Totalitarian by Consent: Press, Politics and the ‘People’s War,’ 1939–45

This book explores the role of the British press during the Second World War. Whilst the Second World War is a well-research period of British history, the role of the British press in it has been strangely neglected. This book seeks to fill that lacuna by exploring the political role of the press and its relationship with the British Government. In so doing, this monograph explores the different aspects of the press’ political coverage, namely; the national press’ reporting of wartime government, including cabinet administrations, political personalities and parliamentary procedures; coverage of extra-parliamentary politics and grass-roots movements, such as the People’s Convention and the 1941 Committee/Common Wealth Party; and the popular press coverage of the 1945 general election. It also explores how the two spheres, journalism and politics, intersected during the war by examining politically active journalists and politicians who regularly appeared in print. By examining these different aspects, this monograph aims to provide a greater understanding of the press’ contribution to British political culture during the Second World War and seeks to explore how the British popular press justified the paradox of a social democracy going to war. In essence, this book examines how the fourth estate performed its functions under wartime conditions.