UK Politics
Edited by:
- Alan Convery - The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
Additional resources:
March 2025 | 472 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
The UK is more decentralised, contested and diverse than ever before. This new, introductory textbook demonstrates how political scientists are tackling some of the biggest questions in UK politics today. It devotes particular attention to questions of representation, social class, gender, and race and ethnicity.
Drawing on the latest research and debates, the book explores key topics from the constitution to Englishness, Scottish independence to Brexit, inequality to foreign policy, and the end of Empire. Case studies bring theory to life, while reflective questions provide a jumping-off point for discussion and further investigation. An opening 'What will this chapter tell me?' section and further reading suggestions complete each chapter.
UK Politics is accompanied by a selection of online resources that have been carefully curated to support those using the book in their teaching. Instructors can visit the accompanying online resources to access a Teaching Guide and PowerPoints, which can be downloaded and customised as needed.
Written by leading experts in the field, this textbook is essential reading for anyone studying UK Politics at undergraduate level.
Alan Convery is Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of Edinburgh.
Drawing on the latest research and debates, the book explores key topics from the constitution to Englishness, Scottish independence to Brexit, inequality to foreign policy, and the end of Empire. Case studies bring theory to life, while reflective questions provide a jumping-off point for discussion and further investigation. An opening 'What will this chapter tell me?' section and further reading suggestions complete each chapter.
UK Politics is accompanied by a selection of online resources that have been carefully curated to support those using the book in their teaching. Instructors can visit the accompanying online resources to access a Teaching Guide and PowerPoints, which can be downloaded and customised as needed.
Written by leading experts in the field, this textbook is essential reading for anyone studying UK Politics at undergraduate level.
Alan Convery is Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of Edinburgh.
Part I: Introduction
Alan Convery
Chapter 1 Preface
Alan Convery
Chapter 2 Introduction: The Post-Westminster Polity?
Part II: Representation
Sarah Childs
Chapter 3 Concepts of Political Representation
Meryl Kenny
Chapter 4 Gender and Politics in the UK
Timothy Peace and Nasar Meer
Chapter 5 Race, Ethnicity and UK Politics
Joe Greenwood-Hau
Chapter 6 Class Politics in the UK
Alan Convery
Chapter 7 The Conservative Party
Karl Pike
Chapter 8 The Labour Party
Ailsa Henderson
Chapter 9 Elections and Voting
Part III: Central Institutions
Alan Convery and Asanga Welikala
Chapter 10 The UK Constitution
Marc Geddes
Chapter 11 The UK Parliament
Richard Parry
Chapter 12 The Executive
Part IV: Beyond the Centre
Ben Wellings
Chapter 13 England, Englishness and English Nationalism in British Politics
Alan Convery and Ailsa Henderson
Chapter 14 Scotland
Jac Larner and Richard Wyn Jones
Chapter 15 Wales
Lisa Claire Whitten
Chapter 16 Northern Ireland
Part V: Big Issues
Daniel Kenealy
Chapter 17 Public Policy
Clare Llewellyn and Cristian Vaccari
Chapter 18 Media and Social Media
Benjamin Martill
Chapter 19 Brexit and Beyond
Victoria Honeyman
Chapter 20 UK Foreign Policy Making
Harshan Kumarasingham
Chapter 21 UK Politics and the End of Empire