Talk:Timeline of Fabianism

Review by Vipul on 2024-11-03

Standalone evaluation

General comments

• I'd like to see a little more coverage of events in the 19th century (or previous centuries) prior to Fabianism, particularly key milestones around socialism and communism as well as other intellectual precursors to Fabianism:
  • Marxism
  • Revolutionary socialism (French Revolution??)
  • Renaissance and Age of Enlightenment that set the backdrop for socialism / capitalism debates
• I think a column for country/region could be helpful for sorting out. Most of the rows will be Britain, but some will be other countries and some will be more specific areas (such as London)
• For Nehru, there is a row about his role in implementing Fabian policies in India, but none about his original exposure to Fabian ideas and his joining the Fabian Society. For some others, it's the other way around. I think in all cases of international influence, where possible, we should include a row for the original exposure and a row for when it affected the other country's policies.
• It would also be good to have rows on how Fabianism declined in influence, or at least as a recognizable brand, both within the United Kingdom and internationally. The timeline currently reads a bit triumphalist, suggesting that Fabianism has gone from strength to strength, but my crude guess is that Fabianism declined or at least faded into the background in the mid-to-late 20th century (maybe it had a bit of a revival more recently?). For instance, the rise of Thatcherism in the late 20th century probably means Fabianism declined in influence? Also, in India, the liberalization efforts that started in the 1980s and picked up in the 1990s were indicative of India moving away from Fabian ideals?
• Is there any commentary we can make about how Fabianism and the Fabian Society have adapted to the Internet and the World Wide Web? The original social networks were highly in-person, as the initial portion of your timeline vividly demonstrates. I wonder how Fabianism has adapted to the Internet and whether it has spawned active online communities, or whether it's still mostly offline.
• Also, please consider updating the big picture as well to reflect and summarize the changes you make through the timeline.

Line-by-line comments

• 1883 Laveleye: Fabian Society doesn’t exist yet, but the row suggests that Laveleye is reacting to it. Can you clarify?
• Rows for George Bernard Shaw and Bernard Shaw joining -- duplicates? Also confusing that there’s another George in the picture (Henry George) also mentioned in the latter row as just George.
• Present tense instead of past tense: "was evident with the introduction of the Education Act 1902." should be "is" instead of "was"
• Present tense instead of past tense: "Clement Attlee, a future prime minister, received his first ministerial post at this time." should be "receives" instead of "received"
• "141 members of the Fabian Society are elected to Parliament." It will be good to provide context by giving the total number of elected members to give a sense of what the 141 should be compared with.

External verification

Wikipedia

Fabian Society

• The Wikipedia page talks of Renaissance ideas. The term "Renaissance" is not mentioned in the timeline. Thoughts?
• Fabian societies formed in Canada and New Zealand? As you mention in the inclusion criteria, comprehensive details are not expected, but it would be good to at least mention the founding.
• Bismarckian versus Gladstonian? You don't use either term, though I think you do allude to stuff in the orbit of that.
• Other international influences? From the Wikipedia page: ther international influences? """In the Middle East, the theories of Fabian Society intellectual movement of early 20th-century Britain inspired the Ba’athist vision. The Middle East adaptation of Fabian socialism led the state to control big industry, transport, banks, internal and external trade. The state would direct the course of economic development, with the ultimate aim to provide a guaranteed minimum standard of living for all.[28] Michel Aflaq, widely considered as the founder of the Ba’athist movement, was a Fabian socialist. Aflaq’s ideas, with those of Salah al-Din al-Bitar and Zaki al-Arsuzi, came to fruition in the Arab world in the form of dictatorial regimes in Iraq and Syria.[29] Salāmah Mūsā of Egypt, another prominent champion of Arab Socialism, was a keen adherent of Fabian Society, and a member since 1909.[30]

In October 1940, the Fabian Society established the Fabian Colonial Bureau to facilitate research and debate British colonial policy.[31] The Fabian Colonial Bureau strongly influenced the colonial policies of the Attlee government (1945–51).[32] Rita Hinden founded the colonial bureau and was its secretary.[32]"""

ChatGPT

I asked ChatGPT for a timeline of Fabianism and confirmed that it was mostly a subset of the timeline you wrote.

Partial review by Vipul on 2024-10-05

I would like to see more coverage of the content from Fabian Society#Second generation, specifically how Fabian ideals influenced the economic and social policies of other countries, particularly former British colonies. The most salient example (that I was already aware of from before) is India (under Jawaharlal Nehru), but there are other examples mentioned in the Wikipedia page, including Nigeria.✔

