Paths to utopia : anarchist counter-cultures in late Victorian and Edwardian Britain 1880-1914
Most historiography on British Anarchism has concluded that the Anarchists contributed very little to the political, social and cultural life of Britain. This thesis aims to provide an alternative view. The failure of Anarchism as a coherent political movement has been adequately charted by others. The purpose of the present work is to investigate the impact of Anarchist ideas and practices within the wider political culture. It will demonstrate that Anarchism had significant things to say about many of the issues troubling British society at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries. The Anarchist contribution often demonstrated a high degree of originality and coherence and therefore deserves to be taken seriously. The first chapter outlines the evolution of British Anarchism from the 1880's onwards in order to construct a chronological and organisational context for the thematic debates that follow. It provides an historical account of the various Anarchist groups in Britain and their relations with the rest of the Socialist movement. Chapter Two builds on this by discussing the various social and cultural mileux characteristic of British Anarchism. The following chapters present
Thomas, Matthew
DA Great Britain ; HX Socialism. Communism. Anarchism
Paths to utopia : anarchist counter-cultures in late Victorian and Edwardian Britain 1880-1914. Most historiography on British Anarchism has concluded that the Anarchists contributed very little to the political, social and cultural life of Britain. This thesis aims to provide an alternative view. The failure of Anarchism as a coherent political movement has been adequately charted by others. The purpose of the present work is to investigate the impact of Anarchist ideas and practices within the wider political culture. It will demonstrate that Anarchism had significant things to say about many of the issues troubling British society at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries. The Anarchist contribution often demonstrated a high degree of originality and coherence and therefore deserves to be taken seriously. The first chapter outlines the evolution of British Anarchism from the 1880's onwards in order to construct a chronological and organisational context for the thematic debates that follow. It provides an historical account of the various Anarchist groups in Britain and their relations with the rest of the Socialist movement. Chapter Two builds on this by discussing the various social and cultural mileux characteristic of British Anarchism. The following chapters present
utopia anarchist counter cultures late_victorian edwardian_britain historiography_british anarchism conclude contribute little political_social cultural life britain aim_provide alternative view failure anarchism coherent political_movement adequately chart others purpose present_work investigate_impact anarchist idea practice within_wide political_culture anarchism significant thing say many issue trouble british_society end nineteenth begin anarchist often demonstrate high_degree originality coherence therefore deserve take_seriously first_outline evolution british anarchism onwards order construct chronological organisational context thematic debate follow provide historical_account various anarchist group britain relation rest socialist_movement build discuss_various social_cultural characteristic british anarchism follow present