Theodore Rothstein and the Russian political emigre influence on the British labour movement 1884-1920
This thesis examines the influence of Russian political emigrĂ©s on the British labour movement, 1884-1920, with particular reference to the career of Theodore Rothstein. It takes as its starting point Sergius Stepniak's comments on the impact of a small group of socialists on a Liberal- Radical demonstration in Hyde Park in 1884, and closes with the formation of the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1920 and the refusal to allow Th. Rothstein re-entry into Britain in August 1920. It takes issue with those historians who have argued that the Russian political emigrĂ© influence was essentially harmful, serving only to undermine natural developments already in evidence on the British Left and imposing new perspectives, which later made the CPGB subservient to the needs of Soviet foreign policy. This thesis, on the contrary, argues that the Russian political emigrĂ© community in Britain, predominantly Jewish, had become an integral part of the Left-wing of the British labour movement by the time of the formation of the CPGB, and as such formed part of the British socialist tradition that favoured Marxism. It looks specifically at the history of the Social-Democratic Federation, (SDF) which between 1884 and
Burke, David
DA Great Britain ; DK Russia. Soviet Union. Former Soviet Republics ; JA Political science (General) ; JC Political theory
Theodore Rothstein and the Russian political emigre influence on the British labour movement 1884-1920. This thesis examines the influence of Russian political emigrĂ©s on the British labour movement, 1884-1920, with particular reference to the career of Theodore Rothstein. It takes as its starting point Sergius Stepniak's comments on the impact of a small group of socialists on a Liberal- Radical demonstration in Hyde Park in 1884, and closes with the formation of the Communist Party of Great Britain in 1920 and the refusal to allow Th. Rothstein re-entry into Britain in August 1920. It takes issue with those historians who have argued that the Russian political emigrĂ© influence was essentially harmful, serving only to undermine natural developments already in evidence on the British Left and imposing new perspectives, which later made the CPGB subservient to the needs of Soviet foreign policy. This thesis, on the contrary, argues that the Russian political emigrĂ© community in Britain, predominantly Jewish, had become an integral part of the Left-wing of the British labour movement by the time of the formation of the CPGB, and as such formed part of the British socialist tradition that favoured Marxism. It looks specifically at the history of the Social-Democratic Federation, (SDF) which between 1884 and
russian political emigre influence british_labour movement examines influence russian political british_labour movement particular_reference career take_start_point comment impact small_group socialists liberal radical demonstration park close formation communist_party_great_britain refusal allow entry britain take_issue historian argue russian political influence essentially harmful serve undermine natural development already evidence british left impose new_perspective later make cpgb need soviet foreign_policy contrary argues russian political community britain predominantly jewish become_integral part left_wing british_labour movement time formation cpgb form_part british socialist tradition favour marxism look specifically history social democratic federation