Author Description
The People's Peace: Britain since 1945 is the first comprehensive study by a professional historian of British history from 1945 to the present day. It examines the transformation of post-war Britain from the planning enthusiasm of 1945 to the rise of New Labour. Its themes include the troubles of the British economy; public criticism of the legitimacy of the state and its instruments of authority; the co-existence of growing personal prosperity with widespread social inequality; and the debates aroused by decolonization, and Britain's relationship to the Commonwealth, the US and Europe. Changes in cultural life, from the puritanical 'austerity' of the 1940's, through the 'permissiveness' of the 1960s, to the tensions and achievements of recent years are also charted. Using a wide variety of sources, including the records of political parties and the most recently released documents from the Public Records Office, Kenneth Morgan brings the story right up to date and draws comparisons with the post-war history of other nations. This penetrating analysis by a leading twentieth-century historian will prove invaluable to anyone interested in the development of the Britain of today.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates the political, social, and economic evolution of Britain from the end of the Second World War through the emergence of New Labour. Kenneth O. Morgan, a distinguished historian, utilizes a rigorous academic framework to synthesize the complex shifts in British governance and national identity. By examining the tension between post-war planning and subsequent economic instability, the author provides a comprehensive analysis of the nation's trajectory in the late twentieth century.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of British economic policy and social inequality trends
- Examination of decolonization and shifting international relations with the US and Europe
- Documentation of cultural transitions from post-war austerity to the permissive era
- Comparative studies between Britain and other post-war nations
Scope Limits
- The narrative concludes at the rise of New Labour and does not cover subsequent twenty-first-century developments
- The focus remains primarily on institutional and political history rather than micro-histories of private individuals
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Historians and students of British politics frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the post-war era. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a thorough and scholarly account of the period's major political and social milestones.
Page Count:
825
Publication Date:
2021-01-01
Publisher:
OUP Oxford
ISBN-10:
0192577824
ISBN-13:
9780192577825
History
Great Britain
20th Century
European History
British History
Social History
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