A.K. Chesterton and the Evolution of Britain’s Extreme Right, 1933-1973 (Routledge Studies in Fascism and the Far Right)

Arthur Kenneth (a.k.) Chesterton Was A Soldier, Journalist And Activist Whose Involvement With Fascist And Extreme Right-wing Politics In Britain Spanned Four Decades. Beginning With His Recruitment To Oswald Mosley's 'blackshirts' In The 1930s, Chesterton's Ideological Relationship With Fascism, Nationalism And Anti-semitism Would Persist Far Beyond The Collapse Of The Interwar Movements, Culminating In His Role As A Founder Of The National Front In 1967. This Study Examines Chesterton's Significance As A Bridging Figure Between Two Eras Of Extreme Right Activity In Britain, And Considers The Ideological And Organizational Continuity That Existed Across The Interwar And Post-war Periods. It Further Uses Chesterton's Life As A Means To Explore The Persistence Of Racism And Anti-semitism Within British Society, As Well As Examining The Political Conflicts And Tactical Disputes That Shaped The Extreme Right As It Attempted To Move 'from The Margins To The Mainstream'. This Book Will Appeal To Students And Researchers With An Interest In Fascism Studies, British Political History, Extremism And Anti-semitism-- Born In War : Life Before Politics, 1899-1933 -- The Blackshirt Life : The British Union Of Fascists, 1933-1938 -- My Country Right And Wrong : Fascism After Mosley, 1938-1939 -- Drawing Room Fascism : The After-victory Group, 1943, 1946 -- Sound The Alarm : Candour And The League Of Empire Loyalists, 1953-1967 -- Forward To Extremists : The National Front, 1967-1973 -- What Is Behind It All? Racism, Anti-semitism And Conspiracy After 1945. Luke Lecras. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Arthur Kenneth (A.K.) Chesterton was a soldier, journalist and activist whose involvement with fascist and extreme right-wing politics in Britain spanned four decades. Beginning with his recruitment to Oswald Mosley’s ‘Blackshirts’ in the 1930s, Chesterton’s ideological relationship with fascism, nationalism and anti-Semitism would persist far beyond the collapse of the interwar movements, culminating in his role as a founder of the National Front in 1967. This study examines Chesterton’s significance as a bridging figure between two eras of extreme right activity in Britain, and considers the ideological and organizational continuity that existed across the interwar and post-war periods. It further uses Chesterton’s life as a means to explore the persistence of racism and anti-Semitism within British society, as well as examining the political conflicts and tactical disputes that shaped the extreme right as it attempted to move ‘from the margins to the mainstream’. This book will appeal to students and researchers with an interest in fascism studies, British political history, extremism and anti-Semitism. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series 3 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Acknowledgements 7 Abbreviations 8 Introduction 10 1 Born in war: life before politics, 1899–1933 17 2 The blackshirt life: the British Union of Fascists, 1933–1938 39 3 My country right and wrong: fascism after Mosley, 1938–1939 65 4 Drawing room fascism: the After-Victory Group, 1943–1946 75 5 Sound the alarm: Candour and the League of Empire Loyalists, 1953–1967 99 6 Forward the extremists: the National Front, 1967–1973 124 7 What is behind it all? Racism, anti-Semitism and conspiracy after 1945 140 Conclusion: evolution, stagnation and the ‘fascist ghost’ after 1945 164 Bibliography 170 Index 176 "Arthur Kenneth (A.K.) Chesterton was a soldier, journalist and activist whose involvement with fascist and extreme right-wing politics in Britain spanned four decades. Beginning with his recruitment to Oswald Mosley's 'Blackshirts' in the 1930s, Chesterton's ideological relationship with fascism, nationalism and anti-Semitism would persist far beyond the collapse of the interwar movements, culminating in his role as a founder of the National Front in 1967. This study examines Chesterton's significance as a bridging figure between two eras of extreme right activity in Britain, and considers the ideological and organizational continuity that existed across the interwar and post-war periods. It further uses Chesterton's life as a means to explore the persistence of racism and anti-Semitism within British society, as well as examining the political conflicts and tactical disputes that shaped the extreme right as it attempted to move 'from the margins to the mainstream'. This book will appeal to students and researchers with an interest in fascism studies, British political history, extremism and anti-Semitism"-- Provided by publisher A biography of A.K. Chesterton who was a leading figure in British fascist groups from the British Union of Fascists in the 1930s to the League of Empire Loyalists in the 1950s and the National Front in the 1960s.