Tim Bale Book order

One anonymous woman……with a dream. Four unrelated men……all in receipt of the same solicitor’s letter urging them to travel to the town of Keswick in the heart of England’s Lake District.

The Conservative Party can lay convincing claim to being the world's most successful political party, not least because it is also one of the most adaptable, often appearing to do and say pretty much whatever it takes to win. But has it now taken things too far? Since the UK voted to leave the EU back in 2016, the Tories have arguably done more than simply re-shape themselves: rather, they seem to have transformed themselves from a mainstream centre-right party into a counter-intuitive combination of radical right-wing populism and market fundamentalism that, some contend, poses a threat to many of the norms of both liberal democracy and economic common sense. In this compelling and persuasively argued book, Tim Bale, one of the country's foremost experts on contemporary British politics, takes us on a rollercoaster ride through the Conservatives' fortunes over the last decade. From the bombshell Brexit referendum, through to the increasingly chaotic premierships of Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, Bale tells a gripping tale of a party that, in just a few short years, has gone from nervous breakdown to top of the world - and back again.

This revised fourth edition offers a comprehensive introduction to comparative politics in Europe, highlighting key institutions and issues. It features a thematic organization and real-world examples, making it ideal for students. Suitable for courses on Comparative European Politics and broader Comparative Politics, it enhances understanding of the region's dynamics.

Focusing on the evolution of the Conservative Party since 1945, the book explores the strategic adjustments parties make to appeal to voters, including changes in organization and policy formulation. It offers a thorough analysis backed by original archival research, providing insights into the political dynamics and decision-making processes that shape party identity and electoral strategies.

The Conservatives are back, and back with a bang two election wins in a row and, providing they can hold things together, in a pretty good position to win another. But many questions about their recent past, present, and future still remain.

The story of Ed Miliband's attempt to put Labour back into power after just five years in opposition: the challenges he has faced, the difficulties - and the colleagues - he has had to deal with, some of the mistakes he has made, and the successes he has occasionally enjoyed along the way.

The fully revised 2nd edition of this popular text provides a concise yet comprehensive introduction to the government and politics of Europe. The book is thematically organized to address the big issues and it uses nine representative countries as case studies.