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" Land, liberty and empire : "
Mulvey, Paul Michael.
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Latin Dissertation
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| Record Number
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1095652
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TLets405855
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| Main Entry
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Mulvey, Paul Michael.
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| Title & Author
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Land, liberty and empire :\ Mulvey, Paul Michael.
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| College
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London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London)
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| Date
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2003
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| student score
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2003
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| Degree
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Ph.D.
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| Abstract
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The thesis uses the political career of Josiah C. Wedgwood to examine the changingnature and significance of British Radicalism from the Liberal election victory of 1906 tothe fall of the first Labour Government in 1924. It considers the nature of pre-warRadicalism and shows how Wedgwood built on older Radical traditions to mould anideology that was still influential in Liberal politics, particularly in relation to land taxes,the defence of personal liberties, and native rights in Africa. It looks at the fluctuatingfortunes of the Radicals after 1910 and the steps Wedgwood took to try and enhance theirinfluence in British politics, and what this says about the vitality of the pre-war Liberalparty, particularly vis-à-vis the Labour party.The thesis then explores Radical reactions to the outbreak of war, and how these changedover the following years as debates about conscription, the make-up of the Government,and war aims, gradually shattered the Liberal party and led to the migration of manyRadicals to Labour. Wedgwood was an early and prominent post-war convert, and a keyquestion for the thesis is to consider what factors prompted his move, their significancefor the future prospects of the Liberal party, and to what extent, if any, he and otherconverts had to reconsider their ideological views in order to fit into the Labour party.The thesis then considers what effect, in terms of policy and political strength, the newrecruits had on Labour. In Wedgwood's case, this means studying his views on fiscal,foreign and imperial policy and his influence in the Parliamentary Labour party. Itconsiders why this influence declined from 1922, and reviews his anti-climacticexperience in MacDonald's first Cabinet and what this says about the nature of the 1924Labour Government.
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| Added Entry
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London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London)
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