Devolution in the UK / James Mitchell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mitchell, James, 1960-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Decentralization in government--Great Britain.

Decentralization in government.

Great Britain.

Great Britain--Politics and government--20th century.

Politics and government.

Great Britain--Politics and government--1997-2007.

Physical Description:

x, 261 pages ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

Manchester, UK ; New York : Manchester University Press ; New York : Distributed in the U.S. by Palgrave Macmillan, 2009.

Summary:

This book explains devolution today in terms of the evolution of past structures of government in the component parts of the United Kingdom. It highlights the importance of the English dimension and the role that England's territorial politics played in constitutional debates. Similarities and differences between how the components of the UK were governed are described. It argues that the UK should be understood now, even more than pre-devolution, as a state of distinct unions, each with its own deeply rooted past and trajectory. Using previously unpublished primary material, as well as a wealth of secondary work, the book offers a comprehensive account of the territorial constitution of the UK from the early twentieth century through to the operation of the new devolved system of government.

Contents:

1 Constituting the UK 1

2 Approaching to Arch-angelic: administrative devolution in Scotland 16

3 Staggering forward little by little: administrative devolution in Wales 40

4 Encouraging conformity, not emphasizing differences: Northern Ireland 67

5 A chaos of areas and bodies: the English dimension 92

6 The settled will of the Scottish people 111

7 Devolution is a process: Wales 142

8 In search of legitimacy: Northern Ireland since 1972 167

9 The English Question 195

10 Ever looser union 219.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780719053580

0719053587

OCLC:

312626241