Alternatives to State-Socialism in Britain - Other Worlds of Labour in the Twentieth Century

This book poses a major revisionist challenge to 20th century British labour history, aiming to look beyond the Marxist and Fabian exclusion of working class experience, notably religion and self-help, in order to exaggerate 'labour movement' class cohesion. Instead of a 'forward march' to secular state-socialism, the research presented here is devoted to a rich diversity of social movements and ideas. In this collection of essays, the editors establish the liberal-pluralist tradition, with the following chapters covering three distinct sections. Part One, 'Other Forms of Association' covers subjects such as trade unions, the Co-operative Party, women's community activism and Protestant Nonconformity. Part Two, 'Other Leaders', covers employer Edward Cadbury; Trades Union Congress leader Walter Citrine; and the electricians' leader, Frank Chapple. Part Three, 'Other Intellectuals', considers G.D.H. Cole, Michael Young and left libertarianism by Stuart White. Readers interested in the British Labour movement will find this an invaluable resource.

List of contents

1. 'Other Worlds of Labour': liberal-pluralism in twentieth century British labour history Peter Ackers and Alastair J. Reid.- 2. Part I: Other forms of association.- 3. 2. Trade unions: voluntary associations and individual rights. Richard Whiting.- 4. 3. The Co-operative Party: an alternative vision of social ownership. Rachael Vorberg-Rugh and Angela Whitecross.- 5. 4. Working class women activists: citizenship at the local level. Ruth Davidson.- 6. 5. Protestant Nonconformists: providers of educational and social services. Andy Vail.- 7. Part II: Other leaders.- 8. 6. Edward Cadbury: an egalitarian employer and supporter of working women's campaigns. John Kimberley.- 9. 7. Walter Citrine: a union pioneer of industrial co-operation. James Moher.- 10. 8. Frank Chapple: a thoughtful trade union moderniser. Calum Aikman.- 11. Part III: Other intellectuals.- 12. 9. G.D.H. Cole: a socialist and pluralist. David Goodway.- 13. 10. Michael Young: an innovative social entrepreneur. Stephen Meredith.- 14. 11. The left after social democracy: towards state-society partnerships. Stuart White.- 15. 12. Looking forward: civil society after state socialism and beyond neo-liberalism. Peter Ackers and Alastair J. Reid.

About the author

Peter Ackers is Professor of Employment Relations at De Montfort University, UK, and Visiting Professor of Labour and Social History at Loughborough University, UK. He co-edited Findings a Voice at Work? (2015), and publishes on Hugh Clegg and the 'Oxford School' of Industrial Relations, trade unions, working-class Protestantism and labour biography.
Alastair J. Reidis a Life Fellow of Girton College, Cambridge, UK. He was a co-founder of the History & Policy dissemination network. His publications include United We Stand: A History of British Trade Unions(2005) and The Tide of Democracy: Shipyard Workers and Social Relations in Britain, 1870-1950 (2010).

Additional text

“This collection is redolent with ideas, displays the pluralism of socialism, and is a very important start to both the intellectual and the pragmatic debate which will inevitably develop over the next few years. It is an engaging and stimulating collection of essays and should be read by those concerned about the future of socialist and civic society in Britain, the need for which might very well develop after Brexit.” (Keith Laybourn, Labour History Review, Vol. 82 (2), 2017)

Report

"This collection is redolent with ideas, displays the pluralism of socialism, and is a very important start to both the intellectual and the pragmatic debate which will inevitably develop over the next few years. It is an engaging and stimulating collection of essays and should be read by those concerned about the future of socialist and civic society in Britain, the need for which might very well develop after Brexit." (Keith Laybourn, Labour History Review, Vol. 82 (2), 2017)

Product details

• Assisted by: Peter Ackers (Editor), Alastair J. Reid (Editor)
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 08.02.2018
• EAN: 9783319742489
• ISBN: 978-3-31-974248-9
• No. of pages: 354
• Dimensions: 152 mm x 220 mm x 21 mm
• Weight: 492 g
• Illustrations: XVII, 354 p.
• Subject: Humanities, art, music > History > Regional and national histories