British Society and its Three Crises: From 1970s Globalisation, to the Financial Crash of 2007-8 and the onset of Brexit in 2016

This study explores how Britain experienced several crises from the 1970s to the Brexit in 2016, including economic decline, financial crash, and austerity politics. It adopts a combined historical, empirical, and theoretical approach, drawing on Antonio Gramsci's notions of crisis and hegemony. A companion volume, "A Nation in Crisis: Division, Conflict, and Capitalism in the United Kingdom," examines the intensification of the present crisis from 2017 onwards.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 01 March 2024
Publisher: Liverpool University Press

This comprehensive study explores the profound and enduring crises that plagued Britain from the 1970s to the onset of Brexit in 2016. The term "crisis" is used to denote intense tensions, divisions, conflicts, and instability that characterized this period. The study focuses on three interconnected crises that significantly impacted various aspects of the social system. Firstly, the decline of managed capitalism and the rise of neo-liberal globalization from the 1970s onwards led to significant economic and social challenges. Secondly, the financial crash of 2007-2009 and its systemic consequences brought about further instability and economic downturn. Lastly, the ongoing "present crisis," dating from the 2010 politics of austerity, has deepened the country's economic and social woes.

To understand these crises, the study adopts a multi-faceted approach. It draws upon a wide range and depth of primary and secondary sources, including historical documents, empirical research, and theoretical frameworks. One of the key approaches used is the historicized notions of crisis and hegemony developed by the Italian political philosopher Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937). This approach provides a more comprehensive and innovative account of the crises than found in many other comparable studies.

In addition to the main study, a companion volume titled "A Nation in Crisis: Division, Conflict, and Capitalism in the United Kingdom" (2023) has been published. This volume delves into the intensification of the present "permacrisis crisis" that began in 2017 and continues to shape the country's political and economic landscape.

Overall, this comprehensive study offers a valuable insight into the complex and interconnected crises that have plagued Britain over the past several decades. It sheds light on the social, economic, and political factors that contributed to these crises and provides a roadmap for addressing them in the future.

Dimension: 239 x 163 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781802074796