The Fabian Society and the Gradual Rise of Statist Socialism

The “Third Way”

“Stealth, intrigue, subversion, and the deception of never calling socialism by its right name” – George Bernard Shaw

The Brexit referendum has revealed the existence of a deep polarization in British politics. Apart from the public faces of the opposing campaigns, there were however also undisclosed parties with a vested interest which few people have heard about.

And yet, they have been instrumental in transforming Great Britain into a State based on the principles of democratic socialism.

This happened when new ideas such as liberty, self-determination, the rights of man, parliamentary representation and constitutional government threatened the old order.

Unfortunately, liberalism and capitalism were not victorious; instead, a “third way” was adopted, a notion developed and promoted by the Fabian Society.

The Origins of the Fabian Society

The group emerged out of the British socialist movement, which became popular between the late 1800ds and 1914. Guided by socialist ideals, the group believes in a top-down approach to political rule, using government and intellectuals to bring about societal change.

The Society’s name was inspired by Roman general Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, also known as cunctator (“delayer”), for strategically delaying his attacks and waiting for the right moment to strike his enemies.

The Fabians too aimed for a slow, gradual transition and expansion of socialism, waiting to deliver strikes at opportune moments. The notion is reflected in one of the Society’s symbols, the tortoise.

Among the Society’s illustrious members were George Bernard Shaw, Sidney Webb, Cecil Rhodes, Graham Walls, Sydney Olivier, the occultist Annie Besant (member of the Theosophical Society), John Maynard Keynes, Karl Marx’s eldest daughter, Eleanor, as well as Lord Milner, and Sir Halford John Mackinder to name a few.

The Fabian Society’s membership included many prominent figures of the British intelligentsia, many of whom were influential leaders in the political and academic realms.

How Did the Fabians Become so Influential?

The Fabians argued their doctrine would achieve democracy, social justice and freedom, when in fact it would do anything but. At its core, it is not really much different from Russian socialism or Nazism, the only distinction being that the Fabian movement promoted itself as non-violent and therefore catered to the intellectual class.

Throughout the 20th century, the group managed to gain support for its vision of a new kind of liberalism: one that is built upon central planning and state ownership, as opposed to free markets and respect for private property.

Thus Fabianism can be seen a modern euphemism for socialist statism. The group had profound influence on Britain’s political strategy and reshaped classical imperialism by incorporating leftist ideas of “social reform”, amalgamating the British social classes to create a unified and uniform British Empire that would rule the world.

In academic circles, the group established a strong foothold by creating and funding the London School of Economics. Its ideas were also propagated through the media and press. All these steps were seen as necessary to shape the mindset of future generations.

On the political front, the Fabian Society was among the socialist groups that formed the UK Labour Party in 1900. The party’s constitution was written by Fabian Sidney Webb and was heavily influenced by the founding documents of the Society.

The group’s growing political power and popularity eventually enabled it to promote its leftist ideas in parliament. In the Labour victory of 1945, 229 Fabians were elected. Many of them became ministers in the cabinet of Prime Minister Clement Attlee, a Fabian as well.

Prime minister Clement Attlee, who defeated Churchill in the 1945 election. He set the UK on the socialist path envisioned by the Fabians – a wave of nationalization followed on the heels of his election, with the State beginning to run all sorts of industries. Not surprisingly, by the 1970s, the British economy was close to total collapse. The UK was rattled by one strike after another, inflation soared and once mighty industries had become a shadow of their former selves. Not even trash collection worked anymore and the refuse started piling up in the streets. The British people had finally seen enough and elected Margaret Thatcher in 1979. One often wonders why so many young people are pining for socialism today (see the strong support Bernie Sanders enjoys) – one of the main reasons is actually that they don’t remember it.

The Fabian Society was instrumental in creating the ideological platform of New Labour. It heavily influenced the party’s tax policies (including planning the staggering tax increase for NHS spending in 2000), and successfully manipulated government institutions and policymaking processes, promoting statism and government intervention in multiple levels of society.

Even today, with 200 of members of parliament belonging to the Fabian Society, we can clearly see how influential this ideology remains, which has inspired British politics over the past century.

Britain’s Chance to Revive Gladstone’s Liberalism

That brings us to the new UK Prime Minister, Theresa May. Tory socialism reflects the spirit of British politics, ever since it was formulated by Benjamin Disraeli back in the 1800s.

The Fabians, generally described it as “the belief in reformist-minded activist government, at once appealing to political sentiments commonly associated with both conservatism and socialism.” In a way it can be understood as the philosophy of “big government conservatism”, or in other words “neo-conservatism”.

But Gladstone was a strong fighter for the general public and believed true social justice and prosperity could only be achieved if the government loosened its grip on social and political life and adopted laissez-faire economics. It would seem his ideas fell on deaf ears, considering the direction the UK took over the past decades.

Now, however, Brexit has created the chance for a new start for Britain: the question is whether Britain will follow the old doctrine of British imperialism in accordance with Disraeli or if it will explore Gladstone’s path which would provide for a morally sound way for individuals and society to thrive.  As Gladstone put it:

“Nothing that is morally wrong can be politically right.”

As a historical side-note that that seems highly relevant for today: it is worth noting that Gladstone had the proper attitude toward the challenge London faced with respect to Ireland and Scotland. He believed that the people of Ireland and Scotland had the right to enjoy greater autonomy from England (he pushed for Irish home rule at great political cost to himself and his party).

“At last, my friends, I am come among you unmuzzled.”

I believe we should look at Britain’s prospects with a positive and optimistic attitude, as there are surely a great many individuals with the potential to shape the future as positive role models prepared to challenge the old socialist establishment.

With a little bit of luck, we might see the rise of individual spirits and free-thinkers, with a much-needed, healthy dose of political incorrectness; people that will remember this great statesman and strive to bring back voluntarism, personal responsibility and free trade, principles Gladstone was committed to and defended all his life.