The Labour Party, Nationalism and Internationalism, 1939-51 (Cass Series--British Foreign and Colonial Policy)

The Second World War was a watershed moment in foreign policy for the Labour Party in Britain. This book traces how the British democratic left set about the task of defining the principles of a radically new international system for the post-war world. The author shows how the experience of total war fundamentally reshaped the left's attitudes toward national identity and international policy.Breaking with the traditional accounts that place Cold War tensions at the centre of the Attlee government's activities in the immediate postwar years, R. M. Douglas's book provides an entirely new framework for reassessing British foreign policy and left-wing concepts of national identity during the most turbulent mement of Britain's modern history. This Book Traces The Controversy That Ensued, As The British Democratic Left Set About The Task Of Defining The Principles Of A Radically New International System For The Postwar World. The Schemes Proposed By Labour Policymakers During These Years Encompassed A Wide Variety Of Political Institutions Aiming At The Restraint Or Supersession Of The Sovereign Nation-state. What They Shared In Common, However, Was A Reconceptualisation Of British Identity, In Which The Hyper-patriotism And National Exceptionalism Of The Wartime Period Blended With The Left's Traditional Internationalism. This New 'muscular' Internationalism Was To Have Major Impact Upon The Evolution Of Entities As Diverse As The United Nations Organisation, The British Commonwealth And The Accelerating Campaign In Favour Of European Unity After Labour Assumed The Reins Of Government In 1945. Breaking With Traditional Accounts That Place Cold War Tensions At The Centre Of The Attlee Government's Activities In The Immediate Postwar Years, R.m. Douglas's Book Provides An Entirely New Framework For Reassessing British Foreign Policy And Left-wing Concepts Of National Identity During The Most Turbulent Moment Of Britain's Modern History. This Will Be Essential Reading For All Students Of British Foreign Policy, The Labour Party And International Relations.--jacket. 1. 'half A League Onward' : The Labour Critique Of The Nation-state, 1900-39 -- 2. Dictatorship Of The Secretariat : Transport House And The Rise Of 'muscular' Internationalism -- 3. Internationalism Or Anti-nationalism? : Backbench And Backroom Visions Of World Order, 1939-45 -- 4. Trustees For Humanity : Ministerial Planning For International Government, 1940-45 -- 5. Utopia Deferred : The Attlee Administration And The United Nations, 1945-51 -- 6. An Offer They Couldn't Refuse : Labour Internationalism And Colonial Trusteeship -- 7. Socialism In One Country : The Failure Of Labour Europeanism. R.m. Douglas. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [272]-292) And Index. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Series Editor's Preface......Page 9 Acknowledgements......Page 12 Abbreviations......Page 13 Introduction......Page 14 'Half a League Onward': The Labour Critique of the Nation-State, 1900 39......Page 27 Dictatorship of the Secretariat: Transport House and the Rise of 'Muscular' Internationalism......Page 63 Internationalism or Anti-Nationalism?: Backbench and Backroom Visions of World Order, 1939 45......Page 85 Trustees for Humanity: Ministerial Planning for International Government, 1940 45......Page 110 Utopia Deferred: The Attlee Administration and the United Nations, 1945 51......Page 154 An Offer They Couldn't Refuse: Labour Internationalism and Colonial Trusteeship......Page 186 Socialism in One Country: The Failure of Labour Europeanism......Page 227 Conclusion......Page 279 Bibliography......Page 285 Index......Page 306 Education, Politics & IR, Sociology & Social Policy Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 5 Series Editor's Preface 9 Acknowledgements 12 Abbreviations 13 Introduction 14 'Half a League Onward': The Labour Critique of the Nation-State, 1900 39 27 Dictatorship of the Secretariat: Transport House and the Rise of 'Muscular' Internationalism 63 Internationalism or Anti-Nationalism?: Backbench and Backroom Visions of World Order, 1939 45 85 Trustees for Humanity: Ministerial Planning for International Government, 1940 45 110 Utopia Deferred: The Attlee Administration and the United Nations, 1945 51 154 An Offer They Couldn't Refuse: Labour Internationalism and Colonial Trusteeship 186 Socialism in One Country: The Failure of Labour Europeanism 227 Conclusion 279 Bibliography 285 Index 306