"The British general election of 2001 was met with widespread apathy: less than sixty percent of the electorate bothered to vote. However, apathy towards conventional politics does not necessarily imply public lack of interest in all forms of political activity and Peter Joyce offers an examination of alternative ways whereby citizens seek to influence the policy-making process.

These alternative means are termed 'extra-parliamentary' politics and include demonstrations, direct action, counter-cultural protest, industrial unrest, urban disorder and politically motivated violence. Joyce concludes with an examination of the extent to which the liberal democratic political system has been undermined by the response of the state to these extra-parliamentary activities."--BOOK JACKET.