Extended timeline

Year	Event type	Details
1884 (March 7)		Pamphlet committee nominated.
1884 (March 21)		Reappointment of the Executive.
1885 (April 17)		Decision to send a delegate to examine South Yorkshire Miners.
1885 (August)		Founding of 'Justice,' the organ of the Democratic Federation.
1886 (March)		Executive Committee increased to seven members.
1886 (July 2)		William Morris lectures on 'The Aims of Art.'
1886 (July 17)		Ernest Belfort Bax lectures are conducted.
1886 (December 18)	Notable meeting	The Fabian Society holds a notable public meeting, which is addressed by Annie Besant, a prominent social reformer, and advocate for workers' rights.
1888 (March 16)		Mr. R.B. Haldane, M.P., addresses the Society on Radical Remedies for Economic Evils. This meeting is vividly described in the 'Radical' publication.
1889 (August 14th - September 14th)		The London Dockers' Strike takes place, with Fabian members individually supporting the strike. The Society, as a whole, doesn't take an official stance.
1890 (November)		Annie Besant severs her connection with the Society, influenced by her conversion to Theosophy, marking the end of her contributions to the Socialist movement.
1891		The Fabian Society changes its premises to 276 Strand.
1891–1913		Edward R. Pease serves as General Secretary of the Fabian Society.
1892	Collaborative initiative	Sidney and Beatrice Webb establish a personal and intellectual partnership, united by their shared commitment to socialist ideals and their belief in the transformative potential of social reform. Together, they embark on a collaborative journey that shapes British social policy and political thought for decades to come.
1893 (March)		Sir Henry (then Mr.) Henry Campbell-Bannerman pledges the government to be the best employer of labor. George Bernard Shaw and Sidney Webb decide to attack old-fashioned Liberalism. 'To Your Tents, O Israel' appears in November, advocating administrative reform in various government departments.
1895		The Fabian Society secures substantial financial support from Henry Hunt Hutchison, a Derby solicitor, enabling the successful development of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Rapid expansion follows with additional private grants and donations, establishing the London School of Economics as a crucial hub for the influence and dissemination of Fabian socialist principles.
1902		The Fabian Society criticizes the Conservative Government's policy on housing.
1905	Conference	A conference on Housing is organized by the Fabian Society.
1908		The Fabian Society moves to 25 Tothill Street, Westminster.
1913–1920	Leadership	British Labour Party politician William Sanders serves as General Secretary of the Fabian Society.
1915–1919	Leadership	Edward R. Pease serves as Acting General Secretary of the Fabian Society.
1920–1939		English political writer and journalist Frank Wallace Galton serves as General Secretary of the Fabian Society. Today, according to The Times, he was a liberal at heart rather than a socialist, and thought to be the model for the character of Henry Straker in George Bernard Shaw's play Man and Superman (1903).
1926	Theoretical development	G. D. H. Cole's guild socialism evolves, integrating medieval guild principles with modern industrial organization. He sees guilds not just as historical relics but as viable models for organizing contemporary industry and services.
1939–1945	Leadership	British Labour Party politician John Parker serves as General Secretary of the Fabian Society.
1940	Debate	In the summer, Barbara Wootton, a member of the Federal Union (FU), and D.N. Pritt, an MP expelled from the Labour Party, debate "Socialism and Federation" in the Fabian Quarterly. Wootton argues that federation, particularly an Anglo-Franco-German alliance, is the only safeguard against war, while Pritt emphasizes that socialism is the only force capable of eliminating war, advocating for a federation of socialist states.
1939-46	Leadership	English political theorist, economist, and historian G.D.H. Cole serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1945–1950	Period	In the immediate post-war years and the first Attlee Government, the Fabian Society continues to explore and shape its ideas on European politics and socialist foreign policy.
1946-47	Leadership	Bosworth Monck serves as General Secretary of the Fabian Society.
1946-48	Leadership	English political theorist and economist Harold Laski serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1947-49	Leadership	Andrew Filson serves as General Secretary of the Fabian Society.
1948-50	Leadership	G.D.H Cole serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1949-53	Leadership	Donald Chapman serves as General Secretary of the Fabian Society.
1950-53	Leadership	John Parker serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1953-54	Leadership	British Labour Party politician Austen Albu serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1953-60	Leadership	British politician William Rodgers serves as General Secretary of the Fabian Society.
1954-55	Leadership	British politician Harold Wilson serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society. Wilson would also serve as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from October 1964 to June 1970, and again from March 1974 to April 1976.
1956-56	Leadership	English socialist politician Margaret Cole serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1956-57	Leadership	British Labour Party politician Arthur Skeffington serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1957-58	Leadership	Roy Jenkins serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society. He would also serve as President of the European Commission from 1977 to 1981. At various times a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Labour Party, Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Liberal Democrats, he would be Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary under the Wilson and Callaghan Governments.
1958-59	Leadership	British Labour politician and journalist Eirene White serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1959	Death	G. D. H. Cole passes away, leaving behind a legacy that influences debates on democratic socialism, guild socialism, and the role of the state in economic governance.
1959-60	Leadership	British adult educationist and Labour Party politician H.D. Hughes serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1960-61	Leadership	British Labour politician and pacifist Gavin Henderson, 2nd Baron Faringdon serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1960-63	Leadership	Shirley Williams serves as General Secretary of the Fabian Society.
1961-62	Leadership	British Labour Party politician and author Anthony Crosland serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1962-63	Leadership	British politician and educator Mary Stewart, Baroness Stewart of Alvechurch serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1963-64	Leadership	British economist Brian Abel-Smith serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1964-65	Leadership	British politician, writer and diarist Tony Benn serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1964-76	Leadership	Tom Ponsonby serves as General Secretary of the Fabian Society.
