Democracy in Britain

Traces the debate on representative democracy in Britain from its origins to the present. Chapters cover such topics as the constitution (written and unwritten); the balance of powers between different groups in society; and the social contract and the nature of freedom under the law. Democracy in Britain is an indispensable guide to the constitutional and political issues regarding representative and democratic institutions in Britain. As much a literary anthology as a political reader, it includes a rich and varied selection of key writings, from the debates around Britain's representative and democratic institutions, from constitutional commentary and diaries to poetry and fiction; from Locke and Burke to Dryden and Auden; and from Magna Carta to Spycatcher. Democracy in Britain includes a rich and varied selection of key writings, from the debates around Britain's representative and democratic institutions, from constitutional commentary and diaries to poetry and fiction; from Locke and Burke to Dryden and Auden; and from Magna Carta to Spycatcher. Provides the best resource available for the understanding and study of Britain's system of representative democracy The editors have made efforts throughout to make the material selected accessible to non-specialists Rather than following one side of the debate on British democracy, this presents the reader with both sides of the argument Sponsored by the British Council, the book will receive special advertising and promotion