Originally published in 1964, this book remains a seminal source for contemporary political scientists and offers exceptional insights into notions of responsibility. Wahlke (1971) describes it as ‘one of the best analytical surveys of representation.’
Originally published in 1964, this book remains a seminal source for contemporary political scientists and offers exceptional insights into notions of responsibility. Wahlke (1971) describes it as ‘one of the best analytical surveys of representation.’ The book is a compact and critical essay on the British constitution which reveals the realities of British politics in the second half of the 20th Century by showing the extent to which theory and reality agree and differ.
Arvustused
Original reviews of Representative and Responsible Government:
Professor Birchs book is of a kind which is rare and extremely usefulIt could be given painlessly to relative beginners but raises issues in a way which could spark off the more advanced student. Political Studies
This work is a must for anyone general reader or specialist who wants to grapple with the issues involved in evaluating the British political system. Socialist Commentary
a lucid and scholarly study of a central aspect of the British system of government. Public Administration
should be read by all students of British government, MPs and aspiring MPsthrows new light on the theory and practice of British politics. Plebs
an extremely lucid and chastening study of the myths and realities of representative and responsible government. The Times Literary Supplement
Part 1: Introduction
1. Representative and Responsibility in Politics
Part 2: The Traditional Doctrines
2. Tory and Whig Attitudes to
Representation
3. The Early Radicals
4. Parliamentary Reform and Victorian
Liberalism
5. The Liberal View of the Constitution Part 3: Collectivism and
the Theory of Representation
6. Doctrines of Class Conflict
7. The idealist
View of Politics
8. Theories of Group Representation
9. Party Democracy Part
4: Responsibility in British Politics
10. Collective Responsibility
11.
Individual Responsibility
12. The Parliamentary Watchdog
13. Responsible
Government Reconsidered Part 5: The Public and the Government
14. The Nature
of Public Opinion
15. Channels of Communication
16. Opinions and Policies
Part 6: Conclusions
17. Representative and Responsible Government in Britain.
A. H. Birch was Emeritus Professor of Political Science, University of Victoria, BC, Canada.
