1st Edition

Euroscepticism in Contemporary British Politics Opposition to Europe in the Conservative and Labour Parties since 1945

By Anthony Forster Copyright 2002
    168 Pages
    by Routledge

    168 Pages
    by Routledge

    Anthony Forster argues that euroscepticism, in addition to being a political stance, displays the seeds of becoming a new faith. Through a detailed analysis of British post-war politics, he shows the development of a core set of beliefs, a history of persecution, displays of moral rectitude in opposing Europe and the power of scepticism to change existing beliefs.
    This challenging new history of euroscepticism will be a valuable resource for undergraduate students of politics and European studies.

    1. Introduction 2. Opposition to Europe, 1945-1969 3. British Entry into the Common Market, 1970-1972 4. The Referendum on Britain's continued membership of the European Community 5. Changing Attitudes to the Europe, 1979-1990 6. The Struggle Against Monetary Union, 1990-1993 7. The Struggle Against Monetary Union, 1993-2001 8. Patterns and Trends in Euroscepticism Bibliography Index

    Biography

    Anthony Forster is Director of Research at the Defence Studies Department, King's College London. Since 1997 he has been Professor Invité at the Institut Supérieur des affaires de défense, Université Panthéon Assas (Université Paris II). He is the author of Britain and Maastricht Negotiations (Palgrave: 1999); and The Making of Britain's European Foreign Policy (Longman: 2001) with Alasdair Blair.

    'This extremely useful book concisely surveys the role that Euro-scepticism has played in recent British politics, focusing on the debates and decisions within the Conservative and Labour parties.' - Unison journals, Tribune, Morning Star, and Voice of the Unions - Will Podmore

    ' ... (Forster) draws on a wide range of sources and makes sound and thoughtful judgements. Students should find it clearly organized and intellectually stimulating. And most readers will benefit from the new insights it offers into the Eurosceptics and their ideas ...' - Political Studies Books Vol. 50 Dec 2002

    'Professor Forster shows that euro-scepticism has been a vibrant movement that has learned to adapt as the E.U. has grown ever more powerful.' - Contemporary Review, Nov 2002