Left without a future : social justice after the crash / Anthony Painter.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Painter, Anthony, author.

Series:

Policy network.

Policy network

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Labour Party (Great Britain).

Socialism--Great Britain.

Socialism.

Institution building.

Great Britain.

Government spending policy--Great Britain.

Government spending policy.

Institution building--Great Britain.

Physical Description:

xi, 244 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

London : I.B. Tauris, 2013.

Summary:

The roots of the recent financial crisis can be found in the substantial changes which have affected British economy and society over the last three decades. In economic terms, the UK has transformed from a predominantly industrial nation to one led by services and creative industries, while society has also became less industrial with new class 'networks' emerging. Post-war Social Democracy in its original form - as advocated by Tony Crosland - relied heavily on an industrial economy and society. A central statist, ideal-oriented version of social democracy can only go so far in the post-crash economy and society, hence the ease with which many of New Labour's reforms and resource allocation have since been reversed by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition. The centre-left has always been at its strongest when building new long-term institutions such as the NHS, expanding higher education, establishing the national minimum wage. Anthony Painter here argues that this institution-building tradition is the one to which the left should return. He advocates new economic, social and cultural policies which provide a manifesto for the future development of social democracy - and centre-left institutions - in Britain. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Witnessing the Left's Decline 21

2 Society's 'Bubbles', 'Networks' and 'Tribes' 35

3 Economy 67

4 The Force of Cultural Identity 97

5 England and Scotland 129

6 Imagining the Future 147

7 Institutions of Change 175

8 The Left: Caught Between Populism and Leadership? 201

9 Conclusion: We've Been Travelling on Rocky Ground 221.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781780766607

1780766602

1780766610

9781780766614

OCLC:

839316915