This book discusses and analyses the last three decades of British political history, looking at why Britain found itself shut out from its immediate neighbours on the continent in 2016, twenty years after the country was celebrated as a prosperous, optimistic and culturally influential “Cool Britannia”.
The 2016 referendum on Brexit represents a watershed moment in the United Kingdom’s contemporary history, reflecting new divides and questioning many of the premises on which the country’s identity and position in the world had been based for almost half a century.
From Cool Britannia to Brexit discusses and analyses the last three decades of British political history, looking at why Britain found itself shut out from its immediate neighbours on the continent in 2016, twenty years after the country was celebrated as a prosperous, optimistic and culturally influential 'Cool Britannia'. This book ultimately shows the limits of the Westminster model of government and the enduring inequalities that affect Britain, but also insists on the resilience of its state and institutions.
This book is primarily aimed at an undergraduate and non-specialist audience. It explores the long-term political, economic and social changes which have affected the British polity in the early 21st century, which led to a dramatic decision in 2016, and in turn created more instability and political turbulence.
Introduction
Chapter 1: The constitution
Introduction
Political parties and constitutional reforms
Reforming Britains constitution
The Brexit referendum: a challenge to parliamentary democracy
The Covid-19 crisis and the constitution
Constitutional Monarchy at the end of the second Elizabethan era
Conclusion
Chapter 2: Parties, elections and voters
Introduction
The new party system(s)
The crisis of representation how voting changed
Changes in parties policies and organisation
New forms of participation
Conclusion
Chapter 3: The state of the union
Introduction
Devolution to Scotland and Wales
Northern Ireland
The 2014 Scottish independence referendum
The Brexit effect
Consequences of the Covid pandemic
The state of England
Conclusion
Chapter 4: Britain and Europe: the road to Brexit
Introduction
The ambiguities of New Labour
The rise of Euroscepticism
The Brexit referendum
UKEU relations after Brexit
Conclusion
Chapter 5: Britain in the world
Introduction
New Labour, old values ?
The UK, NATO and the defence of Europe in the post-Cold War context
The Franco-British Saint-Malo Declaration: introducing new concepts in
European defence
Liberal interventionism and the special relationship with the USA
The legacy of Blairs wars and liberal conservatism
The Arab Spring and its aftermath
No strategic shrinkage: reviewing the UKs defence and security priorities
The United Kingdom and the EUs foreign and security policy
Global Britain: a redefinition of Britains role in the world?
Conclusion
Chapter 6: The economy
Introduction
The New Labour era (19972010)
Gordon Browns premiership and the aftermath of the 2008 global financial
crisis (20072010)
The Conservative-led coalition government (20102015) and the Conservative
government before the 2016 referendum
What political response to economic challenges after 2016?
Conclusion
Chapter 7: A more diverse and unequal society
Introduction
Demographic trends
Immigration and multiculturalism
Class and social inequalities
Inequalities, poverty and unemployment
The housing crisis
Conclusion
Chapter 8: Education
Introduction
New Labours education agenda (19972010)
Education policy and reforms under the Coalition Government (20102015)
New challenges: education policy in the aftermath of Brexit and Covid-19
Conclusion
Chapter 9: Old and new media
Introduction
The evolution of traditional media: the press, television and the radio
Scandals and ethics
Conclusion
Chapter 10: Cultural policy
Introduction
The New Labour vision Cool Britannia?
The impact of austerity on the cultural sector
Two shocks: Brexit and Covid
The legacy of empire and culture wars
Conclusion
Pauline Schnapper is Professor of British Politics at Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris. Her research covers in particular British European policy and post-Brexit politics. Her most recent publications include La Politique au Royaume-Uni (La Découverte, 2022) and, with Helen Drake, '"We thought we were friends!": Franco-British bilateral diplomacy and the shock of Brexit' (Journal of Contemporary European Research, 2021).
Thibaud Harrois is Senior Lecturer in British Politics at Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris. His research focuses on British foreign and security policy. His latest publications include The politicisation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy in the British domestic debate on Brexit: A challenge to EUUK foreign and security cooperation (Contemporary British History, 2023).
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