The Decline of the British State

Abstract

The British state has been in decline for over a century: this is the single most important feature of British politics. Our final chapter begins by describing the nature of decline. This is followed by a description of the system of Welfare Democracy which was developed during and after the Second World War as a response to that decline. The failure of Welfare Democracy to reverse decline, and the great crises of the mid-1970s which helped destroy the Welfare Democratic consensus, are next outlined. This is followed by an account of the New Economic Order which since then has been supplanting Welfare Democracy. In section 4 the implications of this New Order for the future of the British state are examined, together with a brief review of some alternative responses to the experience of decline.

She that was great among the nations, Princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary.

Lamentations, 1.1