The Labour Party, pacifism and the Spanish Civil War

Abstract

This chapter examines the history of the Labour Party during the years 1931 to 1938. This period saw significant transformations in the party's foreign policy when the optimism of the 1920s was replaced by the growing pessimism and fear of fascism in the 1930s. During this period, the party's foreign policy shifted from a fairly anti-militaristic and almost pacifist stance in 1933 to support for rearmament and a policy of strength in the face of the threat posed by fascism by 1937. This chapter also discusses the resignation of George Lansbury as party leader and the increase in the influence of the trade union movement over foreign policy.