The permissive society and its enemies

Deconstructing the myth of Britain's “swinging sixties,” this collection of essays examines the revolution of cultural permissiveness in postwar Britain and how societal debates over drug use, pornography, and women's rights of this period have influenced current thinking. Britain's period of nebulous social change is analyzed by defining permissiveness, locating the movement's origins, identifying its proponents and opponents, and assessing long-term consequences. Discussions of ludic liberalism, lesbian politics, beatnik ideology, and the rise of the moral crusader highlight the developing subcultures of Britain's society.