A Short History of the Liberal Party 1900-2001

This highly topical and authoritative history examines the changing fortunes of the Liberals from the landslide victory of 1906, through the divisions and decline of the interwar years, to the repeated revivals in the forty years after Orpington in 1962. This concise survey examines not only the electoral fortunes of the party (including detailed analysis of the June 2001 election) but also the personalities, policies and power base of the contemporary party in the changed political landscape of the new century. Although a book designed for students of history and politics, this timely volume will also be essential reading for journalists, political commentators and party activists; indeed all those interested in the Liberal Democrat performance in the 2001 election and their prospects as the new century unfolds.

'covers all the highs and lows with fairness and detail' - Stephen Brasher, New Statesman

Autorentext
CHRIS COOK was educated at St Catherine's College, Cambridge and Nuffield College, Oxford. He has been director of successive surveys by the Modern Archives Unit at the London School of Economics, as well as Head of History at what is now the University of North London. His many previous publications for Macmillan include the six-volume Sources in British Political History, 1900-51. A Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, he is also editor of the best-selling Pears Encyclopaedia. He has recently completed a new edition of A Dictionary of Historical Terms.

Inhalt
Acknowledgements Introduction The Liberal Tradition Liberalism in Eclipse The Liberals in Opposition: 1900-1906 The Liberal Ascendancy: 1906-1910 The Crisis of Liberalism: 1910-1914 Liberals at War: 1914-1918 A Party Divided: 1918-1923 Revival and Decline: 1923-1926 Lloyd George Again: 1926-1931 Dissension and Decline: 1931-1945 A Party in the Wilderness: 1945-1956 The Sound of Gunfire: 1956-1967 The Thorpe Leadership: 1967-1976 Pacts and Alliances: 1976-1983 A Tale of Two Leaders: 1983-1987 Merger Most Foul: 1987-1988 A New Agenda: 1988-1992 Voting for Change: 1992-1997 Living with Labour: 1997-2001 Facing the Future Appendix I: Major Holders of Party Office, 1900-2001 Appendix II: The Liberal Vote, 1918-2001 Appendix III: Liberal By-Election Victories since 1945 Appendix IV: Liberal Democratic Seats (After June 2001) Appendix V: The Liberal Shadow Cabinet (After June 2001) Appendix VI: The Continuing Liberal Party Bibliographical Note Index