British Conservative Party and One Nation Politics

David Seawright is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) at the University of Leeds and a co-director of the Members of Parliament Project. His previous works include An Important Matter of Principle and (edited with David Baker) Britain for and Against Europe?

• Chapter One Introduction: One Nation, Food For Thought; 1. The Chapters and the Thesis; 2. Mythical Origins: Disraeli On England; 3. The Myth Incarnate; 4. Blue Moods and Black-Balls; 5. The Context of Influence; Chapter Two Ethos and Doctrine in the Conservative Party; 1. Conservative ideology; 2. Conservative Principles; 3. Political Recrudescence; Chapter Three The Thracian Boxer and Ideological Movement; 1. The Pamphlets: 'Let the Dog See the Rabbit'; 2. Forecast is for Dry to Wet, Then Dry Again; 3. Mapping Conservative Policy Preferences; 4. Appendix to Chapter Three; Chapter Four Skilled Propaganda From Ill-Intentioned 'Friends'; 1. A Great Moving Left Show; 2. Retrospective Procrustean Polemics; 3. Concessionary Conservatism; Chapter Five Factions, Tendencies and 'Bondstones'?; 1. Post-War: Reform and/or Progress?; 2. No Turning Back to PEST; 3. Conservative Typologies: towards 'Topsy' Dimensions; 4. 'Bondstone Groups'; Chapter Six One Nation, but which?; 1. The Devolution Dilemma of a Rebounding 'Scottish Card'; 2. The 'English Question'; 3. Civis Britannicus sum?; 4. Cameron's One Nation Conundrum; Chapter Seven 'One Europe or No Nation'?; 1. The Party of Europe and 'One Europe'?; 2. Merchant Shipping with a Malign Form of Maastricht; 3. The Euro-Ratchet Halted or Withdrawal?; Chapter Eight Conclusion: Further Refreshment at the Springs of Doctrine; 1. Back to the Future: The Responsible Society; 2. In Conclusion: Cameron Conservatism.; Bibliography.

"The label, One Nation, has been central to the politics of British Conservatism for nearly 150 years. Often used as code in internal conflicts or as short-hand for a complex electoral strategy, it has seldom been analysed systematically. David Seawright's book addresses and remedies this by exploring the evolution of the concept of One Nation politics, locating it in the party's history and demonstrating its continued importance in contemporary Conservatism. The British Conservative Party and One Nation Politics is a significant contribution to our understanding Conservative politics in Britain." --Andrew Taylor, Professor of Politics,University of Sheffield.