Publisher Description

"The State of the Nations 2008: Into the Third Term of Devolution in the United Kingdom" is the sixth publication of a major research programme into devolution in the United Kingdom, published on behalf of the Constitution Unit at University College London. The focus of this volume is on the devolved elections of May 2007, analyzing the outcome in terms of both the immediate aftermath and longer-term implications. In particular, it will consider influences on policy-making, finance, the UK Parliament and the resolution of intergovernmental disputes. This book replaces the previously-announced volume "The State of the Nations 2007".

Review

"I am quite confident that this series will continue to demonstrate that devolution is anything but boring... given its pioneering remit, its large-scale operation and its methodological approach, this research programme truly represents the Ordnance Survey of devolution." -- Klaus Stolz Regional and Federal Studies "The developing nature of devolution means that the monographs published during the early years of the process were unable to analyse the 'efficient' operation of the devolution process and thus they present a one-dimensional view of the UK's devolved constitutional structure. The State of the Nations series, in providing an ongoing and post-facto analysis of the devolution process, has the advantage of 20/20 hindsight... It should be a first port of call for those interested in devolution in the UK." -- John Hopkins European Public Law "An indispensable reference book on devolution in the UK, but also an attempt at an evaluation of the first five years." -- Barry Winetrobe BJPIR "A compelling analysis of the opportunities and pitfalls of evolving inter-governmentalism in the UK." -- Barry Jones Political Studies Review "This volume makes an important contribution to developing understanding of a political process with numerous and profound implications for the lives of people in the UK. Long live the Constitution Unit!" -- Roger Scully Representation "Furnished with tables and chronologies, it provides a convenient source of reference on devolution as well as serving as an up-to-date analysis of how devolution is developing." Parliamentary Affairs "The Constitution Unit has already won itself a well-deserved reputation for independent, non-partisan judgments on constitutional developments. The State and the Nations, the first of an annual series of yearbooks on devolution, will add to its reputation. It will prove an invaluable volume of record for all serious students of the changing United Kingdom." -- Vernon Bogdanor "Once again the Constitution Unit has shown itself to be the country's leading constitutional cartographer. Mapping the first months and years of the new constitutional settlement is both brave and demanding, but the Unit's team has pulled it off magnificently." -- Peter Hennessy "The Constitution Unit has done its usual thorough job not just in showing how devolution is working in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but also in highlighting the far-reaching implications for the whole of the UK, and, particularly for Whitehall and Westminster. London based politicians and journalists will learn a lot about how central government and Parliament might be improved." -- Peter Riddell "The State and the Nations is part of a considered and authoritative long term academic study of the constitutional reform of this country." -- John Reid The Scotsman "Another highly detailed and useful contribution to the study of the UK's devolution process." -- Roseanne Palmer Regional and Federal Studies "Admirably lucid and comprehensive." -- Paul Henderson Scott Scottish Affairs "Packed full of useful information... the price asked is modest for so authoritative and useful a publication." -- Howard Elcock Representation "A very interesting collection of papers." -- John Fairley Scolag Journal "The State and the Nations -- excellent as a reference work, with polls, cabinets, chronologies, etc. -- laments Westminster's misapprehension of the constitutional innovations it has willed." Planet -- The Welsh Internationalist

Long Description

The State of the Nations 2008: Into the third term of devolution in the United Kingdom is the sixth publication of a major research programme into devolution in the United Kingdom, published on behalf of the Constitution Unit at University College London. The focus of this volume is on the devolved elections of May 2007, analyzing the outcome in terms of both the immediate aftermath and longer-term implications. In particular, it will consider influences on policy-making, finance, the UK Parliament and the resolution of intergovernmental disputes. This book replaces the previously-announced volume The State of the Nations 2007

Review Quote

"This volume makes an important contribution to developing understanding of a political process with numerous and profound implications for the lives of people in the UK. Long live the Constitution Unit!"

Details