Books published by Lawrence & Wishart Ltd

Railways have always been at the heart of British politics, from their early beginnings in the 1830s through to the present day. And the sharpest debates have been on the issue of ownership and accountability. The book charts the railways under nationalisation (1948-1993) and outlines rail privatisation in both the UK and other European countries. Paul Salveson gives credit to recent achievements but attacks the fragmentation, increased costs and higher fares that have become a feature of Britain's privatised railways. Arguing against the return to a centralised 'British Rail', Salveson instead suggests a new model which goes with the flow of current plans to devolve rail responsibilities within the English regions. The author was the originator of the highly successful community rail movement, and he argues for more direct involvement of local communities in their railways. He outlines recent examples of local social enterprises bringing thriving services back to semi-abandoned stations, and shows how Britain's heritage railway sector has been a successful model for not-for-profit rail enterprise. Combining historical analysis with personal experience and political theory, Salveson's research suggests an alternative ownership system for the rail networks and a possible future for Britain's transport system. 'This book sets out an alternative vision for the future. It should be read by any politician serious about reforming our railways to deliver a better deal for fare-payers and tax-payers.' Maria Eagle, Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 'There is little doubt that the privatisation of our railways has been an unmitigated disaster. A wide ranging debate is now taking place on how best we can run them in the interests of passengers and taxpayers rather than shareholders. Paul Salveson's book is a thoughtful contribution towards this debate.' Manuel Cortes, General Secretary, TSSA

The film Pride has reignited interest in the struggles of the miners in the South Wales valleys in the strike of 1984-5. In his new chapter Hywel explores the links between the Welsh miners associations and the Lesbian and Gays Support the Miners Group, and how this alliance came out of the left-wing politics of the 1980s.Hywel Francis, MP for Aberavon, as a historian and active participant in the strike, had a unique insight into the way in which the struggles for jobs and communities broadened out to become a powerful national movement in Wales, involving trade unions, political parties, churches, the Welsh Language Society, and community, peace and women’s support groups, as well as their lesbian and gay supporters.This very personal history, which explains why the South Wales valleys were the strongest and most loyal of all the British coalfields, is based on the author’s personal diaries, and his articles and essays in a number of Welsh and British journals.It tells the story of the individual and collective courage and pain of Welsh miners, their families and their communities – and is an important contribution to our understanding of a defining moment in modern Welsh history.

First published in 1988, this is a collection of articles exploring the meaning of masculinity, work, at home, in politics and in love. Looking at fashion, images of black men, heterosexuality, feminism, the new man and families, it examines some of the growing uncertainties about what it means to be male today.

The second of four studies in the "History of Education in England," this volume traces developments from the securing of universal education with the Act of 1870 to the conclusion of the First World War. These educational developments were marked by the increasing role played by organised Labour in pressing for reform of the system of universal education - opposing class privilege and prejudice, and urging equal opportunities for all. With the formation of the Public Schools, and then with the defeat of the School Boards which were trying to improve the opportunities for working class children, a divided system of education became well established, in which the few were trained for university entrance and then for the top jobs, while the mass were denied any but an "elementary" education. While Labour opposition to this division was unsuccessful, many vital concessions were won in those years, such as the abolition of school fees and the provision of school meals. Very interesting chapters are devoted to the effects of imperialist expansion on educational ideas, and to the developments and conflicts in adult education.

At head of title: Studies in the history of education.

This book offers a fascinating insight into ideas in the making - a glimpse into some of the early debates inside the History Group of the Communist Party of Great Britain, whose members included Christopher Hill, Rodney Hilton and Eric Hobsbawm. The outstanding contribution to historical studies of these and other members of the group is now almost universally recognised. The debates they initiated formed the ground for academic research that is still continuing, in particular their work on the nature of English civil war and revolution in the seventeenth century, and on the development of capitalism in Britain. This book focuses on the debates of the sixteenth- and seventeenth-century section of the group and their work on ideology and absolutism. It reproduces original documentary material - single contributions, reports and minutes - from the debates, and also includes an informative introductory essay as well as useful notes and appendices.

This collection of essays addresses the issues and concerns raised by the emphasis on society not as a series of homogeneous interlocking blocks, but as a plethora of different, sometimes overlapping and often conflicting communities. Reflecting, for example, on the experience of the GLC's attempt to create a new "majority of minorities" and on the clash of values and beliefs over "The Satanic Verses," these pieces explore both the opportunities and problems presented by the growing diversity of communities, cultures and identities in contemporary society. Topics covered include: consumerism and the impact of green politics; racism and psychoanalysis; ethics and values; AIDS and citizenship; and feminism and age

'All fixed, fast-frozen relations, with their train of ancient and venerable prejudices and opinions, are swept away, all new-formed ones become antiquated before they ossify. All that is solid melts into air, all that is holy is profaned ... the need of a constantly expanding market for its products chases the bourgeoisie over the whole surface of the globe. It must nestle everywhere, settle everywhere, establish connections everywhere' ... this was the Communist Manifesto's description of the global reach of capitalism. Globalisation, evidently, is not a new phenomenon; but on the eve of the new millennium, the processes that constitute the phenomenon of globalisation are intensifying, and being experienced in new ways. The immense scholarship and analytic powers of Marx mean that his writings on international capitalism and its effects remain of interest in current debates on globalisation. With this in mind, Lawrence and Wishart offer a new selection from the writings of Marx, in the hope that it will enrich current discussions. The selection includes extracts from The Communist Manifesto, Capital volumes 1-3, The Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844 and The Poverty of Philosophy Dave Renton teaches History at Edge Hill College and is the author of Fascism: Theory and Practice (Pluto, 1999).

The rise of Podemos in Spain is part of a wave of new radical political initiatives in Europe - movements and parties informed by innovative ways of thinking about politics.

What kind of thing is 'neoliberalism'? This collection of essays explores a range of answers to this question, arguing that neoliberalism is a complex, but specifiable and analysable phenomenon and examining the different ways it is manifested in contemporary culture.

Revolt on the Clyde is Willie Gallacher's eye-witness account of the tumultuous events in Glasgow in 1919, reissued in a new 2017 edition. It is a story of workers' councils, rent strikes and opposition to war; activism that seemed poised to usher in socialist revolution in Scotland. It is also the story of working-class leader Gallacher himself.

Bringing together a range of historians, anthropologists and political theorists, this volume celebrates and analyses the influence of Colin Ward and his uniquely approachable and creative form of anarchism.

Metaphors of money have shaped theories of sexual psychology ever since Enlightenment doctors explained the mind-body as an 'animal economy' whose currency was desire, figured as a liquid form of energy that could be spent or saved, profitably invested or pleasurably squandered.