The Labour Governments 1945-1951 - What economic and social policies were pursued and how were they put into action?

The Labour Governments 1945-1951 - What economic and social policies were pursued and how were they put into action? PDF Author: Claire Darquenne
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
ISBN: 3638579662
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 23

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Book Description
Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 1,0, University of Passau, course: Proseminar "Democracy in Britain", language: English, abstract: The Labour Party is a Socialist Party, and proud of it. Its ultimate purpose at home is the establishment of the Socialist Commonwealth of Great Britain - free, democratic, efficient, progressive, publicspirited, its material resources organised in the service of the British people. (The Labour Party electoral manifesto 1945, quoted in Adelman 1986: 124) These were the words of the 1945 Labour Party election manifesto Let us Face the Future. Consequently, in the ensuing five years, everyone felt caught up in a great national experiment, the creation of a new social democratic society (cf. Webb 1989). This experiment included an extensive programme of nationalization, planning, and the establishment of the welfare state. After the landslide victory of 1945, Clement Attlee’s government wasted no time in launching a series of major policy initiatives. All of this left a profound mark on modern Britain by creating a new order (cf. Jefferys 1993: 8), an order that meant full employment, a freely accessible health service and a system of social security which improved the quality of life of the bulk of the population. At the same time, though, it was criticized. Left-wing critics attacked the government for introducing too little socialism whereas the political right claimed that the government introduced too much rather than too little socialism with its reforms. Yet in assessing Labour’s policies, however, account must be taken not only of abstract principles, but also of what was possible in the circumstances (cf. Peden 1985: 153). It is the aim of this paper, therefore, to analyse the main economic and social policies of the British post-war period in order to shed light on achievements and failures of the first Labour majority government. Was the Prime Minister right to describe his record as constituting a `revolution without tears`, or was this a lost opportunity for a more fundamental transformation of British society? (cf. Jefferys 1993: 3) This will be discussed in the conclusion. But before arriving there it is first necessary to look at the history of the British Labour Party in order to get an idea of its character and ideology which highly influenced its post-war measures. Secondly, the circumstances mentioned above have to be taken into consideration by looking at the economic and social situation in Britain after the war. [...]

The Labour Governments 1945-1951 - What economic and social policies were pursued and how were they put into action?

The Labour Governments 1945-1951 - What economic and social policies were pursued and how were they put into action? PDF Author: Claire Darquenne
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
ISBN: 3638579662
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 23

Get Book Here

Book Description
Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 1,0, University of Passau, course: Proseminar "Democracy in Britain", language: English, abstract: The Labour Party is a Socialist Party, and proud of it. Its ultimate purpose at home is the establishment of the Socialist Commonwealth of Great Britain - free, democratic, efficient, progressive, publicspirited, its material resources organised in the service of the British people. (The Labour Party electoral manifesto 1945, quoted in Adelman 1986: 124) These were the words of the 1945 Labour Party election manifesto Let us Face the Future. Consequently, in the ensuing five years, everyone felt caught up in a great national experiment, the creation of a new social democratic society (cf. Webb 1989). This experiment included an extensive programme of nationalization, planning, and the establishment of the welfare state. After the landslide victory of 1945, Clement Attlee’s government wasted no time in launching a series of major policy initiatives. All of this left a profound mark on modern Britain by creating a new order (cf. Jefferys 1993: 8), an order that meant full employment, a freely accessible health service and a system of social security which improved the quality of life of the bulk of the population. At the same time, though, it was criticized. Left-wing critics attacked the government for introducing too little socialism whereas the political right claimed that the government introduced too much rather than too little socialism with its reforms. Yet in assessing Labour’s policies, however, account must be taken not only of abstract principles, but also of what was possible in the circumstances (cf. Peden 1985: 153). It is the aim of this paper, therefore, to analyse the main economic and social policies of the British post-war period in order to shed light on achievements and failures of the first Labour majority government. Was the Prime Minister right to describe his record as constituting a `revolution without tears`, or was this a lost opportunity for a more fundamental transformation of British society? (cf. Jefferys 1993: 3) This will be discussed in the conclusion. But before arriving there it is first necessary to look at the history of the British Labour Party in order to get an idea of its character and ideology which highly influenced its post-war measures. Secondly, the circumstances mentioned above have to be taken into consideration by looking at the economic and social situation in Britain after the war. [...]

Ideas and Policies Under Labour, 1945-1951

Ideas and Policies Under Labour, 1945-1951 PDF Author: Martin Francis
Publisher: Manchester University Press
ISBN: 9780719048333
Category : Great Britain
Languages : en
Pages : 296

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Book Description
Francis examines the relationship between socialist ideas and the policies of the 1945-51 Labour government, insisting that Labour ministers applied specifically socialist precepts to the exercise of power during this period.

