Political Culture in Contemporary Britain

Book excerpt: This is the most authoritative picture to date of what the British people and their politicians really think about the fundamentals of politics. Based on new and revealing survey data, it presents a wide-ranging analysis of British attitudes to civil, political, and social rights. The study uncovers two broad "macro-dimensions" of principle--liberty and equality--which underlie a large number of more specific principles and shape people's responses to many practical issues. Controversially, it claims that commitments to liberty and equality tend to run together--only the least educated treat them as alternatives. The work also explores the influence of social background, personal experience, and the institutional setting on attitudes toward political principles. It is invaluable reading for those interested in British politics, political sociology, civil liberties, and public opinion as well as those planning their own social science survey research.