Augmenting Democracy: Political Movements and Constitutional Reform during the Rise of Labour, 1900-1924

Abstract

Part 1 A panoramic approach: introduction - class, socialism and labour history, 19th century and all that, the influence of non-socialist ideas - some precursors, radicalism and constitutionalism - revisionist approaches left and constitution in early 20th-century Britain - an inclusive definition, constitutionalism and the constitution, three studies ideas, communication and public political discourse - historical postmodernism revis(it)ed, ideas and communication practices - a taxonomy, desiderata for the public political discourse approach, authors, audiences, text and contexts, print culture and the multiple, overlapping public spheres of oppositional politics. Part 2 Aristocracy or the people? - the Edwardian constitutional crisis: constructing an anti-Lords alliance - the origins and context of the Edwardian constitutional crisis, constructing the enemy, radicalism, labourism and socialism crisis and reform -constitutional innovation?, the single chamber option, the reformed chamber option, the smash the veto option. Part 3 Constitutionalism and citizenship - the stuggle for the vote: first wave feminism and the significance of the vote - prelude, 1912 -the convergence of suffragists, radicals, labourists and socialists on the election fighting fund, the significance of the vote, the political context - adultism, limited suffragism and indifference, the divide and its points of weakness constructing a suffragist alliance - the discourses of citizenship, the appeal to history, uncoupling liberalism from Liberalism, reprise - the election fighting fund, 1912-14, tensions caused by the EFF, the WSPU's rejection war and reform - war and the tacit continuation of the alliances, citizens without citizenship, reform. Part 4 Equality, equity and truth? - proportional representation: minorities, parties and the progressive alliance - electoral reform or electoral pact?, the revival of the proportional representation society, MacDonaldite/Fabian rejection a fragile, partial alliance -radicals, labourists and socialists, constitutionalism, fairness and electoral justice, the 1918 Reform Act, feminism and failure.