The New Labour Experiment
The book provides a clear assessment of the New Labour public policies and their outcomes in Britain under the leadership of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown from 1997–2009. Authors Florence Faucher-King and Patrick Le Galès argue that New Labour, in contrast to its European counterparts, developed a right-wing economic policy program based upon light financial regulation and strict macroeconomic management. Blair and Brown developed a large controlling bureaucracy, making Britain's government one of the most centralized in the world.
While some progressive policies were implemented, Faucher-King and Le Galès point to an overarching program of authoritative controls, massive surveillance, and illiberal social policies. Profound reforms were therefore linked to a new bureaucratic revolution that has subsequently been rejected by the British people. According to the authors, the financial crisis and the collapse of part of the banking system have signaled the end of the New Labour project.
"This authoritative book offers a major overall assessment of New Labour, combining analysis of politics, policies and institutions—a rare and valuable mix."—Mark Thatcher, Professor of Comparative and International Politics, London School of Economics
"A wonderfully well-informed and balanced assessment of the Blair and now Brown years, this book should be required reading for anyone interested in contemporary British and, indeed, European politics. One can only hope that its warnings are heeded."—Colin Hay, Professor of Political Analysis, University of Sheffield, UK
"This work by French political scientists provides a useful outside perspective on the British Labour Party's 13-year rule from 1997 to 2010."—George Breckenridge, Political Science Quarterly
"A masterful and pitiless account of the dark side of New Labour. Highly recommended."—Mark Bevir, author of New Labour: A Critique
