Aneurin Bevan and the Socialist Ideal - Professor Vernon Bogdanor

Aneurin Bevan was the leading postwar representative in Britain of the socialist ideal. He is best remembered for the creation of the National Health Service which he regarded as a symbol of applied socialism, a national service free at the point of use and available to all. But, even before he resigned from the postwar Labour government in 1951, this ideal was being eroded. Were his hopes doomed to disappointment?

Britain in the 20th Century: A new consensus? 1990-2001 - Professor Vernon Bogdanor

To what extent was there a new political consensus in Britain in the 1990s, and were the policies of the New Labour government, elected in 1997, an extension of Thatcherism or a repudiation of it?

Britain in the 20th Century: Thatcherism, 1979-1990 - Professor Vernon Bogdanor

Margaret Thatcher’s governments encouraged the spread of ownership in Britain and 'Thatcherism' seemed for a time to be in accordance with the trends of social change. So why did it come to an end? What was the cost? How should we judge her leadership of the nation today?

Britain in the 20th Century: The Collapse of the Postwar Settlement, 1964-1979 - Professor Vernon Bogdanor

The history of British politics as the post-war socialist dream soured into the winter of discontent.

Britain in the 20th Century: The Conservative Reaction, 1951-1965 - Professor Vernon Bogdanor

The Conservatives recovered remarkably rapidly from the debacle of 1945. Their narrow election victory in 1951 led to 13 years of Conservative rule. How was the party able to reassert itself so quickly and what did it do with its period in power? Winston Churchill hoped to roll back the tide of socialism. Did he succeed, or did the Conservatives, by contrast, help to confirm a new consensus which, while not socialist, could also not be described as capitalist in the classical sense of the term?

The British Attempt to Construct a Socialist Commonwealth, 1945-1951 - Professor Vernon Bogdanor

It brought about the NHS, the welfare state and widespread nationalisation, but was the post-war Labour government a success?

The Cold Rules for National Security: History and the Defence of the Realm - Professor The Lord Hennessy

Notions of national security past and present. How Whitehall has dealt with it. How we might do it better in the future.

Britain in the 20th Century: The Character of the Post-war Period - Professor Vernon Bogdanor

The post war period saw the decline in British national self-confidence. – Why?