1965-66	Leadership	British sociologist Peter Townsend serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1966-67	Leadership	William Rodgers serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1967-68	Leadership	Arthur Blenkinsop serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1968-69	Leadership	British Labour Party politician Peter David Shore, Baron Shore of Stepney serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1969-70	Leadership	British economist Thomas Balogh, Baron Balogh serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1970-71	Leadership	Jeremy Bray serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1971-72	Leadership	English town planner, urbanist and geographer Sir Peter Geoffrey Hall serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1972-73	Leadership	British barrister Anthony Lester, Baron Lester of Herne Hill serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1973-74	Leadership	British Labour Party politician Frank Judd, Baron Judd serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1974-75	Leadership	British health economist Nicholas Bosanquet serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1975-76	Leadership	Colin Crouch serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1976-77	Leadership	British Labour politician and author Giles Radice serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1976-82	Leadership	Dianne Hayter serves as General Secretary of the Fabian Society.
1977-78	Leadership	Dick Leonard serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1978-79	Leadership	Philip Whitehead serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1979-80	Leadership	Peter Archer serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1980	Leadership	John Parker becomes President of the Fabian Society.
1980-81	Leadership	Shirley Williams serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1981 Apr	Leadership	British journalist and Labour Party politician David Lipsey, Baron Lipsey serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1982	Leadership	David Lipsey is reelected as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1982-85	Leadership	Ian Martin serves as General Secretary of the Fabian Society.
1983	Leadership	Stella Meldram serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1984	Leadership	Jenny Jeger serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1984-85	Leadership	English politician and university administrator Tessa Blackstone, Baroness Blackstone serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1985-86	Leadership	British Labour Party politician Andrew McIntosh, Baron McIntosh of Haringey, serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1985-89	Leadership	John Willman serves as General Secretary of the Fabian Society.
1986-87	Leadership	British academic, journalist and Labour Party politician Austin Mitchell serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1987-88	Leadership	Nick Butler serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1988-89	Leadership	Bryan Gould serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society. Born in 1939 in New Zealand, he excelled academically, earning scholarships and completing degrees in law at Victoria and Auckland Universities, followed by a post-graduate degree at Oxford. After diplomatic service, he entered British politics, serving as a Labour MP and later joining Thames Television. Gould would return to New Zealand in 1994 as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Waikato and would hold various leadership roles. A prolific author, he would write on economics, politics, and philosophy.
1989-90	Leadership	David Bean serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1990-91	Leadership	Robin Cook serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1990-1996	Leadership	Simon Crine serves as General Secretary of the Fabian Society.
1991-92	Leadership	Oonagh McDonald serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1992-93	Leadership	Dianne Hayter serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1993-94	Leadership	Glenys Thornton (Acting) serves as General Secretary of the Fabian Society.
1993-94	Leadership	Ben Pimlott serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1994-95	Leadership	Alf Dubs serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1995-96	Leadership	Maggie Rice serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1996-97	Leadership	Chris Smith serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1996-97	Leadership	Stephen Twigg serves as General Secretary of the Fabian Society.
1997-98	Leadership	Margaret Hodge serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1998-99	Leadership	Tony Wright serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
1997-2003	Leadership	Michael Jacobs serves as General Secretary of the Fabian Society.
1997	Leadership	After Tony Blair’s victory, over 200 Fabians sit in the House of Commons, including many of the cabinet. The society acts as a supportive yet critical friend to the government, offering advice and guidance on policy development without being afraid to point out any shortcomings.
1999-2000	Leadership	Calum McDonald serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
2000-01	Leadership	Gordon Marsden serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
2001-02	Leadership	Denis MacShane serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
2002-03	Leadership	Paul Richards serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
2003-04	Leadership	Stephen Twigg serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
2003-11	Leadership	Sunder Katwala serves as General Secretary of the Fabian Society.
2004-05	Leadership	Eric Joyce serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
2005-06	Leadership	Seema Malhotra serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
2006-07	Leadership	Ed Balls serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
2007-08	Leadership	Anne Campbell serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
2008-10	Leadership	Sadiq Khan serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
2010-12	Leadership	Suresh Pushpananthan serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
2012-14	Leadership	Jessica Asato serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
2014-16	Leadership	Seema Malhotra serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
2016-18	Leadership	Kate Green serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
2018-20	Leadership	Ivana Bartoletti serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.
2019 (June)	Growth	The Fabian Society reaches 7,136 individual members.
2020-	Leadership	Martin Edobor serves as Chairman of the Fabian Society.

Additional info

• https://heritage.humanists.uk/fabian-society/
• https://www.wcml.org.uk/our-collections/protest-politics-and-campaigning-for-change/the-fabian-society/
• https://www.gutenberg.org/files/13715/13715-h/13715-h.htm (Pease)
• https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095807198

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrOHiInysj0
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG6wFSwUM-s
• https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/fabian-society-roots-theory-and-practice-of-socialist-think-tank/news
• https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/aug/13/thinktanks.uk
• https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:WhatLinksHere/Fabian_Society&limit=500
• Category:Members of the Fabian Society