
The Conscript Army
A Study of Britain's Unemployed
Frank Field(Editor)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Will be published approx. on 1. December 2025
Book
Hardback
174 pages
978-1-041-11904-3 (ISBN)
Description
Originally published in 1977, this book was written at a time when unemployment figures in Britain were at their highest since the Depression of the 1930s, with 1.5 million people out of work. Beginning with a careful examination of what the unemployment figures do and do not tell, the book argues that official figures underestimated the numbers of unemployed. Discussion then turns to the people who were most likely to be unemployed, the myths about those out of work and the massive checks to prevent people wrongly claiming benefit. Case studies from groups of families in Liverpool illustrate what unemployment means in practice and shows to what extent unemployment leads to poverty while having little effect on rising prices. The author and contributors outline proposals for a policy of returning to full employment, which, they maintained, required the introduction of protectionist economic policies such as import controls: an idea which has found traction again in global 21st century politics.
Reviews / Votes
Original Reviews of The Conscript Army:'Not the least of the qualities of this book is that its objective and restrained approach does not obscure the obvious concern and commitment of the writers to focus public attention on the issues posed.' Phyllis Willmott, The Times Literary Supplement
'Each essay is clearly and powerfully argued...' A. Deacon, Journal of Social Policy, Volume 8, Issue 1, (1979).
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
General, Postgraduate, Undergraduate Advanced, and Undergraduate Core
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 145 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
360 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-041-11904-3 (9781041119043)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
12/2025
Routledge
€97.49
Available for download

E-Book
12/2025
Routledge
€97.49
Available for download
Person
Frank Field (1942-2024) was the most independent-minded member of Parliament of his time, genuinely prepared to stand alone on a number of crucial issues. He was also a devout churchman who was motivated in his politics by that faith, especially in a commitment to the poorest people in society. His commitment in that direction was shown early in his work for the Child Poverty Action Group, which he directed from 1969 to 1979. He was a Member of Parliament for Birkenhead for 40 years.
Content
Introduction: Frank Field 1. Making Sense of the Unemployment Figures Frank Field 2. Who Are the Unemployed? Louie Burghes 3. Unemployment and Poverty Frank Field 4. Control Measures Against Abuse Frank Field 5. Poverty and Unemployment in Liverpool Clare Dennehy and Jill Sullivan 6. The Cost of Unemployment Louie Burghes and Frank Field 7. What Price Unemployment? Chris Pond 8. Causes of Unemployment Steve Hannah 9. Government Action Against Unemployment Frank Field and Stephen Winyard 10. The Return to Full Employment Frank Field.