Тhe Issues of Nationalisation in the British Labour Movement (1900 – 1950)

Abstract

The paper examines the evolution of the concepts of public ownership in the British labour movement during the first half of the 20th century, and their impact on the policies of the trade unions, as well as of the labour political organizations. The evolution of the British labour concepts of nationalization had passed through at least three stages, each containing certain specific features while sharing at the same time definite common characteristics. The dominating trends in the labour's views on nationalization were influenced bу the doctrines of Fabianism and syndicalism. However, in the 1930s these underlying postulates were subject to considerable reassessment and redefinition. Nationalization of certain key industries occupied а prominent place in the complex economic project of "mixed economy" carried out bу the Labour government in 1945-1951. Although nationalization had bееп kept within the framework of Fabianism and orthodox Keynesianism, it was also а result of the pressures from the militant trade unions and the left-wing Labourites. But its realization fell short of their expectations, and it did not provide а challenge to capital.