Thesis
Labour's crucible: the transformation of Britain's Labour Party, 1979 to 1997
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2010
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/105920
Abstract
The years 1979 to 1997 were a crucial period in the history of Britain's Labour Party. During this period the party underwent a dramatic transformation that remade the party. Traditionally, this transformation has been classified as a direct result of Thatcherism which served as the political ideology that influenced policy in Britain. This failed to take into account the divisions that already existed within the Labour Party. The struggle was between those favoring the creation of a socialist utopia and those who believed that the capitalist economic system was not going to collapse. The latter believed the party should focus on policies to alleviate the failures of the capitalist system while accepting capitalism itself. It was this struggle that caused the transformation of the party with Thatcherism used as a vehicle to push the transformation forward. As a result of the transformation the influence of Trade Unions were diminished and the policy of nationalization was abandoned. Without these factors the transformation would not have been possible as they tied the party to the former position. This transformation allowed the party to return to power in 1997 and govern Britain for the next thirteen years. The thesis will demonstrate the former's inability to adapt to the changes taking place in Great Britain and doomed their faction to failure and exile from the party. Furthermore, the policies enacted by the Thatcher and Major governments enabled those seeking to reform the party to push forward with their efforts. In particular, the economic turmoil of the 1970s destroyed the political consensus that had ruled Britain since the end of World War II, and was replaced by Thatcherism. As a result Britain was transformed and the party was forced to transform or perish as a viable political force. Those unwilling to change were expelled or marginalized as the party became a socialist party that worked within the confines of the capitalist system and sought to provide social justice rather than the formation of a socialist utopia.
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Details
- Title
- Labour's crucible
- Creators
- Agustin Ernesto Gonzalez
- Contributors
- Heather Streets-Salter (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- History, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525103901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis