Labour's War: The Labour Party during the Second World War
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Author Description
Labour's War is the first scholarly history of the Labour Party during the Second World War, and offers a fresh look at British politics during the war years. Stephen Brooke examines the effect of war upon the party's ideology and policy, the experience in government of Labour leaders such as Clement Attlee and Hugh Dalton, and the tensions produced within the party by the circumstances of war. Dr Brooke's extensively researched and original study calls into question the long-standing belief in an atmosphere of consensus among the political parties. His analysis uncovers the sharp ideological differences which persisted throughout the war years and after. He also demonstrates the impact of the war on the development of Labour's socialism. The Labour victory in the 1945 election remains one of the most significant turning-points in modern British history, setting Britain on a new course, towards the welfare state and the managed economy. The book is an important contribution to our understanding of the period.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the evolution of the British Labour Party during the Second World War to determine how wartime pressures shaped its ideology and eventual electoral success. Stephen Brooke, a scholar of British political history, utilizes extensive archival research to challenge the prevailing narrative of wartime political consensus. He argues that deep-seated ideological divisions persisted throughout the conflict, directly influencing the party's transition toward the welfare state and the managed economy that defined the post-1945 era.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of the Labour Party's internal ideological shifts between 1939 and 1945.
- Examination of the governmental roles held by key figures such as Clement Attlee and Hugh Dalton.
- Primary source research documenting the friction between coalition partners and internal party factions.
- A re-evaluation of the political climate leading up to the 1945 general election.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Historians and political scientists recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the mid-century transformation of British governance. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the precision with which Brooke dismantles the myth of wartime political unity.
Page Count:
384
Publication Date:
1992-10-15
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0198202857
ISBN-13:
9780198202851
Politics
History
Socialism
British History