Labour Governments and Private Industry

Labour Governments and Private Industry PDF Author: Helen Mercer
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 264

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Book Description
"In 1945 a Labour government with socialist aspirations was elected. Prior to this, much of the Left's political energy had been directed towards nationalisation and the private sector had been seen as peripheral. Equally the private sector was ill-prepared to deal with a Labour government. Despite the coolness between the two, the war had left a legacy of a high level of interaction between private industry and the forces of government." "Labour Governments and Private Industry examines in detail the complex relationship between the Labour government and the private sector. The first part of the book analyses the types of policy in operation and their implementation. The second part takes certain sectors of British industry as case studies, to consider the practical application of these policies. Throughout the book, the contributors focus their arguments around three main questions. To what extent were the policies of this Labour government actually socialist? What was the role of the Labour government as a modernising agency in the private sector? What was the power of private industry to hinder the policies of the government?" "Despite the centrality of the years 1945-51 for an understanding of Britain's long-term industrial problems, this is the first historical study of the relationship between privately-owned industry and the government during the period. Its relevance for contemporary politics can hardly be overestimated. This reconsideration of a crucial period, with the benefits of the modern perspective, is timely and necessary."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

British Labour and the Cold War

British Labour and the Cold War PDF Author: Peter Weiler
Publisher: Stanford University Press
ISBN: 9780804714648
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 456

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Book Description
A critical examination of the labour government and trades Union Congress in the immediate postwar period, this book argues that the Cold War was not just a traditional conflict between states but also an attempt to contain the growth of radical working-class movements at home and abroad. These radical movements, stimulated by the Second World War and its aftermath, seemed to policymakers within the Labour Party and the TUC to threaten British interests. The author contends that the Labour government never seriously considered following a socialist foreign policy, but instead sought to shape political developments throughout the world in ways most conductive to maintaining Britain's traditional economic and imperial interests. The government was able to follow established policies abroad and increasingly at home at least in part because British trade union leaders supported its attempts to prevent radicals and communists from coming to power in trade union movements inside Britain and throughout the world. In so doing, the trade union movement significantly extended its links with the state, in particular by cooperating with it in the sphere of foreign and colonial labour policy.

Stress in Post-War Britain, 1945–85

Stress in Post-War Britain, 1945–85 PDF Author: Mark Jackson
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317318048
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 268

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Book Description
In the years following World War II the health and well-being of the nation was of primary concern to the British government. The essays in this collection examine the relationship between health and stress in post-war Britain through a series of carefully connected case studies.

The Labour Government and the End of Empire, 1945-1951

The Labour Government and the End of Empire, 1945-1951 PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Decolonization
Languages : en
Pages : 530

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Book Description


The Reconstruction of Western Europe 1945-1951

The Reconstruction of Western Europe 1945-1951 PDF Author: Alan S. Milward
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136592105
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 568

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Book Description
First Published in 2005. The author’s intention was to write a history of the greatest economic boom in European history, of that unique, ugly and triumphant experience of the 1950s and 1960s which changed so utterly the scope of human existence and expectations as well as the consciousness of the people of western Europe. But it became clear that this extraordinary boom had one other attribute as unique as the remarkable length of time over which the growth of output, incomes and wealth lasted.

The Foundations of the Welfare State

The Foundations of the Welfare State PDF Author: Pat Thane
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 131788907X
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 374

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Book Description
A fully revised and rewritten second edition of a book which is now regarded as a classic. Takes full advantage of new research and places strong emphasis on voluntary action and the role of women in the shaping of social policy. It retains the excellent historical perspective that makes it unique among its competitors, comparing recent policy changes to pre-1950 welfare policy.

Attlee's War

Attlee's War PDF Author: Robert Crowcroft
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 0857719637
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 320

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Book Description
As deputy prime minister of Britain's coalition government during World War II, Clement Attlee became one of the most powerful figures in British politics and subsequently played a crucial role in the reshaping of the post-war party-political landscape. The architect of Labour's entry into the wartime coalition, Attlee came to straddle the workings of government to a unique degree. Unmatched in his range of influence, he dominated party politics; directed a doctrinal struggle within the coalition; and even sought to create the conditions for a cross-party alliance to be maintained after the war. His goal was to carve out a position of greater strength than Labour had ever occupied before and he succeeded when he led his party to power in July 1945. Robert Crowcroft here examines the political leadership of the unsung architect behind the development of wartime politics and the rise of the Labour party. Traditionally seen as a period of unprecedented cooperation between the Labour and Conservative parties, Crowcroft argues that in fact Attlee's influence facilitated a significant shift towards Labour which sowed the seeds for his party's post-war victory. Attlee's War mounts a challenge to the popular image of Attlee as a reticent collegiate, and unravels his elusive path to power. Shedding new light on an often misunderstood figure, this book will appeal to all those interested in modern British history and the leadership of major political figures.

Political Economy and the Labour Party, 2nd Edition

Political Economy and the Labour Party, 2nd Edition PDF Author: Noel Thompson
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134332963
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 353

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Book Description
`In Political Economy and the Labour Party, Noel Thompson gives an informative and stimulating outline of the ideas and theories that have shaped the party’s economic policy since 1900.’ - Times Literary Supplement A new edition of the American Library Association's `Outstanding Academic Book' award winner. This new volume brings this study of the rich tradition of British socialist political economy and its influence on the British Labour Party fully up-to-date. Surveying the Labour tradition from the Fabianism of the Webbs to the `social-ism’ of Tony Blair’s Third Way, this new edition considers the critical engagement of these political economies with capitalism and the policies they articulate. It also discusses the manner in which they influence, or establish the context for, Labour’s economic thinking and policymaking and traces the ideological trajectory British social democratic political economy over the course of the twentieth century. In its concluding chapter this volume assesses the present character of the political economy advanced by the Labour Party and raises the question as to whether it can any longer be considered part of the social democratic tradition. This is an essential new edition of this now standard text for students taking courses on the history of political and economic thought and, more generally, courses on the political and intellectual history of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Britain.