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 thoughtprovoking 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 hasundergone, from reconstruction after the Second World War through the legaciesof Thatcher and Blair to today' s challenges of multiculturalism and integrationwith the rest of Europe. Rejecting the thesis of decline, it argues that Britainhas become a more successful society whose citizens are looking less at thepast and more at present challenges and future possibilities. Assuming no priorknowledge and illustrated throughout with figures and tables, boxes focusingon key issues, and an extensive guide to further reading and relevant websites,Contemporary Britain is the ideal starting point for students and interestedgeneral readers alike.Review of the first edition:" Very well written and very readable ... While this book would be ideallysuited to students from overseas, there is much here for students from theBritish Isles ... [A] useful and interesting ... starting point for research andfurther reading ... This book achieves its aims very well."
——Vietoria Honeyman, Political Studies Review

List ofIllustrations，Maps，Figures，Tables and Boxes
Preface and Acknowledgments
List ofAbbreviations
Introduction
1 The Historical Context
The Emergence of the British State
Postwar Adjustment．1945-79
The Thatcher Revolution，1 979-90
Blair and Beyond
2 Land and People
The Geography of Britain
Natural Resources
The Environment
The People of Britain
Nationalism and Regionalism
Immigration and Race
3 The Social System
Social Class
The Changing Family
Social Services and Health Care
Education
Law and 0rder
4 Government and the Political System
Principles of Government
The Constitution
The Monarchy
Prime Minister and Cabinet
Parliament
The Judiciary
The Bureaucracy
Local Govemment
5 Politics and Civil Society
Political Culture
Elections
Political Parties
Interest Groups
The Media
6 The Economy
The Structure of the Economy
From Hands-off to Hands-on，and Back Again
Britain in the International System
The Economic Implications of Europe
7 Culture and Lifestyle
Culture
The Identity Of Britain
TheArts
Sports and Leisure
Religion
8 Britain and the World
The Changing British Role in the World
The Commonwealth
The Atlantic Alliance
Britain and the European Union
The Changing Role of the British Military
Conclusions
Recommended Reading
Britain 0nline
Bibliography
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However, that attitudes may be changing, and the owners and operators oflarge businesses are becoming increasingly prominent in public life, if notnecessarily admired.　
A prime example of the rise of the modern British business celebrity isoffered by Sir Richard Branson, whose Virgin business empire has grown toinclude many different interests. Virgin began in the late 1960s as a cut-pricerecord store in London. Branson then moved into the recording industry,becoming known more widely for the launch of the low-cost airline VirginAtlantic, and expanding to areas as diverse as fashion, soft drinks, publishing,property, hotels, cinemas, and even railway services. Virgin Atlantic hasbeen in a struggle against British Airways in its attempt to capture a greatershare of the transatlantic air travel market through an alliance with AmericanAirlines. Branson's ventures have not always been successful, but a flairfor publicity has made him a well-known public figure, contributing to areassessment of public attitudes towards business, and of business as a careeroption.Despite criticism that the Thatcher administration failed to take care ofthe needs of the underclass, and despite continued problems with poverty,a growing income gap between rich and poor, and homelessness （see Box3.1 in Chapter 3）, the flee-market philosophy had become so popular andinstitutionalized by the time Thatcher left office that when Tony Blair becameleader of the Labour Party in 1994, he set about 'modernizing' the partyand committing it to the maintenance of some of the more popular aspects.