Timeline of Fabianism

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This is a timeline of Fabianism, a political ideology and movement that originated in Britain in the late 19th century. Named after the Roman general Fabius Maximus, known for his cautious and gradual military tactics, Fabianism advocates for achieving socialist objectives through evolutionary and gradual means rather than through revolutionary upheaval. The Fabian Society, founded in 1884, is a prominent organization associated with this ideology. Fabians believe in using democratic processes and reforms to advance social justice, economic equality, and public welfare. They emphasize the importance of incremental change, intellectual analysis, and pragmatism in achieving socialist goals within existing political structures.

Sample questions

The following are some interesting questions that can be answered by reading this timeline:

  • What are some noteworthy publications by the Fabian movement?
    • Sort the full timeline by "Event type" and look for the group of rows with value "Publication".
    • You will mostly see publications demonstrating the Fabian Society's role in shaping socialist thought, influencing policy debates, and promoting reformist socialist ideas in Britain during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Big picture

Time period Development summary More details
1859-1883 Socialist Stirrings and Moral Regeneration Britain experiences a growing critique of laissez-faire capitalism and a heightened interest in socialist ideas. This period witnesses the strengthening of the British socialist movement. In 1883, Thomas Davidson founds The Fellowship of the New Life, emphasizing moral regeneration as a central focus, and marking an early chapter in the evolving landscape of socialist ideas.[1]
1884-1901 Fabian Formation and Early Development The pivotal moment of January 4, 1884, sees the birth of the Fabian Society as a splinter group from The Fellowship of the New Life. Drawing from various influences, including John Stuart Mill and Henry George, the Fabians formulate their economic theories and principles, which are encapsulated in the A Manifesto by George Bernard Shaw and later in Fabian Essays in Socialism. The Fabian Society's success is attributed to its foundation before other Socialist bodies in England and the contribution of a group of exceptional individuals, known as the Fabian Essayists.[2]
1886-1900 Internal Struggles and Political Influence Amidst internal struggles and debates between anarchists and state socialists, the Fabian Society faces challenges. Nevertheless, the 1890s witness the Society advocating for municipal ownership of utilities and gaining political influence through members' election to the London County Council.
1892-1907 Political Engagement and Labour Movement In 1892, Sidney Webb and others are elected to the London County Council, marking a peak in Fabian Society membership. Engaging actively in education and permeating English liberalism, Fabians play a crucial role in the formation of the Labour Party in 1906. The subsequent publication of "Fabianism and the Empire" in 1907 reflecta their evolving views on imperialism.

Full timeline

Year Event type Details
280–203 BC Prelude Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus lives. The name of the Fabian Society would derive from his tactics.
1848 John Stuart Mill publishes Principles of Political Economy, which would influence the development of early Fabian economic theory.[1]
1859 John Stuart Mill publishes his essay On Liberty, which helps shape the basic tenets of Fabian socialism.[1]
1882 (September) Trade Union Congress passes a resolution on Poor Law administration, sparking concerns about socialism.[2]
1883 (January) Spectator discusses the growing wonder of Positivism.[2]
1883 (April) Belgian economist Émile Louis Victor de Laveleye expresses alarm about the 'Progress of Socialism.'[2]
1883 The Blands join a socialist debating group which would evolve to become the (middle-class, socialist) Fabian Society.[3] With Edward Pease. Bland served as co-editor of the Fabian News, a monthly journal.[1]
1883 (May) Mr. Samuel Smith, M.P., writes on 'Social Reform' in the 'Nineteenth Century,' addressing concerns about communism and socialism.[2]
1883 (September) Trade Union Congress resolution on Poor Law administration leads to concerns about socialism.[2]
