Westminsters World: Understanding Political Roles

From Policy Advocates to Whips to Ministers, the many roles within the British Parliament are shaped not only by institutional rules but also by the individuals who fill them. Applying a new motivational role theory to materials from extensive first-hand interviews during the 1970s, Donald Searing deepens our understanding of how Members of Parliament perceive their goals, careers, and impact on domestic and global issues. He explores how Westminster's world is both controlled by and created through individual actions, illuminating the interplay of institutional constraints and personal choice in shaping political roles.

Searing has interviewed 521 Members of Parliament—including Conservative Ministers Margaret Thatcher, Peter Walker, and James Prior; Labour Ministers Harold Wilson, Barbara Castle, and Denis Healey; as well as rising stars like Michael Heseltine, Norman Tebbitt, David Owen, and Roy Hattersley. He also includes voices from Westminster's backbenchers, women, senior backbenchers, and newcomers, highlighting their key roles in shaping political life.

Utilizing both quantitative and qualitative analysis and integrating social and economic theories about political behavior, Searing addresses concerns about power, duty, ambition, and representation. Westminster's World provides political scientists, historians, anthropologists, and the public with valuable insights into the House of Commons and offers a convincing model for understanding the structure and dynamics of political roles.