Governance, the State, Regulation and Industrial Relations

This book examines the legacy of economics and political aims and objectives formulated by the British government during and immediately after the second world war. It examines contemporary patterns of regulation by the state, an reform in the industrial relations system, as factors of historically-embedded influences on the state such as these. By doing so, the author develops an innovative, historically-informed, yet contemporary theory of the British state. A significant proportion of post-war economic and political literature has highlighted the adverse effect of embedded patterns of industrial relations on British economic performance. It is argued in this book that this represents a superficial appraisal of post-war British political economy, and that it is instead necessary to look at the deeply ingrained causes particular to the UK's historical development. Equally, the book examines another neglected yet vital aspect of Britain's economic performance, the constraints and opportunities afforded by Britain's international relations. This book makes an important contribution to the history and theory of British post-war economics. It will be of interest to anybody working in the areas of economic history, international relations or management policy.