1883 The Fellowship of the New Life is founded as a precursor to the Fabian Society, focusing on moral regeneration.[4]
1884 (January 4) A splinter group separates from The Fellowship of the New Life and establishes the Fabian Society at 17 Osnaburgh Street, London. Prioritizing social reform over moral regeneration, the Fabian Society aims to reconstruct British society without competition, emphasizing general welfare and happiness. Key founding members include Edward Pease, Edith Nesbith, Hubert Bland, and Frank Podmore.[5][1][4]
1884 (January 25th) Reports on a lecture by Henry George and a Democratic Federation Conference.[2]
1884 (January) Second edition of Samuel Smith's 'Reply' to Democratic Federation's manifesto is issued.[2]
1884 (February 29) Fabian Motto introduced during a meeting, emphasizing the importance of patient counsel and strategic strikes.[2]
1884 (February 29) Motion expressing support for the Democratic Federation.[2]
1884 (March 21) The word "Socialism" first appears in the Fabian Society's records during a meeting where a paper by Miss Caroline Haddon titled The Two Socialisms is presented.[2]
1884 (April 4) Pamphlet Committee reports, and 2000 copies of 'Fabian Tract No. 1' titled 'Why are the many poor?' are ordered to be printed.[2]
1884 (May 16) Notable Fabian Bernard Shaw makes his first appearance at a meeting where Mr. Rowland Estcourt presents a paper on 'The Figures of Mr. Mallock.'[2]
1884 (September 5) Notable Fabian Bernard Shaw is elected as a member of the Fabian Society.[2]
1884 (September 19) Bernard Shaw's first contribution to the Society, Pamphlet No. 2, titled A Manifesto, is read, marking a shift in intellectual outlook.[2] The most important 'principles' are summarized below:
Land and capital have created the division of society into hostile classes, with large appetites and no dinners at one extreme and large dinners and no appetites at the other. Nationalisation of land is a public duty. Capitalism has ceased to encourage invention and to distribute its benefits in the fairest way attainable. Under the existing system of the national industry, competition has the effect of rendering adulteration, dishonest dealing, and inhumanity compulsory. The Public Revenue should be levied by a direct Tax. The State should compete with private individuals — especially with parents — in providing happy homes for children, so that every child may have a refuge from the tyranny or neglect of its natural custodians. The sexes should enjoy equal political rights. The State should secure a free, liberal education for everybody. The established Government has no more right to call itself the State than the smoke of London has to call itself the weather.[1]
1884 (end of the year) Literature English writer, politician and socialist Henry Hyndman publishes The Historical Basis Of Socialism In England, which offers a comprehensive exploration of socialism's origins and evolution in England. From early figures like Robert Owen and William Morris to the rise of the working-class movement and the role of trade unions, Hyndman delves into the political and economic factors driving socialism's growth. He argues that socialism emerged as a response to the inequalities of industrial capitalism. Both Fabianism and the broader socialist movement in England are influenced by similar social and economic conditions, such as the exploitation of workers, which may have led to some overlap in their ideologies and goals.[6]
1884–1886 Growth During this period, the membership of the Fabian Society steadily increases, from 31 to 116.[1]
1885 (January 2) Notable Fabian Election of Mrs. Annie Besant and Frank Podmore to the Executive. In 1890, Besant would sever her connection with the Society, influenced by her conversion to Theosophy, marking the end of her contributions to the Socialist movement.[2]
1885 (January 28) Conference Industrial Remuneration Conference, discussing the benefits of industrial products.[2]
1885 (March 21) Notable Fabian Bernard Shaw is elected to the Executive.[2]
1885 (April) Notable Fabian Bernard Shaw lectures on Land Nationalisation, Irish affairs, and Henry George's propaganda at the Liberal and Social Union.[2]
1885 (May) Notable Fabian George Bernard Shaw invites two young Colonial Office clerks, Sidney Webb and Sydney Olivier to join the Society. Some other early notable members include Beatrice Potter (later Webb), Edward Carpenter, Eleanor Marx (Karl Marx's eldest daughter), Annie Besant, Graham Wallas, and briefly, Herbert George Wells (from 1903 to 1908).[1]
