What Difference Did the War Make? (Themes in Contemporary British History)

Despite being one of the central events in 20th-century British history, historians continue to debate the extent to which the war made a difference to British society, politics and foreign relations. This collection of essays brings together some of the leading experts with younger scholars, to provide a balance between the broad analysis and specialized new research. Divided into three sections, it looks in turn at politics and economics, society and the citizen, and Britain's role in the world, always addressing this central question: what difference did the war make? This book presents articles by specialists in political, social, economic and international history, including Peter Hennessy on post-war politics, Eric Hobsbawn on Britain's comparative postwar position, Geoffrey Warner comparing Britain's world position in 1939 and 1945, and Penny Summerfield on the state of present historiography on the impact of the war on women's lives. It should be of interest to anyone concerned with Britain in the 20th century.