Books by M. Williams

This book contends that far-right parties play pivotal roles in setting the tone of political debates, shaping the political party system, and structuring government policy.

Since the golden era of silent movies, stars have been described as screen gods, goddesses and idols. This is the story of how Olympus moved to Hollywood to divinise stars as Apollos and Venuses for the modern age, and defined a model of stardom that is still with us today.

This book compares the Communist parties of India and South Africa in their pursuits of socialist democracy. Williams looks at their organizational characteristics, party history, and their competing tendencies, as well as how they have pushed forward their similar ideologies within their unique political and economic environments.

The Good War tackles the issue of NATO in Afghanistan, exploring NATO's evolution in the 1990s and blending NATO's transformation from a reactive defense organization into a pro-active risk manager with the ethic of liberalism. It raises questions such as why an alliance built upon the territorial defence of Europe ended up in Afghanistan.

Crisis and Consensus in British Politics focuses on the collapse of the post-war consensus in the mid 1970s crisis and the emergence of a new consensus in the 1990s. It is designed for students following courses in modern history, politics and public policy as well as general readers with an interest in current affairs.

This book contends that far-right parties play pivotal roles in setting the tone of political debates, shaping the political party system, and structuring government policy.

This practical text considers what local history is, why researching it is valuable and rewarding, and how we should go about it. Issues addressed include getting oral and documentary evidence; keeping records; the nature of data; and their use to create the different products of local history.

From majestic Celtic crosses to elaborate knotwork designs, visual symbols of Irish identity at its most medieval abound in contemporary culture. Consdering both scholarly and popular perspectives this book offers a commentary on the blending of pasts and presents that finds permanent visualization in these contemporary signs.