1885 (June 5) Adoption of a tract recommending support for schemes favorable to landlords. Adoption of a resolution warning against radical workmen getting hold of the tract.[2]
1885 (June) Tract No. 3 published, explicitly mentioning the Fabian Society's goal of advancing Socialism in England.[2]
1885 (November) The Democratic Federation becomes the Social Democratic Federation (S.D.F.).[2]
1886 (January) Publication Approval for the publication of What Socialism Is.[2]
1886 (April) Publication Approval of What Socialism Is (Tract No. 4).[2]
1886 (May 16) Sidney Webb makes his first contribution, 'The Government Organisation of Unemployed Labour,' signaling his involvement in Fabian intellectual endeavors.[2]
1886 (June 9-11) Conference Fabian Conference held at South Place Chapel.[2]
1886 (June 19) Leadership Sydney Olivier assumes the role of Secretary at a meeting at 94 Cornwall Gardens.[2]
1886 (June) Growth By this time, the Fabian Society has about 20 founders and approximately 67 members.[2]
1886 (July) Conference The Fabian Conference of 1886 takes place, discussing various aspects of society and Fabian principles.[2]
1886 (September 17) Notable meeting A significant meeting takes place at Anderton's Hotel where a resolution is passed, leading to the formation of the Fabian Parliamentary League.[2]
1886 (December 18) Notable meeting Public meeting addressed by Annie Besant.[2]
1887 (January) Tract No. 5, 'Facts for Socialists,' is adopted, proving Socialist arguments through quotes from political economists and statisticians.[2]
1887 (February) Organization The Fabian Parliamentary League is officially formed with a deliberate possibilism policy.[2]
1887 (June 3) Formation The Basis of the Society is adopted during a meeting. Unfortunately, the record of this meeting is incomplete.[2]
1887 Publication George Bernard Shaw makes a significant contribution by presenting A Manifesto that outlines key Fabian principles. These principles encompass the nationalization of land, a firm stand against capitalism, the promotion of equal political rights, and the advocacy for free education.[1]
1887 Formation By this time, the Society is constitutionally constitutional in its outlook, with considerations of Collectivism and Anarchism within international socialism.[2]
1887 Formation The Fabian Society publishes its program, known as “The Basis,” which proposes “the use of the existing institutions, party and parliamentary machinery for the realization of social reforms.” These reforms, which can be described as Fabian socialism, aim at “ the elimination of privately owned land and the establishment of community ownership of the means of production.” (Milburn 320) The instruments to achieve these goals were democratic government control, municipalisation and nationalisation. The Fabian Society rejectes the Marxian theory of the class struggle and postulate that the transition from capitalism to socialism would never be carried by force.[1]
1887 Publication Sidney Webb writes tract titled Facts for Socialists. He argues for the abolishing of the laissez-faire economics and for active role of government in economics. He rejects the Marxist notion of revolution as the necessary requirement for social change and advocated instead the need for reforms.[4]
1888 (April) The Executive Committee is re-elected with new members, and the Parliamentary League transforms into the Political Committee.[2]
1888 (April) Publication Tract 7, titled 'Capital and Land,' authored by Sydney Olivier, is approved.[2]
1888 Publication Sidney Webb writes Facts for Londoners.[4]
1888 Publication Sidney Webb privately prints a paper titled Wanted a Programme: An Appeal to the Liberal Party, laying the groundwork for resolutions demanding the adoption of a program. The effort leads to the adoption of the Newcastle Program in 1891.[2]
1889 (January 1) Publication The publication of Fabian Essays in Socialism, edited by George Bernard Shaw, marks a pivotal moment as eight influential Fabians articulate the ideology and program of the Society, shaping its core principles and objectives. The text contains essays by George Bernard Shaw, Graham Walls, Sidney Webb, Sydney Olivier and Annie Besant.[5] The authors deal almost wholly with English conditions and problems. The tract would sell 46,000 copies prior to World War One and would become the blueprint for socialist legislation. It would also be published in the USA and other countries and translated into several languages.[1][7]
