Finding a role? : the United Kingdom, 1970-1990

702 Pages·2011·8.27 MB·English

by  Harrison

THE NEW OXFORD HISTORY OF ENGLAND
GeneralEditor · ..

Finding a Role?
THE UNITED KINGDOM,
1970–1990
BRIAN HARRISON
CLARENDONPRESS·OXFORD
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Preface
Thisisthesecondoftwoself-containedvolumesonBritishhistorysince1951.
Thefirst,SeekingaRole:TheUnitedKingdom1951–1970,similarlystructured,
was published in 2009, and introduces all the major themes discussed in this
volume. The acknowledgements and dedication in Seeking a Role apply with
equal force here. David Coleman and Alex May were as generous with their
comments on chapters in this volume as on chapters in its precursor; Alvin
Jackson rescued me from errors in my discussion of Northern Ireland; and
ShelaghandWalterEltiscommentedmosthelpfullyonChapter5.Atthispoint
Itakepleasureinacknowledgingthequietpatience,resourcefulness,diplomatic
skills,andefficiencydisplayedbyMatthewCotton andChristopherWheeler,
bothoftheOxfordUniversityPress.Theygotbothvolumesthroughthepress
despite being lumbered with an author who caused them more than a spotof
bother.Asbefore,Itakefullresponsibilityforanymistakeswhichremain,and
willbegratefultoreaderswhocandrawthemtomyattention.
BrianHarrison
CorpusChristiCollege,Oxford
May2009
NOTE ON THE PAPERBACKEDITION
This edition enables me to incorporate small-scale corrections and improve-
ments.Iammostgratefultoreaderswhohavesentmeconstructivesuggestions,
and especially to my friend Nigel Williams, who provided by far the largest
number.
B.H.
April2011

Contents
ListofPlates ix
Illustrations xi
Abbreviations xii
Introduction xv
.       1
AShrinkingWorld 1
AGlobalizingEconomy 7
Euro-Equivocation 20
ImperialAftermath 38
ColdWarImplosion 49
.      56
AFragileLandscape 56
MorePeopleMovingFaster 68
UrbanUtopiaAbandoned 77
CommunitiesOldandNew 92
IrishTragedy 102
.    125
TheMonarchyinTrouble 125
TheCountryHouseRevived 131
Middle-ClassTriumph 141
TradeUnionsontheDefensive 150
FromWorkingClasstoUnderclass 175
‘Multiculturalism’? 187
.    209
PermanentSexualRevolution 209
NewFamilies,NewWomen? 220
ABetterLifefortheYoung? 240
AWelfareDynamic 251
OldAgeRemapped 276
FriendshipinFlux 284
 
.    288
CorporatisminCrisis 288
AFree-MarketAlternative 306
TheEntrepreneurReturns 329
TheWorkforceDiversifies 347
Free-MarketConsumerism 363
.    371
ReligionsOldandNew 371
ClassroomCounter-Revolution 381
UniversityGrowingPains 391
CulturalAffluence 403
DumbingDown? 425
.    433
AControversialExecutive 436
ParliamentinDecline? 445
ARevolutioninGovernment 452
LibertyComesandGoes 469
ConservativesTransformed 480
LabourontheDefensive 491
PrivacyandPublicity 506
.    514
SocialistSetback 517
Free-MarketAspirations 522
ThatcherismAudited 534
DystopiainProspect? 541
FindingaRole? 546
ChronologyofEvents 551
Bibliography 595
Index 615