The Myth Of Decline: The Rise of Britain Since 1945 - Softcover

Bernstein, George L

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1844131025 ISBN 13: 9781844131020

Publisher: Pimlico, 2004

Synopsis

This history of Britain since 1945 confronts two themes that have dominated British consciousness during the post-war era: the myth of decline and the pervasiveness of American influence. The political narrative is about the struggle to maintain a power that was illusory and, from 1960 on, to reverse an economic decline that was nearly as illusory. The British economy had its problems, which are fully analyzed; however, they were counterbalanced by an unparalleled prosperity. At the same time, there was a social and cultural revolution which resulted in a more exciting, dynamic society. While there was much American influence, there was no Americanization. American influences were incorporated with many others into a new and less stodgy British culture. Contrary to conventional wisdom, this groundbreaking book finds that the story of Britain since the war is marked not by decline but by progress on almost all fronts.

About this title

About the Author

George L. Bernstein was born and raised in the Washington, DC, area. He received his BA in Economics from Columbia University in 1968 and his PhD in History from the University of Chicago in 1978. He has taught at Tulane University in New Orleans since 1980, where he is currently Associate Professor of History, specializing in modern Britain. He is the author of Liberalism and Liberal Politics in Edwardian England (1986). He has lived in Britain twice for a year, as well as spending many summers there. Since July 2003 he has been Dean of Tulane College, the men's liberal arts college of Tulane University.

From the Back Cover

A unique challenge to orthodox interpretations of this turbulent period of modern British history.
THE MYTH OF DECLINE confronts two themes that have dominated British consciousness during and since the post-war era: the myth of Britain's economic and political decay and the Americanization of British culture.
After 1945, the British economy suffered hugely from the effects of the conflict. The long-term legacy appeared to be decline: the dissolution of the Empire, the emergence of Celtic separatism, and the inability of British industry to compete in world markets. Yet the generic assumption taht the economy had collapsed - that change signified a kind of failure on the part of Britons - falls away under closer examination.
As George L. Bernstein makes clear, the post-war period in fact witnessed a social and cultural revolution which resulted in a more exciting, dynamic society. Women's lib, immigration, youth culture, the spread of education, postmodernism - all reflected and contributed to a new energy that touched every aspect of life. While there was much American influence, the commonly held view that British culture failed to survive under the wave of Americanization is shown here to be without foundation. As Bernstein demonstrates, the United States has itself long reflected the influences of European culture, and the more accelerated reverse-flow accross the Atlantic has been healthy for Europe as well as for America in breaking down isolationism and provincialism on both sides.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, this ground-breaking book finds that the story of Britain since the war is marked not by decline, but by progress - a progress that has changed the everyday lives of all its citizens, but which has been too often ignored by the 'declinists' of the last forty years.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pimlico
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1844131025
• ISBN 13: 9781844131020
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 816