This module evaluates the influence of socialists on society and politics in Britain up to the end of the Great War. It examines the origins and early development of the socialist movement ,when the adoption of Marxist ideas by small groups of middle class idealists in the 1880s added a new and potentially revolutionary impetus to political and social thought. Over the next decades socialist ideas influenced most aspects of British politics and society. These ideas were debated in trade unions, churches and chapels, political parties and cultural and social organisations. Socialists, however, faced fundamental problems in translating their revolutionary principles into political reality. The vehicle ultimately chosen pursue their political aims was the Labour Party, but as its power grew, some socialists became critical of its ideology and strategy, resulting in a passionate debate which, arguably, has never been resolved. Was the Labour Party the only realistic route of advance for British socialists? Did socialists offer a cure for all social ills, or were they as involved in imperialism and patriarchal rule as the rest of British society? This module examines a fascinating and exciting period of British history, though the perspective of a movement which sought to change fundamentally the nature of society and government. It explores the debates and disputes unleashed by the attempt to turn revolutionary theory into practical politics; debates which still reverberate in contemporary politics and society.

Knowledge and Understanding:

Upon the completion of the advanced option, the typical student will be able to:

• demonstrate a critical and systematic knowledge of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century British socialist movement and an understanding of pertinent historical and historiographical ideas.
• critically identify the main features of the British socialist movement and socialist thought in this period.
• demonstrate an in-depth and critical understanding of perspectives and debates within the appropriate secondary literature.
• analyse the activities, roles and influence of the various socialist organisations in the light of relevant historical interpretations of British labour history.
• demonstrate a critical understanding of key primary sources relating to the British socialist and labour movement in this period, including selected socialist texts, newspaper and pamphlet sources and selected archive collections.

Intellectual Skills:

Upon the completion of the advanced option, the typical student will be able to:

• identify the nature and scope of the issues raised bya study of the late-nineteenth and early twentieth century British socialist and labour movement.
• discuss in a critical and informed manner the inter-relationship between socialism, society and politics in Britain in this period.
• summarise and critically evaluate the relative merits and demerits of alternative views and interpretations of late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century British socialism, and evaluate their significance.
• identify problems, assess evidence, and reach appropriate and consistent conclusions about the nature of socialism, and its relationship with society and politics in Britain in this period
• devise and sustain arguments about British socialist thought and practice, acknowledging developments in twentieth century British labour historiography.
• present, accurately, succinctly and lucidly, and in written or oral form their arguments in accordance with appropriate scholarly conventions in British labour history.

Discipline Specific (including practical) Skills:

Upon the completion of the advanced option, the typical student will be able to:

• express their ideas on, and assessments of, the British socialist and labour movement, 1880-1918.
• discuss in a critical and informed manner the history of British socialism and its relationship to society and politics in Britain, 1880-1918.
• Identify the strengths, weaknesses, problems, and or peculiarities of alternative historical/historiographical interpretations, including Marxist, Fabian, Labourist and revisionist approaches to the topic.
• apply a critical approach to the nature of primary sources in the assessment of historical interpretations and methodologies relating to the socialist and labour movements in Britain, 1880-1918.
• use and evaluate primary sources and demonstrate an appreciation of  how historians have approached them.

Transferable Skills:

Upon the completion of the option, the typical student will be able to:

• communicate ideas and arguments effectively, whether in speech or in writing in an accurate, succinct and lucid manner
• formulate and justify their own arguments and conclusions about a range of issues
• demonstrate an ability to modify as well as to defend their own position
• possess a range of information technology resources to assist with information retrieval
• organise their own study methods and workload
• work as part of a team in seminar or tutorial discussions
• independently organise their own study methods and workload

The course will be taught and students will learn through

• A series of formal lectures will introduce students to the main factual and conceptual issues to be discussed and analysed during the course
• Seminars in which key texts are analysed will enable students to further develop analytic skills
• Document Workshops in which primary sources are analysed will enable students to develop discipline specific methods of approaching and analysing primary historical sources
• Presentations through which students will develop their presentation and team work skills and understanding of specific topics

Students will be assessed by means of a combination of one essay relating to primary sources [20%], an assessed essay [30%] and an examination paper [50%].

Course assignments:

1. The essay relating to primary sources will contribute 20% of the final mark for the module and must be no longer than 1,000 words.
2. The Assessed Essay will contribute 30% of the final mark for the module. It is designed to give students the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to review evidence, draw appropriate conclusions from it and employ the formal conventions of scholarly presentation. It must be no longer than 2,000 words.
3. The Examination will take place during the second assessment period [May/June] and will consist of an unseen two hour paper that will contribute the remaining 50% of the final mark for this module. Students must write 2 answers in total.  

1. What is socialism? The European context, and discussion of main currents of socialist thought.
2. The British ‘Socialist Revival’ of the 1880s: context and events.
3. British socialist organisations (1): The Social Democratic Federation.
4. British socialist organisations (2): The Socialist League.
5. British socialist organisations (3): The Fabian Society.
6. British socialist organisations (4): The Clarion Movement.
7. British socialist organisations (5): The Independent Labour Party.
8. Debates within British socialism 1884-1900: Revolution or Reform?; Socialist Unity or Labour Alliance?
9. Socialism and Politics (1): The Labour Representation Committee 1900-1906.
10. Socialism and Politics (2): The Labour Party 1906 – 1914.
11. Debates within British socialism 1900-1914: Socialist critics of the Labour Party.
12. Socialism and Society (1): Socialists, Churches and Chapels.
13. Socialism and Society (2): Socialists and Popular Culture.
14. Socialism and Society (3): Women and socialism.
15. Socialism and Literature (1): The poetic impulse in British socialism.
16. Socialism and Literature (2):  Robert Tressell and The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists.
17. British socialism and the question of Britishness.
18. British Socialism and the Great War.
19. Continuities: British socialism after 1918.
20. Conclusion and summary of main themes.

John Callaghan, Socialism in Britain Since 1884 (1990)