Remoralizing Britain?
Political, Ethical and Theological Perspectives on New Labour
Published on 31. March 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
280 pages
978-0-8264-2465-5 (ISBN)
Description
Drawing together for the first time theorists from a range of disciplines and commitments, this interdisciplinary collection offers a reckoning of this New Labour decade.On seeking office and in coming to power, New Labour presented its vision for Britain in moral terms. During the course of the New Labour administration, further moral themes have been introduced: responsibility and respect, the merits of local government and self-governance, and the moral imperative to confront threats of 'terror' from abroad. This moral agenda, with its apparently religious roots, has been much noted, but not much discussed. The political phenomenon of New Labour requires the disciplines of theology and ethics, as well as social theory and politics, to be properly understood and assessed.Drawing together for the first time theorists from a range of disciplines and commitments, this interdisciplinary collection offers a reckoning of this New Labour decade. As such, it has four central research questions: What is the nature of this remoralising? What are its sources? How effective has it been and what difference has this moral discourse made?
And, what can be learned from Blairism about the relationship between faith, morals and governance?In recent years the study of the nature and function of religion with respect to politics has seen enormous changes. This important series provides a range of books devoted to furthering this study, and aimed at those studying and researching in this area across both disciplines.Titles in this series look specifically at the relationship between religion and political culture. Drawing upon a broad range of religious perspectives the series is open for studies of historical as well as current phenomena in political culture. It seeks not only to inform but to provoke debate at a time when religion is gaining increasing prominence in the public realm.
And, what can be learned from Blairism about the relationship between faith, morals and governance?In recent years the study of the nature and function of religion with respect to politics has seen enormous changes. This important series provides a range of books devoted to furthering this study, and aimed at those studying and researching in this area across both disciplines.Titles in this series look specifically at the relationship between religion and political culture. Drawing upon a broad range of religious perspectives the series is open for studies of historical as well as current phenomena in political culture. It seeks not only to inform but to provoke debate at a time when religion is gaining increasing prominence in the public realm.
Reviews / Votes
"This collection of essays on the moral claims of Tony Blair's New Labour strategy and government could not be more timely and relevant. With the collapse of its economic claim to growing prosperity and financial prudence, what is left to sustain New Labour's agenda? Remoralizing Britain provides a unique interdisciplinary account of the religious sources and political impact of New Labour's critical turn from common ownership to communal values as the basis of its electoral appeal and government policies. These essays evaluate how that ethical turn worked out in practice in the Blair years. I commend this major case study to all who are concerned about the relationship between morality and government as citizens, members of faith communities and scholars." - William Storrar, Director, Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton. "There is much in this book which is excellent. Many contributors are insightful and illuminating." Modern Churchpeople's UnionMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
397 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8264-2465-5 (9780826424655)
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
Peter Manley Scott | Christopher Baker | Elaine L. Graham
Remoralizing Britain?
Political, Ethical and Theological Perspectives on New Labour
E-Book
03/2009
1st Edition
Continuum Publishing Corporation
€47.49
Available for download
Persons
Peter Scott is Senior Lecturer in Christian Social Thought and Director of the Lincoln Theological Institute, University of Manchester. Chris Baker is Director of Research for the William Temple Foundation and Part-time Lecturer at the University of Manchester in Urban Theology. His research focuses on the impact of faith based engagement in UK Civil Society and Public Policy. His recent book The Hybrid Church in the City: Third Space Thinking was published by Ashgate in 2007. Elaine L. Graham is Samuel Ferguson Professor of Social and Pastoral Theology, University of Manchester, England.
Content
1. Introduction: Doing God? Public Theology under Blair, Elaine Graham (University of Manchester, UK); Part I: Ethics and Politics; 2. New Labour and the Issue of Multiculturalism, Anthony Giddens (London School of Economics, UK); 3. Blair and Trust in Politics: No Saint But Not a Sinner, Gerry Stoker (University of Southampton, UK); 4. Demoralising Britain: 10 Years of Depoliticisation, Stefan Skrimshire (University of Manchester, UK); 5. The Creation of a Liberal Labour Tradition, Will Hutton (former editor of the Observer and Director of the Work Foundation, UK); 6. Gordon Brown and his Presbyterian Moral Compass, Douglas Gay (University of Glasgow, Scotland); Part II: Justice and Community; 7. Are We Happier, Mr Brown? John Atherton (William Temple Foundation, UK); 8. Social Justice, Social Control or the Pursuit of Happiness? The Goals and Values of the Regeneration Industry, Jess Steele (Development Trust Association, UK); 9. Community and Identity: Ten Years in the History of a New Labour Concept, Mark Chapman (Ripon College, Cuddesdon, UK); 10. Constructing Christian Right Enemies and Allies: US, UK and Eastern Europe, Cynthia Burack (Ohio State University, USA) and Angelia R. Wilson (University of Manchester, UK); 11. The Moral Bases of the Black Panther's Breakfast Program, Head Start (US) and Sure Start (UK), Emily Hicks (San Diego State University, USA); 12. Putting the Moral Majority Back in Charge: New Labour's Punitive Politics of Respect, Phil Edwards (University of Manchester, UK); Part III: Justice and International Order; 13. Tony Blair and the Commission for Africa: A Fig Leaf For Iraq or a Moral Imperative?, Paul Vallely (the Independent); 14. Soul Brothers? Why Tony Blair Backs George W. Bush's Foreign Policy, Inderjeet Parmar (University of Manchester, UK); 15. The Intertwining of the Ethical, Theological and the Political in the Interpretation of New Labour's Governance, Peter Manley Scott (University of Manchester, UK), Elaine Graham (University of Manchester, UK) and Chris Baker (University of Manchester, UK).