Overview

British liberals in the period from the Industrial Revolution to the founding of the Welfare State made an important contribution to the theory of gain-seeking behaviour and the free economic market. British socialists in the same period were forging an alternative tradition which concentrated on compassion, corporatism, community and classlessness. Both approaches shared the constructs of tolerance and compromise, equity and democracy. In that sense they are best seen as two horses from the same stable. The texts in this collection demonstrate both the diversity and continuity in British theories of democratic socialism. The selection encompasses the Ricardian socialists who drew their inspiration from the labour theory of the classical economists; the Christian socialists who modelled their co-operative on the Good Samaritan's ranking of obligations above privileges; and the Fabian socialists who believed that gradual social engineering was infinitely preferable to sudden radical upheaval. The series is characterized by its breadth: Morris on craftsmanship; Penty on participation; Cole on planning; Bevan on nationalism - all are shown to be parts of a church that was as broad as it was united.

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9781851962853

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'... the series is a welcome addition for many university libraries that do not have original copies of these books. The editorial work provides the reader with an excellent introduction to the lives as well as the political ideas of a number of outstanding socialist writers ... David Reisman is to be congratulated on providing a thought-provoking series.' - Alan Fowler, History of Economic Thought Newsletter 'If a collection such as this one does nothing more that remind us of the arguments and beliefs of the by now lost theorists of British social democracy, it will fulfil an important task.' - Mark Wickham-Jones, Times Literary Supplement 'This is a fascinating collection of texts, the range and scope of which are accurately conveyed by the title of the complete set. Moreover, and in contrast to some such collections, both the ten volumes as a whole and each individual collection are graced by genuinely interesting and useful editorial introductions. Reisman is decidedly not of the 'give them a quick, pointless list of the contents' school of collection-editors, rather, he provides and informative and well written contextual setting in each case, thereby really enhancing one's appreciation of the text to be studied. This ten-volume work has thus much to offer the historian of British social thoughts... This is a generally well-produced collection of interesting texts, suitably enhanced by valuable editorial introductions; many readers will enjoy it for years to come' - Ian Steedman, European Journal for the History of Economic Thoughts'If a collection such as this one does nothing more that remind us of the arguments and beliefs of the by now lost theorists of British social democracy, it will fulfil an important task.'A- Mark Wickham-Jones, The Times Literary Supplement

Author Information

David Reisman is Professor of Economics, University of Surrey. His publications include Adam Smith's Sociological Economics, Richard Titmuss: Welfare and Society, Galbraith and Market Capitalism, State and Welfare, Alfred Marshall: Progress and Politics, Theories of Collective Action, The Political Economy of Health Care and Anthony Crosland: The Mixed Economy. Professor Reisman is the editor of Theories of the Mixed Economy (10 volumes), also published by Pickering and Chatto.

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