Author Description
Our Sense Of History Shapes How We Think About Ourselves. One Of The Distinguishing Features Of The Left In Britain Is That It Holds To A Remorselessly Bleak And Miserabilist View Of Our Recent Political History — One In Which Margaret Thatcher's Election In 1979 Marked The Start Of A Still-continuing Fall From Political Grace Made Evident By The Triumph Of A Free Market Get-what-you-can Neoliberal Ideology, Dizzying Levels Of Inequality, Social Decay, Rampant Individualism, State Authoritarianism, And Political Corruption. The Left Does Not Like What Has Happened To Us And It Does Not Like What We Have Become. Andrew Hindmoor Argues That This History Is Wrong And Self-harming. It Is Wrong Because Britain Has In Many Respects Become A More Politically Attractive And Progressive Country Over The Last Few Decades. It Is Self-harming Because This Bleak History Undermines Faith In Politics. Post-brexit, Post-grenfell, And Post The 2010, 2015, And 2017 General Elections, Things May Not, Right Now, Look That Great. But Looked At Over The Longer Haul, Britain Is A Long Way From Being A Posterchild For Neoliberalism. Left-wing Ideas And Arguments Have Shaped And Continue To Shape Our Politics.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates whether the prevailing narrative of British political decline since 1979 is historically accurate or politically counterproductive. Andrew Hindmoor, a professor of politics, challenges the common left-wing perspective that the Thatcher era initiated a permanent state of social and political decay. He argues that this pessimistic outlook is factually flawed and detrimental to the political efficacy of the left, suggesting instead that Britain has become a more progressive nation over the last several decades.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of British political trends from 1979 to the present
- Evaluation of the impact of neoliberal ideology on British social structures
- Examination of the influence of left-wing ideas on contemporary policy
- Discussion of major political events including Brexit and the Grenfell Tower tragedy
Scope Limits
- Does not provide a comprehensive policy manifesto for future governance
- Does not focus on international comparative politics outside of the British context
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Critics and political observers note that the text provides a provocative counter-narrative to standard academic critiques of neoliberalism. Scholars frequently highlight the book as a necessary intervention for those interested in the evolution of British political discourse.
Page Count:
320
Publication Date:
2018-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
019252867X
ISBN-13:
9780192528674
Politics
Social Commentary
British History
Neoliberalism
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