SOCIALIST REVIVAL

Context

“labour’s turning point” : 1888-1893 = New Unionism + 1910-1914 = the Great Labour Unrest —> big growth of all forms of protests BUT no social/pol revolution nor any radical change

second Industrial Revolution (electricity, chemicals, mechanisation), artisans deskilled by machines

Imperialism: rush for Africa, immigration (Aus, NZ, Can, SAf)

period of socialist revival

1880s: the biggest revival since decline of Owenism (1830s)

SDF

Social Democratic Federation, founded in 1881 by Henry Hyndman to bring all socialists together. In 1908 it becomes the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and in 1911 the British Socialist Party (BSP)

Henry Hyndman

a businessman who invested his money in socialist propaganda, funded his own newspaper called Justice.

Inspired by Karl Marx

BUT he was very authoritarian inside his own org, and his vision for transition to socialism did not include participation in working class struggles.

SL

Socialist League, created in 1885 bc Hyndman was such an autocrat —> founded by Eleanor Marx and her husband Edward Aveling and William Morris.

marginal group, disappears in 1901

The Commonweal

SL newpspaper, names comes from Commonwealth in socialist sense

Fabian Society

1884: socialist org run by economists and intellectuals —> reformist, think tank urging pol parties to produce change. Workers played no part in the transition to socialism for them.

The Clarion

Weekly newspaper founded by Robert Blatchford in 1891: huge spread of socialism.

In favour of collectivisation but not internationalist.

Clarion Federation formed around it, young ppl using activities to spread socialist propaganda

Second International

1889 SDF: congress both in Paris and London to build a network for socialists, decided every country should have a branch.