Interpreting the Labour Party: Approaches to Labour Politics and History (Critical Labour Movement Studies)

This electronic version has been made available under a Creative Commons (BY-NC-ND) open access license. Interpreting the Labour Party consists of twelve essays on the principal thinkers and schools of thought concerned with the political and historical development of the Labour Party and Labour movement. The essays are written by contributors who have devoted many years to the study of the Labour Party, the trade union movement and the various ideologies associated with them. The book begins with an in-depth analysis of how to study the Labour Party, and goes on to examine key periods in the development of the ideologies to which the party has subscribed. Each chapter situates its subject matter in the context of a broader intellectual legacy, including the works of Sidney and Beatrice Webb, Theodore Rothstein, Stuart Hall and Samuel Beer, among others. Interpreting the Labour Party consists of twelve essays on some of the principal thinkers and schools of thought concerned with the political and historical development of the Labour Party and the wider labour movement. It examines the major methodologies and approaches in Labour studies and critically evaluates much of the most interesting scholarship in this area of study. The essays are written by contributors who have devoted many years to the study of the Labour Party, the trade union movement and the various ideologies associated with them. The collection begins with chapters that examine Labour's ideological journey and assess the impact of the "new political history" on views of the party. Later contributions focus on how the problematic concept of "Labourism" has been applied to the party by the New Left and analyse how Labour's union link has been conceptualised. Key thinkers analysed include Henry Pelling, Ross McKibbin, Ralph Miliband, Lewis Minkin, David Marquand, Perry Anderson and Tom Nairn. Each chapter situates its subject matter in the context of a broader intellectual legacy, including the works of Sidney and Beatrice Webb, Theodore Rothstein, Stuart Hall and Samuel Beer, among others. The book will be of interest to undergraduate students of British politics and political theory, and to academics concerned with Labour politics and history, trade union history and politics, research methodology and political analysis Contents......Page 6 Series editors’ foreword......Page 7 Acknowledgements......Page 8 Contributors......Page 10 Introduction (John Callaghan, Steven Fielding and Steve Ludlam)......Page 12 1 Understanding Labour’s ideological trajectory (Nick Randall)......Page 19 2 ‘What kind of people are you?’ Labour, the people and the ‘new political history’ (Lawrence Black)......Page 34 3 ‘Labourism’ and the New Left (Madeleine Davis)......Page 50 4 Ralph Miliband and the Labour Party: from Parliamentary Socialism to ‘Bennism’ (Michael Newman)......Page 68 5 The continuing relevance of the Milibandian perspective (David Coates and Leo Panitch)......Page 82 6 An exceptional comrade? The Nairn–Anderson interpretation (Mark Wickham-Jones)......Page 97 7 Class and politics in the work of Henry Pelling (Alastair J. Reid)......Page 112 8 Ross McKibbin: class cultures, the trade unions and the Labour Party (John Callaghan)......Page 127 9 The Progressive Dilemma and the social democratic perspective (Steven Fielding and Declan McHugh)......Page 145 10 Too much pluralism, not enough socialism: interpreting the unions–party link (Steve Ludlam)......Page 161 11 Lewis Minkin and the party–unions link (Eric Shaw)......Page 177 12 How to study the Labour Party: contextual, analytical and theoretical issues (Colin Hay)......Page 193 Guide to further reading......Page 208 Index......Page 214 The book begins with an in-depth analysis of how to study the Labour Party, and goes on to examine key periods in the development of the ideologies to which the party has subscribed. This includes the ideology on inter-war Labourism, the rival post-war perspectives on Labourism, the New Left, and the "contentious alliance" of unions with Labour. Key thinkers analysed include: Henry Pelling; Ross McKibbin; Ralph Miliband; Lewis Minkin; David Marquand; Perry Anderson; and Tom Nairn. Each chapter situates its subject matter in the context of a broader intellectual legacy, including the works of Sidney and Beatrice Webb, Theodore Rothstein, Stuart Hall and Samuel Beer, among others. This book should be of interest to undergraduate students of British politics and political theory and to academics concerned with Labour politics and history, trade union history and politics, research methodology and political analysis Introduction / John Callaghan, Steven Fielding And Steve Ludlam -- 1. Understanding Labour's Ideological Trajectory / Nick Randall -- 2. 'what Kind Of People Are You?' Labour, The People And The 'new Political History' / Lawrence Black -- 3. 'labourism' And The New Left / Madeleine Davis -- 4. Ralph Miliband And The Labour Party : From Parliamentary Socialism To 'bennism' / Michael Newman -- 5. The Continuing Relevance Of The Milibandian Perspective / David Coates And Leo Panitch -- 6. An Exceptional Comrade? The Nairn-anderson Interpretation / Mark Wickham-jones -- 7. Class And Politics In The Work Of Henry Pelling / Alastair J. Reid -- 8. Ross Mckibbin : Class Cultures, The Trade Unions And The Labour Party / John Callaghan. Edited By John Callaghan, Steven Fielding, Steve Ludlam. Selected Papers From A Conference In Manchester, July 2001. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This publication consists of 12 essays on the principal thinkers and schools of thought concerned with the political and historical development of the Labour Party and Labour movement. It is an examination of the major methodologies and approaches in Labour studies and a critical evaluation and appreciation of much of the most interesting scholarship in this area of study. The essays have been written by contributors who have devoted many years to the study of the Labour Party, the trade union movement and the various ideologies associated with them