Book Review: Britain and Ireland: Cameron and the Conservatives: The Transition to Coalition Government
| DOI | 10.1111/1478-9302.12016_96 |
| Date | 01 May 2013 |
| Published date | 01 May 2013 |
| Author | Thomas Quinn |
| Subject Matter | Book Review |
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responded effectively to varying favourable or unfa-
offer retrospectives of governments over a longer time
vourable circumstances can then be assessed.
period, especially after they have left office, are less
The book would be of interest to students or
prone to these problems.
academics, particularly in the field of opposition or
A further drawback with these collections is that the
leadership studies, but also to those with an interest
policy chapters often end up being very descriptive,
in the development of post-war British politics more
recounting events and decisions, but light on analysis.
generally.
Perhaps that is related to the greater inclination of
political scientists to focus on party competition than
Elizabeth McEnhill
on public policy. That tends to characterise this book,
(University of Huddersfield)
although the policy chapters are certainly informative.
However, the best chapters are the final four, which
Cameron and the Conservatives: The Transition
deal with coalition cohesion, Cameron’s style as prime
to Coalition Government by Timothy Heppell
minister, Labour in opposition and possible future
and David Seawright (eds). London: Palgrave Mac-
developments in party alignments. Each is more ana-
millan, 2012. 268pp., £60.00, ISBN 978 0 230 31410 8
lytical and less descriptive.
Britain’s first post-war coalition government is likely
Overall, this volume offers a useful if unavoidably
to create a cottage industry in assessments of the new
incomplete first impression of the Conservatives’ return
administration. This volume of essays on the Con-
to government. It is bound to be supplemented with
servative Party’s return to power is one of the first.
many others.
Loosely structured around the major themes of Bul-
Thomas Quinn
pitt’s notion of statecraft –...
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