Policy Press

Democracy, power and governance

In these politically turbulent times, questions about democracy, power and society are frequently raised. How does power work in society? Can we ever achieve equal rights when the power dynamics in society are so skewed?

With the UN Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions in focus, our publishing in this area addresses questions like these from multiple angles, from extensive research into democratic governance and the concept of political power, to the role of power between different nations in foreign policy negotiations.

Bristol University Press and Policy Press are signed up to the UN SDG Publishers Compact. In Democracy, power and governance, we aim to address the following goal:

SDG Publishers compact logoSDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions

Showing 1-12 of 558 items.

101 Reasons for a Citizen's Income

Arguments for Giving Everyone Some Money

For anyone new to the subject of Citizen’s Income, or who wants to introduce friends, colleagues or relatives to the idea, this valuable guide will be essential reading, offering a convincing case for a Citizen’s Income and a much needed resource for all interested in the future of welfare in the UK.

Policy Press

Access to Justice for Disadvantaged Communities

EPUB and EPDF available Open Access under CC-BY-NC-ND licence. This unique study explores how strategies to safeguard the provision of legal advice and access to welfare rights to disadvantaged communities might be developed in ways that strengthen rather than undermine the basic ethics and principles of public service provision.

Policy Press

Accountability and Review in the Counter-Terrorist State

Counter-terrorism is now a permanent part of the legislative apparatus of the state yet little is known about how it is reviewed. Building on exclusive interviews with political actors and practitioners, this book presents the first critical analysis of counter-terrorism review in the United Kingdom.

Bristol Uni Press

Active social policies in the EU

Inclusion through participation?

This book challenges the underlying presupposition that regular employment is the royal road to inclusion. Drawing on original empirical research, it investigates the inclusionary and exclusionary potentials of different types of work, including activation programmes.

Policy Press

Activists in the Data Stream

The Practices of Daily Grassroots Politics in Southern Europe

Available Open Access digitally under CC-BY-ND licence

This book pulls back the curtain on the link between technology and activism, showing shows how activists navigate the impact of digital media on today’s grassroots politics.

Bristol Uni Press

Administering welfare reform

International transformations in welfare governance

While reforms of welfare policies have been widely analysed, the reform of welfare administration has received little attention. Using empirical case studies, this book provides new insights into the way welfare administration is being internationally transformed. Particular attention is given to the effect on welfare clients, staff and agencies.

Policy Press

Adult lives

A life course perspective

'Adult Lives' is a diverse collection of readings from all stages of life which aim to understand how those living and working together in an ageing society relate to each other. It uses a holistic approach to understanding ageing in adulthood that is applicable to all, including those developing policy and in practice.

Policy Press

Advising in Austerity

Reflections on Challenging Times for Advice Agencies

Edited by Samuel Kirwan

Advising in austerity provides a lively and thought-provoking account of the conditions, consequences and challenges of advice work in the UK. It examines how advisors negotiate the private troubles of those who come to Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) and construct ways forward.

Policy Press

After Brexit and Other Essays

After Brexit brings together Gamble’s most influential writings on British politics and political economy from the last 40 years, reflecting on issues that animate British politics, from the decline of the economy and reshaping the welfare state to the transformation of political parties and devolution to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Bristol Uni Press

Agenda For Social Justice

Solutions For 2020

Examining topics from criminal justice to media concerns, environmental problems, economic problems and issues concerning sexualities and gender, the 2020 agenda provides accessible insights into some of the most pressing social problems in the United States and proposes public policy responses to those problems.

Policy Press

All Our Welfare

Towards Participatory Social Policy

This unique book is the first to critique the past, present and future welfare state from a participatory perspective. Peter Beresford demonstrate the value of ‘user knowledge’ by challenging orthodox social policy and the limitations of both Fabian and Neo-liberal perspectives drawing on service users ‘ own ideas and experience.

Policy Press

Alternative Societies

For a Pluralist Socialism

Bringing together a wide range of approaches and new strands of economic and social thinking from across the US, Asia, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, this book critically assesses the alternatives to capitalism, learning lessons from them and shows the ways forward with a convincing argument of pluralist socialism.

Bristol Uni Press


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