the evolution of Labour without Socialism. The author has also included a Postscript on the impact of the 1997 General Election results.

The advent of new technology and the importation of 'professional communicators' has transformed the nature of British election campaigning. In this book, Dennis Kavanagh explores this so-called process of 'Americanization', characterized by the increasing importance of the media in elections and the rise of advertising agencies, pollsters, public relations advisers and speechwriters. He examines how the 'professional communicators' function within British politics, and assesses the reaction of the politicians themselves to the changing environment of election campaigns.

Margaret Thatcher's departure from office and the arrival of her successor, John Major, have had a profound impact on the way Britain is governed - and in this new edition of Consensus Politics, the authors examines the legacy of Thatcherite "conviction politics" and assesses the state of consensus in Britain's government today. This chronicle of the rise and fall of the post-war consensus in five key policy areas - the mixed economy, full employment, trade unions, welfare and foreign policy - remains a superb introduction to one of the major debates of recent political history.

A study of power in British political parties. It asks what happened to consensus politics and looks at the ideology and sociology of Labour's strategy. It also questions the need for a centre party and discusses political figures such as Churchill, Enoch Powell and Tony Benn.

The 1987 election, which returned Mrs Thatcher for a record-breaking third term, was notable for a new level of campaigning professionalism. This book, the thirteenth in a series that has covered every election since the Second World War, examines in detail the nature of the Conservative victory, with its roots in recent history and social changes, but depending to the end on argument and presentation. The authors explore the way in which the party system adapted itself to and blunted the renewed Alliance challenge; the way in which the Labour party picked itself up from the disaster of 1983 to put on a brilliant but ultimately unsuccessful campaign; and the way in which Mrs Thatcher steered herself and her party back onto a winning course after the Westland disaster. The book describes how the Labour party adopted a modern communications strategy to promote Mr Kinnock and it examines the secret battle for control of the Conservative campaign between different groups and advertising agencies. The authors have been given exceptional access to persons and papers.