3 Review(s)

History and analysis of Plaid Cymru between 1945 and 1999, the period in which it moved from pressure group politics to fully functioning political party with MEPs, MPs, Assembly Members and control of several councils in Wales. In addition to a chronological history, McAllister offers approaches from the electoral, ideological, constitutional and women's perspectives. Ideal book for school and university level students studying devolution as part of a politics course. In the first full-length study of its kind, Laura McAllister portrays the emergence of Plaid Cymru in the post-war world from its origins as a disparate association of campaigners and activists to its current status of fully-functioning political machine. Skillfully interweaving rigorous historical analysis and interviews with key protagonists, McAllister takes us through the issues and events of a turbulent half century for both Plaid and Wales. Much more than a simple retelling of events, this book focuses on the debates and divisions which still mark the party. It shows how Plaid struggles to balance the concerns of its rural, bilingual, traditional heartlands with campaigns for social and economic reforms in the post-industrial valleys of south Wales. McAllister also examines the role of women in the party; looks at its relationship with Westminster and with Brussels; and considers what must be done if Plaid is really to overtake New labour and become truly The Party of Wales.