[Review] Nick Crowson, Matthew Hilton and James McKay, ed. (2009) NGOs in contemporary Britain: non-state actors in society and politics since 1945

At the time of NGOs in contemporary Britain going to press, there were 170,000 charities registered in Britain that encompass a paid workforce of 600,000 (p. 2). However, as the editors note, this area has hitherto been little covered by historians. It is one that clearly matters, not just because of the power of the lobbyists and their impact on legislation, but because the rise of NGOs measures changes in individual and collective social and political aspirations. NGOs in contemporary Britain brings together a fascinating collection of case studies through which to contextualize changing understanding of what constitutes political activism. For example, it allows us to put the continuing fall in voter turn-out figures, particularly at the younger end of the potential electorate, into a much more thoughtful and historical context.