Britain in Fragments: Why Things Are Falling Apart - Paperback

by Satnam Virdee (Author), Brendan McGeever (Author)

Britain today is falling apart, with Brexit's break from the European Union, looming Scottish independence, deepening inequalities and reinvigorated racism. How has it come to this? Britain in fragments traces how the historic pillars of democracy have begun to crumble, from their apex in the post-war welfare state to the present day.

Back Jacket

'A brilliantly readable and historically astute account of the point of collapse at which the entity called "Britain" finds itself today. Virdee and McGeever offer us a pithy and compelling story of where we are, how we got here and how it may yet be possible to rediscover the emancipatory impulses that will set us free from this quagmire.'
Priyamvada Gopal, University of Cambridge, author of Insurgent Empire

'A truly brilliant, razor-sharp analysis of how political and capitalist elites destroyed the promise of British democracy by systematically dividing the post-imperial multi-ethnic working classes.'
Imogen Tyler, Lancaster University, author of Revolting Subjects

'Why is Britain fragmenting? This is the provocative question that lies at the heart of this book. It is a must-read for all those who are trying to make sense of how we have got here and fear where we may be going.'
John Solomos, University of Warwick

Britain today is falling apart. One of the most dominant states in world history finds itself confronted with growing demands for nationalist secessionism. Brexit has already secured its break from the European Union while looming Scottish independence promises to undermine the integrity of the British state. Meanwhile, class, gender, regional and generational inequalities are deepening while endemic racism has been re-invigorated. How has it come to this?

Britain in fragments traces how the historic pillars sustaining the democratic settlement have begun to crumble. This stability was constructed amid a century of imperial expansion abroad and working-class struggles for justice at home. The post-war welfare state was the apex of this historic arrangement; however, the ground beneath it began to shake as the processes of decolonisation and neoliberalism unfolded.

This book traces how successive Labour and Conservative governments have incrementally dismantled the democratic settlement. A bipartisan commitment to neoliberalism has culminated in a historic crisis of representation and legitimacy, opening the door to competing nationalist forces.

Author Biography

Satnam Virdee is Professor of Sociology at the University of Glasgow

Brendan McGeever is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Birkbeck, University of London