The Foundations of the British Conservative Party

Download or read book The Foundations of the British Conservative Party written by Bradley W. Hart and published by A&C Black. This book was released on 2013-08-01 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party, is now at the helm of the first coalition government in the UK since WWII. His 2010 victory came after great efforts to change his party's image, moving it away from Margaret Thatcher's pro-privatization rhetoric and asserting that it was "the party of the NHS" and the advocate of the "Big Society." This collection of essays, written by leading scholars in British political history, offers insights into the Conservative Party's staying power in spite of great social and political changes in the UK and the world. It looks at how the Party has functioned historically and what its future might be, discussing its ideology and identity. Organized around key themes such as the conservative ideal, conservatism and the imperial outlook, party politics, and the impact of Thatcherism, the essays examine how conservatism has remained relevant and what it means to be conservative today. An accessible, concise overview, the book will be a primer for anyone studying British politics and political history.