The Working Men's Club and Institute Union and the Independent Labour Party : working class organisation, politics and culture c. 1880-1914
This thesis explores the political and cultural needs and desires of the British working class in the period 1880-1914. It argues that these led to attempts by groups within the working class to influence the shape of the society in which they lived, by collective initiaAves aimed at establishing enduring institutions. Political movements were prominent among these; but they too are illuminated by situating them among the wider cultural movements with which they were in fact closely meshed. Two such initiatives were the reshaping of the Club & Institute Union (CIT), and its member clubs, by the expulsion of middle class patrons around 1880; and the founding of the independent Labour Party (ILP) in 1893, out of disillusionment with the unwillingness of the Liberal Party to provide for working class aspirations. These two organisations were chosen as being, at first sight, very different - one concerned primarily with sociability (especially the provision of drink), the other with winning political power by fighting elections. However, a closer examination of their histories reveals a shared constellation of concerns - politics, education, welfare, recreation - which both organisations struggled to sustain.
Ashplant, T. G.
History
The Working Men's Club and Institute Union and the Independent Labour Party : working class organisation, politics and culture c. 1880-1914. This thesis explores the political and cultural needs and desires of the British working class in the period 1880-1914. It argues that these led to attempts by groups within the working class to influence the shape of the society in which they lived, by collective initiaAves aimed at establishing enduring institutions. Political movements were prominent among these; but they too are illuminated by situating them among the wider cultural movements with which they were in fact closely meshed. Two such initiatives were the reshaping of the Club & Institute Union (CIT), and its member clubs, by the expulsion of middle class patrons around 1880; and the founding of the independent Labour Party (ILP) in 1893, out of disillusionment with the unwillingness of the Liberal Party to provide for working class aspirations. These two organisations were chosen as being, at first sight, very different - one concerned primarily with sociability (especially the provision of drink), the other with winning political power by fighting elections. However, a closer examination of their histories reveals a shared constellation of concerns - politics, education, welfare, recreation - which both organisations struggled to sustain.
working men club institute union independent labour_party working_class organisation politics_culture explores political_cultural need_desire british work_class period argues lead attempt group_within work_class influence_shape society_live collective aim_establish endure institution political_movement prominent among illuminate situating among wide cultural movement fact closely mesh initiative reshape club institute union member club expulsion middle_class patron found independent labour_party unwillingness liberal_party provide work_class aspiration organisation choose first sight different concern_primarily sociability especially provision drink win political_power fight election however close_examination history reveals share constellation concern politics education welfare recreation organisation struggle sustain