From Empire to Europe: The Decline and Revival of British Industry Since the Second World War Book

Why did British industry develop such a bad reputation after the Second World War? What happened to the country's mighty manufacturing base? The usual suspects are complacent and incompetent management, belligerent trade unionism or misguided government. Geoffrey Owen, former Editor of the Financial Times, examines the evidence and dispels many myths. There have, he points out, been successes as well as failures, with chemicals exemplifying the former, cars the latter. And now British industry is coming back. If trades unions played a part in failure, so did poor management. And if governments had adopted different policies earlier, with a greater involvement in Europe and a willingness to create competitive industries rather than manage nationalised ones, things could have been different. If you are looking for material to help grind a political axe, you'll be be disappointed, for Owen, masterfully marshalling facts in support of a clear narrative, argues that many elements were beyond British control. The country's industrial legacy made it reluctant to give up older industries such as cotton and shipbuilding; unlike France and Germany it felt no need for a radical new start after the war; it was bound to take time to evolve from major power with imperial markets to a medium-sized industrial nation. --Kim FletcherRead More