The Labour Party : Continuity and Change in the Making of 'New' Labour

Steven Fielding argues that the Blair government is much less novel and distinctive than has been assumed by most commentators who have taken too much of its rhetoric at face value. Setting recent developments in a broader historical context, this major new text on the British Labour Party provides a balanced account of its present state and how it got there. The Labour Party is forever changing--though generally within long-established parameters. "New" Labour is but the latest example of this process. This Major New Text Provides A Historically Informed And Balanced Account Of The Labour Party's Present State And Evolution. Steven Fielding Argues That The Novelty Of Recent Changes Under Tony Blair Has Been Overstated. Introduction: What Is 'new' Labour? -- 'new' Labour -- 'new' Labour And Thatcherism -- Thatcherism Mark 2? -- A Modernized Social Democratic Party? -- Structure And Agency -- 1. Historicizing 'new' Labour -- A Trade Union Party, 1900-18 -- Consolidating Second Party Status, 1918-40 -- A National Party, 1940-70 -- A Class Party Reborn, 1970-83 -- Slow Road To Recovery, 1983-94 -- Comparing The Past With The Present -- Contrasting Impressions Of Labour's Past -- Historical Interpretations -- The Socialist School -- The Social Democratic School -- The Constraints School -- Structure And Agency (again) -- 2. The Liberal Connection -- Social Democracy And Liberalism -- The 'progressive' Dilemma -- The Road To The Sdp. Steven Fielding. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This fascinating book brings together a collection of original documents, many previously unpublished, which trace the history of the Labour Party from its electoral zenith in 1951, through the disasters and divisions of the early 1980s to the Party's apparent revival under Tony Blair. Focusing on how competing elements within the Party responded to persistent electoral failure, it indicates the extent to which the original vision of 'socialism' was consequently transformed. The documents show how the leadership and Party members in the constituencies profoundly disagreed over the political implications of post-war social change. They further demonstrate that Labour's 'socialism' has always been a contested concept, the meaning of which divided as much as united the Party faithful. The Blair government is much less novel and distinctive than has been assumed by most commentators who have, Steven Fielding argues, taken too much of its rhetoric at face value. Setting recent developments in a broader historical context, this major new text on the British Labour Party provides a balanced account of its present state and how it got there. The Labour Party is forever changing - though generally within long-established parameters. 'New' Labour is but the latest example of this process. Setting developments in a broader historical context, this text on the British Labour Party provides a balanced account of its present state in 2002 and how it got there.