Putting Wales First: The Political Thought of Plaid Cymru (Volume 1)

(Paperback)

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Description

A thorough analysis of the Plaid Cymru Party of Wales.

This is the first book to discuss the development of the political thought of Plaid Cymru from its foundation to the dawn of the twenty-first century when the party emerged as the main opposition party in the devolved Senedd. It provides a chronological overview of Plaid Cymru's ideological development by focusing on the influence of the party's leaders in three different periods: Saunders Lewis, Gwynfor Evans, and the era of the two Dafydds (Wigley and Elis-Thomas). The book discusses tensions and disagreements within the party during each of these periods as well as the ideas and influence of other leading figures. In doing so, the book challenges much of the received wisdom about the party as well as its key thinkers. Widely lauded at the time of its original publication in Welsh as the most authoritative account of Plaid Cymru, its appearance in English is sure to be widely welcomed.

Reviews

"A magnificent book ... truly innovative ... breaking new ground in Welsh historiography."-- "J. Graham Jones, Y Cymro"
"An original and insightful study, sensitive to the role of individuals in the shaping of Plaid Cymru while fully cognisant of the wider historical and cultural contexts. This book, by Wales's leading political commentator and theorist, deepens our understanding of the motivations informing Plaid Cymru's leadership and the political thought of the party more generally."-- "Daniel G. Williams"
"Authoritative, rigorous, forthright, passionate - and completely gripping."-- "Cynog Dafis"
"Richard Wyn Jones' masterpiece will be a necessary handbook for everyone involved in planning the future of Plaid Cymru and plotting the future of Wales."-- "Cynog Dafis, Barn"
"The first volume of his magisterial study of the ideology of Plaid Cymru."-- "Meic Stephens, Cambria"
"This book combines a clear analysis of nationalist ideas in general with a masterful interpretation of the political thought of the main leaders of Plaid Cymru during the twentieth century. It is comprehensive, authoritative, and excitingly provocative in places."-- "Meredydd Evans"
"This book is a masterly analysis of a party's ideology"-- "\Tom Ellis, Planet: The Welsh Internationalist"
"This excellent book is brim-full of innovative ideas and incisive observations ... fresh, balanced, gripping."-- "Robin Okey, Gwales"

Author Bio

Richard Wyn Jones is professor of Welsh politics and director of the Wales Governance Centre at Cardiff University in Wales.