Fabian Socialism

Category: Theoretical approaches

The Fabian society was created in 1884 in London. The Fabian Society and its political program of Fabian socialism was an effort to create a new form of socialism informed by science that would distance itself from classical Marxism. The Fabians denied the necessity of a revolution as a way to transition from capitalism to socialism. The stressed importance of realization of social and economic reforms that will improve working conditions, which would, together with progressive taxation of capitalists’ income, clearly lead to socialism. Four members of Fabian society – Beatrice and Sydney Webb, Graham Wallas, and George Bernard Shaw— created the London School of Economics in 1894 as an institution that will give education to members of the working class needed for efficient political action. Several Fabians conducted large-scale empirical social studies on topics of poverty, cooperatives, unions, social policy, etc. One of the first studies of poverty in Britain was conducted by Charles Booth and resulted in the publishing of the two-volume book Life and Labour of the People (1889-1891), while his second research on poverty was published in 17 volumes as Life and Labour of the People in London (1902–1903).

Beatrice Webb became one of the associates of Charles Booth, and during his research on poverty, she conducted secret participatory observation research, working as a seamstress in an illegal textile factory. Webb did similar field research for cooperatives, and the product of that research was her first book Cooperative Movement in Great Britain (1891). Webb and her husband Sidney Webb conducted research together and wrote several books. The first book they published together was History of Trade Unionism (1894). Beatrice and Sydney Webb participated in the work of the Commission that researched the scope and success of “Poor Laws” (Poor Laws are a series of laws passed in the nineteenth century that regulated socio-economic measures to help the poor in Britain). They concluded that these laws are inadequate and should be repealed, and the results of this research were presented in the books The Break-Up of the Poor Law (1909), English Poor-Law Policy (1910), and The Abolition of the Poor Law (1918). They advocated the introduction of a minimum wage and the creation of a comprehensive system of free health insurance.

After visiting the Soviet Union in the early 1930s, Sydney and Beatrice Webb wrote the book Soviet Communism: A New Civilization? (1935), in which they expressed their enthusiasm for Soviet communism and presented it as the best alternative to capitalism. Beatrice Webb is also notable for her contribution to the sociological method, because, in addition to conducting participatory observations, she also wrote about the caution that every sociologist must have when researching an area or topic. After all, each person brings with him or her the burden of previous experience and his or her social and economic background. The researcher can remove this burden by recognizing and overcoming that previous life experience.

British economic historian Richard Tawney (1880-1962) studied the development of capitalism and gave his critique of it, as well as proposals for reforms. Tawney was very influential as a theorist of the left, and especially the Labor Party. In his book Acquisitive Society (1920), he criticizes the individualism and greed promoted and encouraged by industrial capitalism. He proposes the creation of a society based on the principles of cooperation, professionalism, and service to the common good. In his book Equality (1931), he points to very large inequalities in the distribution of resources between individuals and classes in Britain. To reduce these huge inequalities, Tawney proposes the introduction of progressive taxation, broad public (state) ownership, and the creation of a generous welfare state. Together with William Beveridge, he drafted a plan for social security in Britain in 1942, which was implemented after the Second World War.

Authors: Richard, Tawney; Webb, Beatrice. Booth, Charles; Beveridge, William; Cole, G. D. H.; Laski, Harold; Shaw, George Bernard; Webb, Sydney.

Books:

Booth, Charles. Life and Labour of the People, 2 vols. (1889-1891);

- Life and Labour of the People in London, 17 vols. (1902–1903);

Cole, G. D. H.. “Fabianism”. In Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences (1935);

Tawney. The Acquisitive Society (1920);

- Secondary Education for All (1922);

- Education: The Socialist Policy (1924);

- Religion and the Rise of Capitalism (1926);

- Equality (1931);

Webb. Cooperative Movement in Great Britain (1891);

- History of Trade Unionism (1894);

- Women and the Factory Acts (1896);