Britishness Perspectives Quest

Distinguished contributors from a range of disciplines explore the question of Britishness – past, present and future.

• A lively and authoritative discussion of an important, timely and contemporary issue
• Investigates how devolution has brought a new focus on the future of Britain and the nature of Britishness
• Discusses the challenge of a more diverse society, with the search for a basis of social cohesion and solidarity
• Examines Gordon Brown's Britishness project, with its aim of producing a statement of British values

What is Britishness?  Should it be promoted?  If so, by whom?

These are some of the questions tackled in this wide-ranging discussion of the British question. This book could not be more timely. Devolution has brought a new focus on the future of Britain, and the nature of Britishness. So has the challenge of a more diverse society, with the search for a basis of social cohesion and solidarity. Against this background, Gordon Brown has launched his Britishness project, with its aim of producing a statement of British values.

All this provides the rich material for this book. Distinguished contributors from a range of disciplines explore the question of Britishness – past, present and future. The result is a lively and authoritative discussion of an important contemporary issue.

Andrew Gamble is Professor of Politics at the University of Sheffield. He is joint editor of The Political Quarterly and his books include Between Europe and America: The Future of British Politics (2003) and Politics and Fate (2000).

Tony Wright is MP for Cannock Chase and Chairman of the Public Administration Committee in the House of Commons. He is joint editor of The Political Quarterly and his books include The British Political Process (1999) and Socialisms: Old and New (1996).

Andrew Gamble and Tony Wright have also co-edited The New Social Democracy (1999) and Restating The State? (2004).