Distributed for University of Wales Press
The Political Thought of Aneurin Bevan
A study of influential British Labour Party politician Aneurin Bevan as a political thinker.
Despite his contemporary legacy as an institutional pioneer, many fundamental disagreements remain concerning Aneurin Bevan’s politics. In times of intense internal Labour Party conflict, Bevan is regularly invoked by different factions to serve different purposes. Some revere him as a pragmatic institution builder, while others emphasize his political radicalism and dedication to socialism. In response, this book takes a new approach by treating Bevan as a political thinker and reconstructing his political thought. This offers an alternative perspective on a complex figure and provides new insight into Bevan’s intellectual development and the ideas that drove his politics, including his analysis of class conflict, his commitment to parliamentary politics, and his outlook on international relations. The book also locates Bevan within the British Labour Party’s ideological traditions, highlighting moments of tension and compromise with the core tenets of labourism.
Despite his contemporary legacy as an institutional pioneer, many fundamental disagreements remain concerning Aneurin Bevan’s politics. In times of intense internal Labour Party conflict, Bevan is regularly invoked by different factions to serve different purposes. Some revere him as a pragmatic institution builder, while others emphasize his political radicalism and dedication to socialism. In response, this book takes a new approach by treating Bevan as a political thinker and reconstructing his political thought. This offers an alternative perspective on a complex figure and provides new insight into Bevan’s intellectual development and the ideas that drove his politics, including his analysis of class conflict, his commitment to parliamentary politics, and his outlook on international relations. The book also locates Bevan within the British Labour Party’s ideological traditions, highlighting moments of tension and compromise with the core tenets of labourism.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Bevan studies
Bevan’s Political Thought
Structure and Approach
Conclusion
Chapter One: Class, Capitalism, Power
Capitalism and Class
Historical Development
Working Class Strategy
Democracy
Conclusion
Chapter Two: Parliament, the State, Public Ownership
Parliament
Public ownership
The Mixed Economy
Conclusion
Chapter Three: War, International Relations, World Development
War
International Order
World development
Conclusion
Chapter Four: Ideas, Hegemony, Democratic Socialism
Ideologies
Hegemony and Consent
Values in Society
Conclusion
Chapter Five: Bevan as a Political Thinker
Bevan’s Political Thought
Bevan and the Labour Party
Conclusion
Appendix: Tribune Articles by Category
References
Introduction
Bevan studies
Bevan’s Political Thought
Structure and Approach
Conclusion
Chapter One: Class, Capitalism, Power
Capitalism and Class
Historical Development
Working Class Strategy
Democracy
Conclusion
Chapter Two: Parliament, the State, Public Ownership
Parliament
Public ownership
The Mixed Economy
Conclusion
Chapter Three: War, International Relations, World Development
War
International Order
World development
Conclusion
Chapter Four: Ideas, Hegemony, Democratic Socialism
Ideologies
Hegemony and Consent
Values in Society
Conclusion
Chapter Five: Bevan as a Political Thinker
Bevan’s Political Thought
Bevan and the Labour Party
Conclusion
Appendix: Tribune Articles by Category
References