Power and Privatization : Choice and Competition in the Remaking of British Democracy

appreciate the comments of Jill Hills and Jack Hay ward on earlier parts of this project. In the final stages, I am much obliged to Gerard Braunthal, who commented on the entire manuscript in detail. Henry Winkler made valuable comments on Chapter 2. For Chapter 7, Chris Howell provided helpful comments and research materials. Luis Lobos-Fernandes commented insightfully on several chapters. Also, I am grateful to Michael Margolis, whose administrative and moral support, helped sustain my effort. Finally, I thank my wife, Maureen, who gave help and encouragement and my son, Conrad, who as a toddler provided both distraction and renewal. Responsibility for any remaining errors is mine. This book shows that privatization in Britain constitutes a form of state power. After analyzing the historical and ideological background, the study examines how market processes indirectly extend state control by governing participation in state asset sales, regulatory regimes, deregulated policymaking and the marketization of trade unions. Privatizing control remade British democracy. Direct state power has been concentrated and held in reserve, while market processes guide wide areas of routine decision-making. Thus, it is demonstrated that privatization has depoliticized choice and diminished freedom. Joel D. Wolfe. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 186-199) And Index.