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W. J. M. Mackenzie Book Award winners – part 2

Following the announcement that this year’s W. J. M. Mackenzie Book Award winner was A Government that Worked Better and Cost Less?, we are celebrating the achievement of Christopher Hood and Ruth Wilson, and taking the opportunity to revisit the work of our existing winners.

Oxford University Press celebrated its first win of the W. J. M. Mackenzie Book Award in 1988, and have gone on to win the award 16 times. Part 1 looked at the recent winners from the past 10 years; now we will look back to our winners from 1988 to 2004.

The Nature of Political Theory by Andrew Vincent political-theory-vincent
2004: Winner

As controversial as it is comprehensive, Vincent offers a comparative analysis of the major conceptions of political theory across the twentieth century. The book does not shy from challenging established views of contemporary political theory and offers critical perspectives on the future of the subject. The book opens with a fundamental question; what do we think we are doing when we practice political theory?

Designing Europe: Comparative Lessons from the Federal Experience
by David McKay designingeurope
2001: Winner

McKay examines the policy dynamics of the European Union following the adoption of a single currency in 1999. The volume explores existing federations, drawing conclusions from territorial politics in the United states and fiscal dependence in Australia, whilst considering the principles of ‘Stateness,’ federalism and institutional adaptation. Will any of the ingredients ascertained make it into the recipe of Europe?


The Art of the State: Culture, Rhetoric, and Public Management
by Christopher Hood hodd-artofstate
1998: Winner

Why does public management – the art of the state – so often go wrong, producing failure and fiasco instead of reliable public service? This study by a leading star in the field offers a dynamic perspective on public management. Utilising contemporary and historical experiences alongside cultural theory, Hood establishes a recurring variety of ideas about how to organise public services efficiently and effectively.

The History of Government from Earliest Times by S. E. Finer ahistoryofgovernemnt
1997: Winner

This remarkable survey and analysis of government is planetary and millennial in its reach and scope. A breath-taking tour-de-force, this invaluable reference work traverses 5000 years of our political history, from the Sumerian city state and the Byzantine Empire to the modern European nation. Five core themes emerge from this imaginative and impressive undertaking; state-building, military formats, belief systems, social stratification, and timespan.

The Gorbachev Factor by Archie Brown gorbachev
1996: Winner

What kind of man made possible such a massive transformation to his country, to Europe, to the World? To understand Mikhail Gorbachev, look no further than this astute and lucid book which answers this question in fascinating detail. Brown begins with a look at the start of Gorbachev’s career.

Justice as Impartiality, Vol. II of A Treatise on Social Justice – SDP by Brian Barry justicsasimpartiality
1995: winner

Almost every country today contains a plethora of religions and different secular conceptions of the good life; is there an alternative to a power struggle among them, culminating with civil war or repression? In this important work of political philosophy, Barry outlines offers a contemporary restatement of the Enlightenment idea that certain basic principles can validly claim the allegiance of every reasonable human being.

The Birth, Life and Death of the British Social Democratic Party by Ivor Crewe and Anthony King sdp
1995: winner 

This book, based on unprecedented access to the SDP’s archive and extensive interviews with all the leading players, chronicles the party’s short but turbulent history and analyses in detail the reasons for its early success and its ultimate demise. A gripping story, told for the very first time.

Industrial Relations and European State Traditions by Colin Crouch crouch
1993: Winner

Colin Crouch presents a wide ranging survey of the relationship between trade unions, employers, and governments in Western Europe. Employing rigorous economic and historical analysis, he presents powerful explanations of the diversity and significance of industrial relations in the twentieth century.

The Politics of Partition: King Abdullah, the Zionists, and Palestine 1921 – 1951 by Avi Shlaim shlaim-partition
1988: winner

An authoritative and critically acclaimed book which chronicles King Abdullah’s relationship with the Zionist movement, from his appointment as Emir of Transjordan in 1921, to his assassination in 1951. Shlaim challenges the myths and legends which have surrounded the first Arab-Israeli war and the creation of the state of Israel.

Featured image credit: University books library by PactoVisual. Public Domain via Pixabay

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