Political issues for the twenty-first century

Abstract:

This work addresses the political vacuum of the post cold-war period and examines the myriad issues existing on the rim of that vacuum which are likely to be important for the foreseeable future.

The book is organised in three parts following an introduction. The first part concentrates on political theory and political philosophy. It opens with chapter two which looks at the question of philosophical foundations. Chapter three examines the downfall of the old left and the rise of New Labour and its new born opponent, the anti-capitalist movement. This is followed by another contentious contribution in chapter four, in which the writer explores the proposition that the new advances in information and communication technologies facilitate an invasion of the individual private space which borders upon totalitarianism.

Part two explores UK issues and its opening chapter examines New Labour and the development of the Third Way. Chapter six looks at the Northern Ireland issue, providing an historical background and commentary on the major players. Regionalism is the focus of chapter seven which examines the devolution of Scotland and Wales and the prospects for further regionalism in the UK.

Part three moves beyond the UK and looks to issues of Europe and globalisation. Chapter eight explores the economic effects of the euro and its political implications. The extent to which the EU can fulfil the role of a major political player on the global scene is considered in chapter nine. The changing mix of the EU through enlargement and the impact on security issues, specifically NATO, are explored in chapter ten. The final chapter discusses globalisation with particular reference to its impact upon Third World poverty.

The book will interest scholars and students engaged in the fields of European Union studies, international affairs and political sciences.

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