"This book present a critical narrative of labour's place in the process of industrialisation between about 1830 and the outbreak of the Great War." "At the outset of this crucial period, it was evident to most observers that the labour market and the wider economy had been transformed by what became known as the Industrial Revolution. Pervasive changes continued until 1914 (an appropriate date at which to conclude, as it marks the impact of a war that caused the biggest shift in the demand for labour since the Black Death). In assessing these processes, however, MacRaild and Martin make clear that most workers were not employed in manufacturing; indeed, the variegated nature of the labour market and the differing pace of change in different sectors of the economy are the book's key themes. There is also discussion of broader aspects of working-class culture, as well as politics and protest." "MacRaild and Martin provide a clear, thematic guide through this complex area of economic and social history, while the critical bibliography offers an introduction to the wider literature."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

What part has organized labour played in the history of modern Britain? To what extent has British society been shaped by working class organization in industry and labour in politics? A major reinterpretation of the relationship between the history of the working class and the history of British society from 1780 to 1980, Labour in British Society (originally published in 1986) traces two recurrent themes—how the pattern of social relations in industry has developed since the Industrial Revolution, and how these patterns have been affiliated to national political and economic developments. This book is a must read for students and researchers of history.

EU security governance assesses the effectiveness of the EU as a security actor. The book has two distinct features. Firstly, it is the first systematic study of the different economic, political and military instruments employed by the EU in the performance of four different security functions. The book demonstrates that the EU has emerged as an important security actor, not only in the non-traditional areas of security, but increasingly as an entity with force projection capabilities. Secondly, the book represents an important step towards redressing conceptual gaps in the study of security governance, particularly as it pertains to the European Union. The book links the challenges of governing Europe's security to the changing nature of the state, the evolutionary expansion of the security agenda, and the growing obsolescence of the traditional forms and concepts of security cooperation.

The Challenge of Labour (1980) explains the changing forms of labour's relationship with British society during the period of 1850 to 1930 - as the economic and social relations of Britain, the pioneer of modern industrial development, were undergoing a profound transformation due to increasing pressure from foreign competitors. It looks at the importance of the forces of production in determining the character of the relationship, whilst regarding labour as a creative act, identifying man as a social animal. This important period gave rise to a unique symbiosis in terms of a mutually dependent but simultaneously antagonistic relationship, reflected in the growth of trade unionism, associations for working class 'self-help', and labourist political movements during the years 1850-70. The book goes on to explain why and how these forms of labour's relationship with British society as a whole were subsequently to be transformed as they were affected by the changing direction of Britain's economic development after the 1870s. This resulted in a recognisable 'modern' pattern of British social relations, marked by a growing acceptance of 'corporatist' solutions to problems of economic and social instability.

Historical study of the labour movement in the UK from 1750 to 1955, with particular reference to the sociological aspects of the role of trade union leadership as an Elite group within the working class - covers the evolution of the labour political party, political leadership, etc. References and statistical tables.

Considering the qualities of leaders from this historic party, among them some of the towering figures of British political history, this book places each in the context of their respective time and political landscape. From Keir Hardie to Ed Miliband, and featuring eight Labour prime ministers since the inauguration of James Ramsay MacDonald, it offers an analytical framework by which those leaders may be judged, and a detailed personal biography of each.