Devolution in the UK - by James Mitchell (Paperback)

About the Book

This book describes and explains the evolution of devolution. Using previously unpublished primary, as well as a wealth of secondary material, the book offers a comprehensive account of the territorial constitution of the UK from the early twentieth century through to the operation of the new devolved system of government.

From the Back Cover

This book explains devolution today in terms of the evolution of past structures of government in the component parts of the United Kingdom. Available in paperback for the first time, it highlights the importance of the English dimension and the role that England's territorial politics played in constitutional debates. Similarities and differences between how the components of the UK were governed are described. It argues that the UK should be understood now, even more than pre-devolution, as a state of distinct unions, each with its own deeply rooted past and trajectory. Using previously unpublished primary material, as well as a wealth of secondary work, the book offers a comprehensive account of the territorial constitution of the UK from the early twentieth century through to the operation of the new devolved system of government.

Review Quotes

'An important and necessary book on a vital topic. James Mitchell's expertise and original research produce an authoritative analysis, and one which questions assumed inevitabilities in the UK's past, present and future.'
Richard English, Professor of Politics, Queen's University, Belfast

About the Author

James Mitchell is Professor of Politics in the Department of Government at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.