Crisis And Commonwealth

In a comprehensive examination of the restored Commonwealth, Dr. Mayers redresses that imbalance. She explores in turn the sources of the Republic's adverse reputation, Parliament's domestic priorities, internal dynamics, and relations with the Army, the City of London, and the English and Welsh provinces, as well as foreign policy, the challenge of ruling Scotland, Ireland and the colonies, and the sophisticated republican endeavour to imagine the future constitution and project a positive political identity through ceremonial, iconography and the print debates.

Was the New Deal an aberration in American history? This look at its origins and legacy is “truly refreshing . . . the author makes a good case for his ideas” (Journal of Economic History). Did the New Deal represent the true American way or was it an aberration that would last only until the old order could reassert itself? This original and thoughtful study tells the story of the New Deal, explains its origins, and assesses its legacy. Alan Lawson explores how the circumstances of the Great Depression and the distinctive leadership of Franklin D. Roosevelt combined to bring about unprecedented economic and policy reform. Challenging conventional wisdom, he argues that the New Deal was not an improvised response to an unexpected crisis, but the realization of a unique opportunity to put into practice Roosevelt’s long-developed progressive thought. Lawson focuses on where the impetus and plans for the New Deal originated, how Roosevelt and those closest to him sought to fashion a cooperative commonwealth, and what happened when the impulse for collective unity was thwarted. He describes the impact of the Great Depression on the prevailing system and traces the fortunes of several major social sectors as the drive to create a cohesive plan for reconstruction unfolded. He continues the story of these main sectors through the last half of the 1930s and traces their legacy down to the present as crucial challenges to the New Deal have arisen. Drawing from a wide variety of scholarly texts, records of the Roosevelt administration, Depression-era newspapers and periodicals, and biographies and reflections of the New Dealers, Lawson offers a comprehensive conceptual base for a crucial aspect of American history.

Did the New Deal represent the true American way or was it an aberration that would last only until the old order could reassert itself? This original and thoughtful study tells the story of the New Deal, explains its origins, and assesses its legacy. Alan Lawson explores how the circumstances of the Great Depression and the distinctive leadership of Franklin D. Roosevelt combined to bring about unprecedented economic and policy reform. Challenging conventional wisdom, he argues that the New Deal was not an improvised response to an unexpected crisis, but the realization of a unique opportunity to put into practice Roosevelt’s long-developed progressive thought. Lawson focuses on where the impetus and plans for the New Deal originated, how Roosevelt and those closest to him sought to fashion a cooperative commonwealth, and what happened when the impulse for collective unity was thwarted. He describes the impact of the Great Depression on the prevailing system and traces the fortunes of several major social sectors as the drive to create a cohesive plan for reconstruction unfolded. He continues the story of these main sectors through the last half of the 1930s and traces their legacy down to the present as crucial challenges to the New Deal have arisen. Drawing from a wide variety of scholarly texts, records of the Roosevelt administration, Depression-era newspapers and periodicals, and biographies and reflections of the New Dealers, Lawson offers a comprehensive conceptual base for a crucial aspect of American history.

‘The interdependence of the world’s economy is now so strong that there would be a good case for collective action even in times of prosperity and growth; in the crisis now prevailing the case for joint action is compelling. Change is inevitable. The issue, as we see it, is whether the structural changes and adjustments necessary to solve the current economic crisis and the problems of development will be accompanied by economic confusion and chaos, with each nation struggling in isolation to maximise its own gain, or whether they can be achieved in harmony on the basis of a global consensus for the mutual benefit of all nations.’ - From the Report.‘The global economic crisis has deepened and there is now considerable pessimism about the ability of nations to control world economic trends. The Group of Experts has highlighted the grave economic consequences of the present situation for the peoples of the world, particularly those in the developing countries... (and) puts forward a number of specific practical measures directed towards achieving a more equitable, prosperous and stable world society.’ - From the Foreword by Commonwealth Secretary-General Shridath Ramphal.

Written by the Director of the Economic Affairs Division at the Commonwealth Secretariat, this discussion paper explains some of the truly international aspects of the global economic crisis that go beyond the headline news.It discusses the nature of the crisis and its implications, especially the impact on the smaller, poorer and most vulnerable developing countries, and the responses from both the Commonwealth and from the international community (the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund and regional development banks).

The United Earth Commonwealth has enjoyed half-a-century of prosperity and peace, reaching far into the stars, its superiority unquestioned and unrivalled. Its people are happy and well-fed, without a single need being neglected.All that changes when the alien N'xin Hegemony makes contact with them. Aggressively xenophobic, the N'xin begin a methodical crusade against the unsuspecting and unprepared Commonwealth. For the first time in generations, the people of the Commonwealth know fear and hunger. James Hunter finds himself a reluctant hero, signing up to fight in a war to protect his family and way of life. But as the war wages on, he may end up paying a price far higher than anyone else...

The papers included in this volume were prepared to assist the Group of Experts which the Commonwealth Heads of Government, meeting in August 1979, had requested the SecretaryGeneral to assemble in order to "investigate and report on the factors inhibiting structural change and a sustained improvement in economic growth" and to identify specific measures by which developed and developing countries, Commonwealth and nonCommonwealth might act to reduce or eliminate such constraints as a matter of urgency". The Group consisted of 10 experts who served in their personal capacities and were drawn from a representative range of developed and developing countries. During the first half of 1980 they met three times, and in July 1980 their Report was published by the Commonwealth Secretariat under the title 'The World Economic Crisis: A Commonwealth Perspective' (ISBN: 085092183X).