1889 (April) Publication The Society decides to publish the autumn series of lectures, marking the beginning of the preparation of 'Fabian Essays.'[2]
1889 (April) Notable Fabian The Essayists are re-elected to the Executive Committee, and Sydney Olivier is appointed as Honorary Secretary.[2]
1889 (July) Publication Tract No. 8, 'Facts for Londoners,' is approved for publication.[2]
1889 (July) Publication The Fabian Society takes part in the first London County Council Election, contributing to the progressive movement with the publication of Questions for Candidates and pamphlets like Wanted a Programme and The Progress of Socialism.[2]
1889 (July) Publication Facts for Londoners is approved for publication. It covers various statistical and other facts related to London with suggestions for reform on socialist principles.[2]
1889 (September 20) A committee is appointed to prepare an Eight Hours Bill for Parliament, addressing the demand for a legal eight-hour workday.[2]
1889 (September 21) The first lecture of the autumn series is held at Willis's Rooms, covering The Historical Aspect of the Basis of Socialism by Sidney Webb.[2]
1889 (November) Publication Tract No. 9, the Eight Hours Bill, is published by the Fabian Society.[2]
1889 (December) Publication Fabian Essays is issued to subscribers and the public, with a frontispiece by Walter Crane and a cover by Miss May Morris. In January 1890, the first edition of 1000 copies is quickly sold out within a month. A second edition of 1000 copies follows in March 1890. In September 1890, Walter Scott takes charge of a new shilling paper edition, achieving remarkable success with 5000 copies sold before publication and an additional 20,000 within a year. In 1908, a sixpenny paper edition with a new preface by the editor is issued by Walter Scott, garnering sales of 10,000 copies within a few months. The total sales of 'Fabian Essays' would reach approximately 46,000 copies in English editions alone by 1908. Fabian Essays would have a lasting impact, providing a clear and understandable case for Socialism.[2]
1889 Notable Fabian The Essayists are re-elected to the Executive Committee. Sydney Olivier becomes the first historian of the Society, presenting an address on 'The Origin and Early History of the Fabian Society' in April.[2]
1890 (March 28) Annual Meeting is held with significant changes, including the expansion of the Executive Committee to fifteen members. A paid secretary, George Bernard Shaw, is appointed at a salary of £1 per week for the first year.[2]
1890 (June 16) Notable Fabian Henry H. Hutchinson of Derby is elected as a member and offers a donation of £100 or £200 for lectures in country centres.[2]
1890 (September 20th - October 27th) The Lancashire campaign takes place, with around sixty lectures delivered in Lancashire and other locations, addressing working-class audiences and influencing political opinion. On November 4th, a 'Report' on the campaign is issued, highlighting the success in breaking ground in traditional Unionist and Tory strongholds.[2]
1891 (March) Publication The first issue of Fabian News, the monthly organ of the Society, is published, replacing printed circulars and serving as a means of communication with members. Bland and Pease serve as editors.[1][2]
1891 (April) Growth The Executive Committee reports significant progress in the Socialist movement, with increased membership, subscriptions, and the formation of local Fabian Societies across various locations.[2]
1891 (April 29) Publication A leaflet (Tract No. 22) is published by the Fabian Society, opposing the Leasehold Enfranchisement Bill. The bill is defeated by a narrow majority of 13 in a house numbering 354.[2]
1891 Publication Sidney Webb publishes The London Programme in Sonnenschein's Social Science Series, outlining the Society's policy on all affairs of the metropolis.[2]
1891 Sidney Webb writes The Eight Hour Day for the Society. He argues for the abolishing of the laissez-faire economics and for active role of government in economics. He rejects the Marxist notion of revolution as the necessary requirement for social change and advocated instead the need for reforms.[4]
