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Citizens and Saints: Politics and Anti-Politics in Early British Socialism

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title Citizens and Saints: Politics and Anti-Politics in Early British Socialism
Authors and Contributors      By (author) Gregory Claeys
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:380
Dimensions(mm): Height 223,Width 154
ISBN/Barcode 9780521892766
ClassificationsDewey:335.00941
Audience
Professional & Vocational
Illustrations Worked examples or Exercises

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 2 May 2002
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

Citizens and Saints is a comprehensive study of the profound rupture in the language of reform and revolution which occurred with the rise of socialism. Focusing upon British Owenite socialism, Professor Claeys argues that two schools of political thinking emerged from the 'social' critique of contemporary political radicalism. One, largely identified with Owenite perfectibilism, aimed to transcend existing forms of democracy and to establish more harmonious, less divisive forms of rule. The other, apparently more democratic, aimed to extend popular control of political institutions to economic organisations. Both were sceptical of the 'political' analyses of socioeconomic deprivation proferred by existing radicalism. Such scepticism was to prove crucial to both liberal and socialist political thought, and Professor Claeys shows that such perennial questions as the intrinsically democratic (or otherwise) nature of Marxist socialism can only be understood by reference to the political and intellectual circumstances in which early socialist ideas emerged.