Feelbad Britain

This book has been written as an attempt to apply the insights and experience of several political lifetimes to the history of the past thirty years - an era characterised, above all, by the ascendancy of neoliberalism, both as a general world-view and as an approach to public policy.

The central thesis of Feelbad Britain is that after the decades of neoliberalism the institutions and social relations on which solidarity, trust and citizenship depend have been undermined. This has left contemporary British society in a troubled and dysfunctional state, without the cohesion or confidence needed if we are to escape from recession, combat climate change and restore faith in government.

The authors put forward a theoretical framework for understanding contemporary politics; and they consider what is to be done to revitalise the British left, challenge neoliberal hegemony, and develop a political project aimed at creating a greener, fairer, happier, more democratic and less divided Britain.

Contributors:

Patrick Ainley, Martin Allen, David Beetham, Noel Castree, Pat Devine, Angela McRobbie, Linda Patterson, Andrew Pearmain, Michael Prior, David Purdy, Kate Soper