The Politics of Nationhood Sovereignty, Britishness and Conservative Politics [Hardcover]

For over a century the Conservative Party has been identified as the patriotic party defending the nation state and British identity. Thatcherism sought to rework the Conservative politics of nationhood in the light of changed circumstances, but the Thatcher and Major Governments faced significant problems managing the Union, European integration and a multicultural society. Philip Lynch examines the key developments and statecraft problems in the conservative politics of nationhood during the Thatcher and Major period.Preface List of Abbreviations Introduction PART ONE: CONSERVATISM AND THE POLITICS OF NATIONHOOD Historical Perspectives The Conservative Nation The Conservative Party and the Politics of Nationhood Conclusions PART TWO: HEATH AND POWELL: TWO NATIONAL STRATEGIES The Changing Politics of Nationhood Heath's National Strategy Powell's Nationalist Strategy Conclusions PART THREE: THATCHERISM AND THE POLITICS OF NATIONHOOD Thatcherism and Thatcher Ideology, Ideas and Thatcherite Discourse Thatcherism: a Political Project A Coherent Project? Sceptical Views Conclusions PART FOUR: EUROPEAN INTEGRATION Conservative Policy and European Integration, 1979-97 Nationhood and Europe Sovereignty and Autonomy European Integration and Conservative Politics Conclusions PART FIVE: TERRITORIAL POLITICS Scotland Wales Northern Ireland The European Dimension Conclusions PART SIX: 'RACE' AND IMMIGRATION Conservatism, 'Race' and Nationhood Citizenship, Immigration and Asylum Race Relations and Public Policy The Politics of 'Race' and the Conservative Party Conclusions PART SEVEN: CONCLUSIONS The Conservative Politics of Nationhood after 1997 Rethinking the Conservative Nation Notes and References Select Bibliography Index

'This is a timely and compelling study of the dominant beliefs of contemporary Conservatism and their historical roots.' - Professor Andrew Gamble, Department of Politics, University of Sheffield

'...an excellent and timely analysils¢