A major European power, a leading voice in world affairs, birthplace of the parliamentary system, the pioneer of industrialization, and a dominating influence on Western culture, British society has shaped the world and continues to do so, even as today it finds itself adapting to a new globalized order.
　　In this completely revised and updated second edition of Contemporary Britain. best-selling author John McCormick provides an authoritative and thought-provoking introduction to British society, geography, politics and culture. discussing the evolution of economic and social policy, and Britain' s new place in Europe and the world.
　　Its major theme is change and the often dramatic upheavals that Britain has undergone, from reconstruction after the Second World War through the legacies of Thatcher and Blair to today' s challenges of multiculturalism and integration with the rest of Europe. Rejecting the thesis of decline, it argues that Britain has become a more successful society whose citizens are looking less at the past and more at present challenges and future possibilities. Assuming no prior knowledge and illustrated throughout with figures and tables, boxes focusing on key issues, and an extensive guide to further reading and relevant websites. Contemporary Britain is the ideal starting point for students and interested general readers alike.