This book examines the concept of Europe in its relations to those areas of the globe beyond its borders. In particular, it is concerned with the historical evolution and contemporary setting of Europe "vis-a-vis" the United States of America, the Developing world and the former Soviet Union. This involves drawing on the perspectives of international history, politics and economics. A unifying feature of the analysis included here is provided by the fact that the "bi-polar world" that emerged in the aftermath of the Second World War has effectively been brought to an end with the collapse first of Soviet control in Eastern Europe, and then by the break-up of the Soviet Union itself and a prospective reduction of American influence in western Europe. What will Europe look like in an increasingly "multi-polar world"? An answer to this depends not only on the evolving external connections between Europe and other parts of the world but also on the internal development of European political and economic integration. The dynamics of this dual relationship are examined here.

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Using an interdisciplinary approach, this book covers popular culture in Britain from the early 19h-century to the present. It brings together contributions dealing both with general cultural phenomena, such as literacy and class consciousness, and more specific popular cultural forms, such as the music hall and late 19th-century science fiction. The book also includes readings of contemporary cultural phenomena as diverse as motorcycle gangs, Jackie magazine and children's confectionery.

Research into the impact of the First World War on European societies has recently begun on a major scale and Dr Waites has been one of the pioneers in this field in Britain. His book considers the War's effects on such major issues as popular images of class, the distribution of income and wealth in society, social relations within the working class, class consciousness and the educational experiences of children from different backgrounds. This study is noteworthy not only for its wide range of hitherto unpublished sources, but also for its attempt to bring social theory to bear upon the study of class relations in England during the first of this century's total wars.