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Kavanagh et al: British Politics 5e

Chapter 01

Introduction: why study British politics?

Francis Fukuyama's (1989) 'The End of History'
www.wesjones.com/eoh.htm
This site reproduces the original text of the provocative argument advanced by Francis Fukuyama in 1989 referred to in Chapter 1. Fukuyama argues that the conclusion of the Cold War marks the end of ideological conflict and the triumph of Western liberal democratic government and with it the 'end of history'.

Samuel P. Huntingdon (1993) 'The Clash of Civilisations'
www.alamut.com/subj/economics/misc/clash.html
This site reproduces the text of Huntingdon's equally controversial essay, 'The Clash of Civilisations'. Huntingdon offers an interpretation of the modern world which fundamentally disputes Fukuyama's conviction that the 'end of history' has been reached. On the contrary, Huntingdon argues that the ideological conflict familiar to the Cold War era has been displaced by a cultural confrontation between contending civilisations.

Our May Day
www.ourmayday.org.uk/
The Our May Day website embodies a radically different understanding of contemporary politics to that offered by Fukuyama and Huntingdon. This website exists to publicise the annual May Day parades in London which bring together disparate protestors against globalisation, child labour, environmental degradation and third world debt. The London May Day protest famously ended in violence between protestors and police in May 2000.

International Conflict research
www.incore.ulst.ac.uk/
The International Conflict Research (INCORE) website is a joint project between the United Nations University and the University of Ulster. The website provides a variety of different resources, but particularly useful are the country guides to contemporary conflicts. Here you can explore in greater depth conflicts which have generated terrorism and civil strife and which can be seen as a focus for any understanding of politics as conflict resolution.

BBC In Depth: The London Attacks
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk/2005/london_explosions/default.stm
The BBC's website provides a comprehensive resource on all dimensions of the London bombings of 7 July 2005. The site provides information on the attacks themselves, tributes to the victims and reactions to the bombings in the UK and abroad. It also details developments since the bombings and includes links to the official narrative of events on '7/07'