Deciding Factors in British Politics: A Case-Studies Approach

First published in 1992, Deciding Factors in British Politics is an invaluable work that introduces students to the decision-making process in British politics. The book combines detailed case studies with a comprehensive and approachable review of the key theoretical perspectives on how decisions are made. The case studies selected cover a wide range of issues and illustrate many facets of British political life – AIDS policy, the Falklands war, the nuclear power programme, the reform of the Civil Service, the introduction of trade union legislation, and the decision to adopt the Trident missile. These case studies are presented in the context of a thorough review of differing theoretical perspectives on decision-making, encouraging readers to think analytically about the processes of policymaking and to test their analyses against the known details of actual decisions. Finally, the theory and the case-study material are synthesized to provide a rich and complete understanding of the British political process.