Book excerpt: This stimulating new text reflects on the extraordinary political stability in Britain, compared with much of continental Europe, over the last hundred years. It also provides a historical perspective on current political issues, especially on the attempts of the present administration to reduce the state's involvement in welfare and in the funding of other public services. In examining these areas, the author argues that they have been shaped by the conflict between individualistic and collectivist ideas and until recently have been dominated by the latter.