"Divided Kingdom brings new clarity and breadth of treatment to the subject, integrating political, economic, social, cultural history alongside the international and imperial context. Highlighting changing living standards and expectations and inequalities of class, income, wealth, race, gender, sexuality, religion and place, this book analyses what has (and has not) changed in the UK since 1900, why, and how, helping the reader to understand how contemporary Britain, including its divisions and inequalities, was formed. Exploring what has divided the UK and what has held it together, and challenging conventional interpretations such as the 'dull' and culturally conservative 1950s and the 'swinging sixties', key themes include: nationalisms, the rise and fall of the 'welfare state', economic success and failure, social movements challenging the status quo, the decline of colonialism and its impact, and relations with Europe"--