This book presents a provocative argument which suggests that cultural devolution preceded and indeed forced political change. A 'post-British' form of culture - as found across literature, education and philosophy - has long been in the making, arising especially in local communities who no longer see themselves as British. The author places this change in the context of post-imperial Britain in the second half of the20th century and looks at how underground cultures such as rave and reggae may have laid the foundations for a post-British culture. The various attempts to re-constitutionalise Britain are explored and the book ends with two key questions: how has the progress of a post-British culture been viewed in Scotland, and how do we pull a post-British England out of a devolutionary process which is liable to outstrip all British control? Key Features: *The first serious account of the history of the growing cultural division within Britain in the second half of the 20th century. *Accentuates the cultural roots of devolution, bringing them out from the shadow of party-political explanations. *Looks at the effects of devolution upon both Scottish and English culture.
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A wide-ranging and challenging polemical essay. A wide-ranging and challenging polemical essay.
About the Author
Michael Gardiner is Associate Professor in the Department of English and Comparative Literary Studies at the University of Warwick. As well as creative fiction and comparative cultural history and world literature, his books include The Cultural Roots of British Devolution (EUP, 2004), Modern Scottish Culture (2005), and From Trocchi to Trainspotting; Scottish Literary Theory Since 1960 (2006).
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Ted Garcia
Format:Paperback
A lot of books have come out about Scotland's place in
Britain recently, and this is a valuable addition. Unlike
the others, it attempts to show how culture actually
pushed politics, concretely and making extraordinary
connections between, for example, English rave and a new
unBritish, pro-democratic Englishness. Its scope makes it
sightly wandery at times but this is part of its appeal:
unlike anything else in the subject you've read.
Britain recently, and this is a valuable addition. Unlike
the others, it attempts to show how culture actually
pushed politics, concretely and making extraordinary
connections between, for example, English rave and a new
unBritish, pro-democratic Englishness. Its scope makes it
sightly wandery at times but this is part of its appeal:
unlike anything else in the subject you've read.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Serge Giunta
Format:Paperback
This book shows a real departure from previous books on
British studies, stressing Scotland's centrality to
Britishness 'post-Britishness', and potential English
problems. It cuts across a range of fields from philosophy
to punk with ease, and there are moments of
great insight. Should be read by anyone who has even a
passing interest in contemporary British culture or
European affairs.
British studies, stressing Scotland's centrality to
Britishness 'post-Britishness', and potential English
problems. It cuts across a range of fields from philosophy
to punk with ease, and there are moments of
great insight. Should be read by anyone who has even a
passing interest in contemporary British culture or
European affairs.
Format:Paperback
This is a rare, original, tour de force of a book - whose far-reaching and comprehensive argument is only marred by having a dreadful title - or one which doesnt do this book justice.
Gardiner's book is political, cultural, socio-economic, multi-discplinary in the best sense - and he makes a great case that we are now deep in post-British identities. The Scots are way down the road, and the English are beginning to emerge, as we shift from the need for a four nations history to a four nations present and future.
The terrain and range is Nairnesque - drawing inspiration from Tom Nairn's pathbreaking 'The Breakup of Britain. I have recently reread and again been impressed by this book - which is even more powerful seven years after it was published. I only hope given where Scotland and Ukania is that Gardiner will return and revise and deepen this analysis for our benefit.
Gardiner's book is political, cultural, socio-economic, multi-discplinary in the best sense - and he makes a great case that we are now deep in post-British identities. The Scots are way down the road, and the English are beginning to emerge, as we shift from the need for a four nations history to a four nations present and future.
The terrain and range is Nairnesque - drawing inspiration from Tom Nairn's pathbreaking 'The Breakup of Britain. I have recently reread and again been impressed by this book - which is even more powerful seven years after it was published. I only hope given where Scotland and Ukania is that Gardiner will return and revise and deepen this analysis for our benefit.
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I've had to read approximately 20 books on the topic of Devolution in Britain, and this book by Michael Gardiner stood out by the uniquness of the approach. While other scholars tend to discuss Devolution as a political change brought about from the central and 'upper' government, Gardiner argues that the changes have always been unavoidable because they are rooted in cultural histories of British nations. This potentially complicated subject is made accessible by use of familiar examples such as popular music and contemporary literature. There are bits where these examples look more like a list of names than a scientific research (and reading it made me feel as if I was having a discussion on latest releases of music CDs with friends in a pub - which is not a bad thing), but by the end of the book I was surprised at how much thinking the book had made me go through. Strongly recommended for anybody interested in the future of British Culture, or what will be left after it.
Format:Paperback
�`There are many books on British devolution written from political or even economic perspectives, but this book's approach was quite unique in that it sees the process as a product of cultural history. It does not reduce the picture to the simple rivarly (yet often preferred by the Scots?!) dominant England vs. underdog Scotland. It seemed that the book demonstrated that the rivarly in question is more between the past (economic and political evolution and Imperialism) and the future�`�` (democracy?). I am not a historian or specialist in politics, indeed I don't read many books on serious matters like this one, but the book was not very difficult to read because it talked about many things that are familiar to our everyday life. Sometimes it was difficult to know how each chapter related to other chapters so I'll give it 4 out of 5.�`
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
Total eye-opener. There are a few other good books that deal with Devolution but the idea of cultural devolution explored in this book is very unique, but convincing. Fantastic book.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Although the book is aimed for academics of Cultural Studies, this great book would also serve as a good introduction to UK culture for anybody who is interested in understanding how culture plays an important role within the UK political situation which is now entering an era of big change. Gardiner provides thorough analysis on the cultural history of the UK using examples in linguistics, popular culture, literature and so on. Sometimes his examples lack relativism but this would indicate that more debate should be taking place on the subject Gardiner introduces.
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