Constitutional Futures: A History of the Next Ten Years

Tony Blair has described the government's programme of constitutional reform as `the most extensive package of constitutional change ever proposed'. It will transform the political landscape, in ways which are not yet fully understood; and some of which the government does not intend. This book is a guide to the new political and legal system that will result. The changes will include greater checks and balances and greater separation of powers a new territorial politics, with greater competition between the nations and regions of the UK fragmentation of the party system, and the emergence of more regional political parties a shift of power from Parliament to the courts, with more litigation against government, and between the new levels of government within the UK changing concepts of citizenship and democracy a more pluralist, consensus-building style of politics with more coalition governments and more minority parties in place of the adversarial two-party system. These are just some of the themes explored in the Constitution Unit's new book, Constitutional Futures: A History of the Next Ten Years. It is a seminal piece of work, which should interest teachers and students of law and politics, opinion formers and policy makers, and all those involved in this period of unprecedented constitutional change.

Table of Contents:
List of Contributors Foreword 1: Introduction 2: The Shape of Things to Come: What Will the UK Constitution Look Like in the Early 21st Century? 3: A Rolling Programme of Devolution: Slippery Slope or Safeguard of the Union? 4: British Constitutional Reform and the Relationship with Europe 5: Constitutionalism, Regulation and Review 6: Fragmentation in the Party and Political Systems 7: Westminster: Squeezed From Above and Below 8: Machinery of Government: Whitehall 9: Intergovernmental Relations in a Devolved United Kingdom: Making Devolution Work 10: The Environment and Constitutional Change 11: Case Study- Financing Devolution, the Centre Retains Control 12: Citizenship 13: The New Constitutional Settlement Further Reading Index

About the Author :
Robert Hazell is Professor of Government and the Constitution and Director of the Constitution Unit in the School of Public Policy, University College, London

Review :
`Hazell surveys the changes but further seeks to identify the possible outlines in 10 years' time of the new constitutional settlement, an extremely useful device for alerting students unused to thinkng constitutionally to the real and potential implications for such crucial features of British politics as the party system, the sovereignty of Westminster, and the nature of citizenship.' The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, June 2000 `What this collection of essays by eminent academics undoubtedly achieves is a useful stocktaking of the changes which have been introduced so far. This makes it an invaluable compendium for all those who are trying to keep up with changes which do not affect underlying principles.' Lord Alexander of Weedon QC, EHRLR Issue 3 1999 `less an adventure in futurology than an intelligent look at what's on the table.' Stephen Sedley, LRB 16/9/99 `It is a timely and welcome contribution to the ongoing discussions and study of this phenomenon ... Through its exposition of the details and possible implications of recent constitutional changes, the book provides a wealth of raw material for further research.' Donley T Studlar, British Politics Group Newsletter, Spring 1999 It is the only thorough, readable guide to the process./ Rev. John Kennedy, Political Affairs Secretary in the Methodist Church Connexional Team/ Methodist Recorder/ Thurs 11/03/99 Prof Hazell is academically cautious, presenting both maximalist and minimalist scenarios./ Clive Betts, Western Mail (Cardiff)/ Friday 05/03/99 The book is helpful in dispassionately describing these movements of power./ Michael Bartlet, The Friend, 21/05/99