In this section of the blog you can read reviews of all the latest books on politics. Each Sunday we publish three new reviews, aiming to cover a wide range of academic and non-academic books on all aspects of public policy and politics. Whether you’re interested in Benjamin Disraeli’s influence on David Cameron’s policies, the inside story of the Miliband Labour leadership battle, or the history of women in British politics since the 1700s, you’re sure to find all the essential information on these pages. Scroll down to browse the archive.
If you’d like to read more reviews of academic titles from across the social sciences, visit our sister blog, the LSE Review of Books. And if you’re interested in writing a review for the blog or if you would like to see your book reviewed here, please contact our our book reviews editor Amy Mollett at a.b.mollett@lse.ac.uk.
Latest Reviews
Sex, Gender and the Conservative Party: From Iron Lady to Kitten Heels by Sarah Childs and Paul Webb
Studies into female Conservatives are sparse compared to that of their Labour counterparts. The term “Conservative feminist” is still for many the ultimate oxymoron. Sex, Gender and the Conservative Party attempts to address this gap in the literature by examining the political choices and associations of female Tories. Krista Cowman thinks the book captures a party on the verge of change and offers a clear and concise picture of how it shifted its focus to its female members, merging quantitative and qualitative approaches into a highly readable account. Read more…
Electing and Ejecting Party Leaders in Britain by Thomas Quinn
The Labour party comeback at last weekâs local elections raised the possibility that the current leaders of the coalition may actually be standing on shaky ground. However, as the book Electing and Ejecting Party Leaders in Britain argues, parties have moved to make it harder to evict their leaders. Timothy Heppell feels the book distinguishes itself by examining the institutional obstacles in place which make it hard for parties to eject their leaders, rather than giving undue attention to personality clashes. Read more…
Back from the Brink: 1000 Days at Number 11 by Alistair Darling
Thinking he would be merely a ‘footnote in history’, ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling instead found himself at the centre of the worst banking crises in over a century. Scott Levin reviews Darling’s autobiography Back from the Brink and finds he does not pull all of his punches as he adds yet another chip into the already mangled armor of Labourâs post-Blair years. Read more…
Don’t Take No for an Answer: The 2011 Referendum and the Future of Electoral Reform by Lewis Baston and Ken Ritchie
As political scientists watch and wait for local election results to come in, what many will find most shocking, although not surprising, are the low voter turn out rates. It seems that the British public remain largely disinterested in elections, a problem also encountered in the 2011 referendum. Kerwin Datu reviews this recent book on the mistakes and delusions of the Yes campaign, noting that lessons must be learned before we see any new wave of political interest. Read more…
Irish Journalism before Independence edited by Kevin Rafter
In a time of rapid technological change, journalism has been plagued by questions that prod at its core tenets and practices. Irish Journalism before Independence provides a timely and accessible examination into the heart of the profession as it developed under Irelandâs seismic political and cultural shifts. Reviewed by Danielle Moran. Read more…
Reviews Archive
