Non-party organisations and campaigns on European integration in Britain, 1945-1986 : political and public activism
This thesis is about non-party and non-governmental organisations campaigning for and against European integration in Britain between 1945 and 1986. These groups have been largely overlooked by studies on Britainâs relationship with Europe. The thesis will examine how these groups operated between the spheres of public activism and institutional politics. They targeted the general public directly with the aim of becoming popular mass movements, and focused on emotive and populist themes and adopted a moralistic tone as part of a broad non-party or cross-party appeal. Old-fashioned methods of activism, including pamphleteering and mass meetings, were used to cultivate a groundswell of support. However, these groups were not able to wrest control of the EEC membership issue away from Westminster. In the case of anti-EEC groups, attempts to acquire political influence and attract more parliamentarians to the campaign were at odds with the âanti-establishmentâ or âanti-politicalâ tone adopted by sections of their support. Divisions over whether to adopt a more âinsiderâ strategy of lobbying and adopting the model of a research-based think-tank or whether to continue seeking mass support stifled the
Richardson, David William
DA Great Britain ; JN101 Great Britain
Non-party organisations and campaigns on European integration in Britain, 1945-1986 : political and public activism. This thesis is about non-party and non-governmental organisations campaigning for and against European integration in Britain between 1945 and 1986. These groups have been largely overlooked by studies on Britainâs relationship with Europe. The thesis will examine how these groups operated between the spheres of public activism and institutional politics. They targeted the general public directly with the aim of becoming popular mass movements, and focused on emotive and populist themes and adopted a moralistic tone as part of a broad non-party or cross-party appeal. Old-fashioned methods of activism, including pamphleteering and mass meetings, were used to cultivate a groundswell of support. However, these groups were not able to wrest control of the EEC membership issue away from Westminster. In the case of anti-EEC groups, attempts to acquire political influence and attract more parliamentarians to the campaign were at odds with the âanti-establishmentâ or âanti-politicalâ tone adopted by sections of their support. Divisions over whether to adopt a more âinsiderâ strategy of lobbying and adopting the model of a research-based think-tank or whether to continue seeking mass support stifled the
non party organisation campaign european_integration britain political public activism non party non_governmental organisation campaign european_integration britain group largely_overlooked study britain relationship europe examine group operate sphere public activism institutional politics target general_public directly aim become popular mass movement focus emotive populist theme adopt moralistic tone part broad non party cross party appeal old method activism include mass meeting use cultivate support however group able control eec membership issue away westminster case anti eec group attempt acquire political_influence attract campaign odds anti establishment anti political tone adopt section support divisions whether adopt insider strategy lobby adopt model research based think tank whether continue seek mass support