An examination of the ideas and politics of modern Britain. It looks at the role and relations of the state and the community it both governs and serves. Topics covered range from the collapse of corporate state Keynesianism, to government investment in universities and science.

Part 1 Context - Britain, Europe and America: ideas and politics in Britain - an American view, Nathan Glazer; the history of Britain - a composite State in a "Europe des patries?", Jonathan Clark. Part 2 Political thought - the nation and the individual: in defence of the nation, Roger Scruton; conservatism, individualism and the political thought of the new right, John Gray. Part 3 Theology - the vision of man: theology, toleration and conflict, S.W.Sykes; the church and the government, Raymond Plant; theology, philosophy and politics, Stephen Grover. Part 4 Social policy - meritocracy and responsibility: needs, entitlements and obligations - towards a new consensus on welfare policy, S.J.D.Green; education - from Boyle to Baker, Adrian Wooldridge. Part 5 Economic revival - some theoretical premises: ideology and pragmatism in economic Thatcherism, Patrick Minford; the collapse of corporate state Keynesianism, Martin Holmes; popular capitalism and world politics, John Redwood. Part 6 Planning - history, theory and practice: has planning a future?, John Stevenson; three myths of government, Oliver Letwin; government investment in universities and science, Terence Kealey.