Clear Blue Water?: The Conservative Party and the welfare state since 1940 - Hardcover

Robert M. Page

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1847429866 ISBN 13: 9781847429865

Publisher: Policy Press, 2015

Synopsis

Has the modern Conservative party developed a distinctive approach to the post-war welfare state? In exploring this question, this accessible book, written for a broad readership takes an authoritative look at Conservative party policy and practice in the modern era. The book takes as its main starting point the progressive One Nation Conservative (1950-64) perspective, which endeavoured to embrace those features of the welfare state deemed compatible with the party's underlying 'philosophy.' Attention then shifts to the neo-liberal Conservatives (1974-1997), who sought to reverse the forward march of the welfare state on the grounds of its 'harmful' economic and social effects. Finally, David Cameron's (2005-present day) 'progressive' neo-liberal Conservative welfare state strategy is put under the spotlight. The book's time-defined content and broad historical thread make it a valuable resource for academics and students in social policy and politics as well as social history.

About this title

Review:

"A comprehensive, informative and accessible account of the Conservative Party s relationship with the welfare state in the period from Churchill to Cameron." --Hugh Bochel, University of Lincoln

"An excellent book tracing the underlying political ideology and strategy of contemporary Conservatism towards the welfare state and places it in a broader historical context. I recommend this book to academics, students and policymakers alike." --Kevin Hickson, University of Liverpool

"Page has written an important book which combines the history of British Conservative ideas on the welfare state with critical policy analysis. An invaluable source for scholars and students alike." --Dr Matt Beech, Director of the Centre for British Politics, University of Hull

About the Author:

Robert M Page is Reader in Democratic Social Policy and the Welfare State at the University of Birmingham. He has written extensively on the post-war British welfare state.

About this edition

• Publisher: Policy Press
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1847429866
• ISBN 13: 9781847429865
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 176