IAN HOLLIDAY is Professor of Public Policy, City University of Hong Kong.ANDREW GAMBLE is Professor of Politics, University of Sheffield.GERAINT PARRY is Professor of Government, University of Manchester.

• Introduction; G.Parry State, Economy and Society; A.Gamble The Constitution; N.Johnson The Growth of the State; G.Peele The Institutions of Central Government; M.J.Smith Territorial Politics; I.Holliday Law and Politics; R.Thomas Order and Discipline; R.Reiner Estates, Classes and Interests M.Moran Representation and Participation; P.Dunleavy Citizenship and Identity; E.Meehan Sovereignty and Interdependence; J.Peterson Ideas, Ideologies and the British Political Tradition; M.Kenny.

'[S]timulating, often uncomfortably so...[s]hould be immediately required reading for anyone teaching British politics.' - Michael St. John Parker, Parliamentary Affairs 'This rich collection of stimulating, scholarly yet accessible essays is ideal for students in making the crucial move from introductory texts to a more focused and detailed analysis of the fascinating questions which are indeed fundamental to the world of power, politics and government.' - John Kingdom, Political Studies 'This is a fascinating, occasionally exhilarating, book - a thorough and sophisticated guide to both British politics as such and academic thinking on the subject...The list of contributors is a roll-call of the brightest and best in British political science...[I]t will surely become essential reading to those embarking on degree-level studies.' - J. Boughton, Talking Politics