This is a political history but not a narrow cabinet, parliamentary or electoral
history. Political events provide the focus for the wider social, economic and
cultural context. The complex roots and motivations of developments such as
imperialism or the Liberal welfare legislation after 1906 are explored in the
light of recent research, resulting in a fresh and up-to-date synthesis
significantly different from traditional interpretations. Democracy and
Empire adopts a balanced view of the deep ideological conflicts of the
period and also blends solidly founded information with an interpretative
approach. It presents a coherent view of the half century, illuminating themes
that still form the substance of much current political and academic debate.