I am pleased to report that the special issue of Parliamentary History, which I have edited, on ‘A Century of Constitutional Change’, has now been published online with the paper copy imminent. It includes the two articles – ‘Introduction: A Century of Change’ and ‘Divided Loyalties: the European Communities Act 1972′ – for which I have previously posted abstracts.
As you will see, the issue also covers the Parliament Act 1911 (Chris Ballinger), the Representation of the People Act 1918 (Robert Blackburn), the Human Rights Act 1998 (David Feldman), the Scotland Act 1998 (Barry Winetrobe) and the House of Lords Act 1999 (Alex Kelso).
Lord Norton.
Perhaps I am emboldened by the fact that people have been slow to comment. But I wonder if you would take this opportunity to opine about the connection between politics and history as academic disciplines in the UK cuurently and especialy at Hull in your experience. Secondly, your own view perhaps in a few words (or not so few) about that great perennial workshop and battleground which is the juncture of legal precedent, constitutional tradition and history as a body of knowledge. All that from a single journal issue may be a bit much. But I would like to see it.
Frank W. Summers III: I suspect they are all busy reading copies of the special issue.
History and politics are necessarily conjoined. History is necessary in order to understand politics and political science has been valuable in generating models and theories that help make sense of historical data. Legal precedent and constitutional tradition are essential to those of us who include the constitution in our sphere of interest. Several academics operate at the interface of disciplines, Peter Hennessy for example – now Lord Hennessy – at the interface of politics and history and several, such as Professors Gavin Drewry and Adam Tomkins, at the interface of law and politics.
I should add that there’s much more of relevance in the special issue – not least my introduction….
Lord Norton,
Thank you for your timely and excellent response.