Futures of Socialism - ‘Modernisation', the Labour Party, and the British Left, 1973–1997

The transformation of the Labour Party by 1997 is among the most consequential political developments in modern British history. Futures of Socialism overhauls the story of Labour's modernisation and provides an innovative new history. Diving into the tumultuous world of the British left after 1973, rocked by crushing defeats, bitter schisms, and ideological disorientation, Colm Murphy uncovers competing intellectual agendas for modern socialism. Responding to deindustrialisation, neoliberalism, and constitutional agitation, these visions of 'modernisation' ranged across domestic and European policy and the politics of class, gender, race, and democracy. By reconstructing the sites and networks of political debate, the book explains their changing influence inside Labour. It also throws new light on New Labour, highlighting its roots in this social-democratic intellectual maelstrom. Futures of Socialism provides an essential analysis of social democracy in an era of market liberalism, and of the ideas behind a historic political reconstruction that remains deeply controversial today.

About the author

Colm Murphy is Lecturer in British Politics at Queen Mary University of London and Deputy Director of the Mile End Institute. He was previously Past & Present Fellow at the Institute of Historical Research. He has published in History Workshop Journal, Twentieth Century British History, and Renewal: A Journal of Social Democracy.

Product details

• Authors: Colm Murphy, Murphy Colm
• Publisher: Cambridge Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 08.08.2024
• EAN: 9781009278843
• ISBN: 978-1-009-27884-3
• Dimensions: 152 mm x 228 mm x 17 mm
• Weight: 480 g
• Illustrations: Worked examples or Exercises
• Series: Modern British Histories
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > 20th century (up to 1945); Political Parties, Postwar 20th century history, from c 1945 to c 2000, European History, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Process / Political Parties, POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / European, HISTORY / Europe / Great Britain / 20th Century, British & Irish history, United Kingdom, Great Britain, c 1970 to c 1979, Socialism & left-of-centre democratic ideologies, Left-of-centre democratic ideologies, c 1970 to c 1980, c 1990 to c 2000, c 1990 to c 1999, c 1980 to c 1989, Political parties and party platforms