Pluralism and Political Economy in Interwar Britain: G. D. H. Cole on Economic Planning

Abstract

Pluralist political philosophy offered a popular alternative to the extremes of individualism and collectivism in early-twentieth century Britain. Positing the existence of multiple political allegiances, pluralism questioned the notion of state sovereignty by advocating that other associational forms should be recognized as legitimate sources of political power. In an age of increasing state intervention in economic affairs, however, this fragmentation of power concerned political economy as well. The paper explores the interplay between political claims for a weaker state and economic claims for a stronger state through a case study of G. D. H. Cole, an advocate of guild socialism and prolific writer on economic planning. Cole envisioned state-led economic planning as a transitional device for developing the communal loyalties necessary for democratic industrial self-management.