20th Century Britain: Economic, Cultural and Social Change

Description

Written by leading international scholars, Twentieth Century Britain investigates key moments, themes and identities in the past century. Engaging with cutting-edge research and debate, the essays in the volume combine discussion of the major issues currently preoccupying historians of the twentieth century with clear guidance on new directions in the theories and methodologies of modern British social, cultural and economic history. Divided into three, the first section of the book addresses key concepts historians use to think about the century, notably, class, gender and national identity. Organised chronologically, the book then explores topical thematic issues, such as multicultural Britain, religion and citizenship. Representing changes in the field, some chapters represent more recent fields of historical inquiry, such as modernity and sexuality. Contents List of plates List of figures List of tables Acknowledgements Preface • Paul Johnson 1 Introduction • Francesca Carnevali and Julie-Marie Strange PART ONE: The long twentieth century 2 The British economy • Nicholas Crafts 3 Modernity and modernism • Harry Cocks 4 Class and gender • Stephen Brooke 5 Britain’s changing position in the international economy • Catherine R. Schenk 6 War and national identity since 1914 • Max Jones PART TWO: Themes pre-1945 7 Suffrage and citizenship • Martin Pugh 8 Motoring and modernity • Sean O’Connell 9 The First World War and its aftermath • Julian Greaves 10 Depression and recovery • Christopher Price 11 Consumption, consumer credit and the diffusion of consumer durables • Peter Scott 12 The role of the state: Taxation, citizenship and welfare reforms • Martin Daunton 13 Leisure • Julie-Marie Strange 14 Youth • Penny Tinkler PART THREE Themes post-1945 15 Managing the economy, managing the people • Jim Tomlinson 16 Immigration, multiculturalism and racism • Panikos Pan 17 The retreat of the state in the 1980s and 1990s • Michael J. Oliver 18 Trade unions: Rise and decline • Chris Wrigley 19 Sexuality • Rebecca Jennings 20 Poverty and social exclusion • Julie Rugg 21 Religion and ‘secularization’ • John Wolffe 22 Britain and Europe • Neil Rollings 23 Education and opportunity • Katherine Watson Notes on contributors Index