David Owen by Kevin Hickson

David Owen by Kevin Hickson

Bringing together specialist academic researchers, politicians and advisors, this book offers a range of perspectives and detailed analysis of Lord (David) Owen’s major contributions in the field of domestic and international politics.

It offers contributions from those who have either known and worked with Lord Owen directly or spent time studying related topics in the academic field, making this the most comprehensive assessment of his opinions and political activities to date. In domestic politics, Owen was a long-serving Member of Parliament (MP), Minister and Foreign Secretary who then split the Labour Party by forming the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He made a sustained contribution to social democratic ideas in Britain. A long-standing pro-European, he went on to campaign for leaving the EU in 2016. In international affairs, he was a peace negotiator in the former Yugoslavia and has long supported the promotion of human rights.

This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of British politics, British political history, political parties and more broadly of international politics.

“David Owen has been a politician of rare prescience and significanceIt is impossible to comprehend the backdrop to Thatcherism, the rise of Blair or the inevitability of Brexit without understanding the personality, views and impact of this immensely consequential statesman. This volume is a welcome and timely review of his storied career.”

Lord (Michael) Gove, House of Lords, former Conservative MP and Cabinet Minister

“David Owen’s rare gift of combining enormous personal charm with intellectual rigour had the ability to divide as well as unite. Not unlike Joe Chamberlain he “made the political weather”, inspired, encouraged and, if need be, created clear divisions, forcing people to make choices. The diverse range of contributors in this book is a reflection of the depth of his contribution to public life.”

Baroness (Gisela) Stuart, House of Lords, former Labour MP and Minister

“By blending rigorous academic analysis with a diverse range of practitioner accounts, this book provides invaluable insights into David Owen’s complex and often paradoxical trajectory. Owen remains a unique and enduringly controversial figure in the British political landscape.”

Professor Emmanuelle Avril, Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Paris, France

“Kevin Hickson has assembled a distinguished set of politicians, journalists, advisors and academics to analyse the ideas and political activity of one of the most significant, thoughtful and controversial politicians of his era.”

Professor Jon Tonge, University of Liverpool, UK

Kevin Hickson is a senior fellow of the Centre for British Politics at the University of Hull, UK.