1892 (February 6th and 7th) The first (and for twenty years the last) Annual Conference is held in London at Essex Hall, with fourteen provincial societies represented, claiming a membership of about 1100. Bernard Shaw delivers a memorable paper, The Fabian Society: What it has done and how it has done it, later published as Tract 41 and renamed The Fabian Society: Its Early History.[2]
1892 (July) Impact The General Election takes place, with six Fabian members as candidates. Only J. Keir Hardie at West Ham is successful, but Ben Tillett at West Bradford performs well, preparing for F.W. Jowett's success in 1906.[2]
1892 Growth The Fabian Societies elsewhere in the United Kingdom reach the peak membership of about 1500. From then on a steady decline follows, with a significant revival later in 1913.[1]
1892 Sidney Webb and five other Fabians are elected to the London County Council, where they try to propagate the ideas of 'municipal socialism', which call for the public ownership of urban utilities and tramlines, better wages for city workers, improved free public education and vocational training. Early Fabians are also very active in various educational boards in London.[1]
1892 Impact By this time, English liberalism has sufficiently been permeated with Fabian ideas. At the same time the Society begins to attract socialists and labour leaders, such as Heir Kardie, Will Crooks, and Ben Tillett.[1]
1892 (November) Publication The Fabian Society publishes an article titled 'To Your Tents, O Israel' in the 'Fortnightly Review.' It criticizes the Gladstone government's treatment of labor and calls on the working classes to abandon Liberalism and form a Trade Union party.[2]
1893 (January) The Independent Labour Party (I.L.P.) is founded at a conference attended by the Fabian Society of London and nine local Fabian Societies.[2]
1893 (November) Publication The Fabian Society publishes To Your Tents, O Israel, advocating administrative reform in various government departments.[2]
1893 (March) Publication The Fabian Society publishes the Plan of Campaign for Labour, a tract that leads to the resignation of some distinguished members.[2]
1893 The Fabian Society advocates for Trade Unionists to establish their own Labour Party. Around the same time, the Independent Labour Party is founded with the initial goal of creating a labor-oriented political entity. However, it swiftly evolves into a predominantly Socialist society.[2]
1893 Evolution The Fabians, recognizing the potential for influence within the political landscape, adopt varied strategies of permeation. Initially favoring the Liberal government, seen as more receptive to Fabian ideas than the Conservatives, they offer support. However, disillusioned by the lack of commitment to social reforms, the Fabians publish the pamphlet To Your Tents, O Israel in the same year. This publication signals a shift, urging the creation of a genuine working-class party. Subsequently, with the formation of the Independent Labour Party in 1893, the Fabian Society throws its support behind this new political entity, aligning with its goals and ideals.[1]
1893 Growth Provincial Fabian Societies show substantial growth with 74 societies recorded, including Bombay and South Australia. However, this marks the high-water mark as provincial organization later declines.[2]
1894 Growth The Fabian Society experiences rapid progress with the membership reaching 681, and expenditure rising to £1179 in 1893. Significant financial contributions are received for lectures in the provinces.[2]
1895 Organization The London School of Economics (LSE) is founded by The Fabian Society. This represents a successful challenge to the traditional dominance of Oxford and Cambridge universities. The decision to create this educational institution, dedicated to exploring the social and economic challenges of late Victorian Britain and disseminating Fabian Society ideals, was made during a breakfast party at Beatrice and Sidney Webb's summer house (Borough Farm) near Milford, Surrey, on August 4, 1894. The founders include Beatrice and Sidney Webb, Graham Wallas, and George Bernard Shaw. The foundation of the LSE marks a significant milestone in the establishment of a prestigious institution dedicated to economic and political studies.[1][4]
1895 The policy of simple permeation of the Liberal Party comes to an end as the Daily Chronicle becomes hostile to the Fabians. Despite permeation, the Liberal Party is crushed in the election of 1895.[2]
1896 Organization The American Fabian Society is founded.[8]
1897–1898 Significant effort is invested in developing a plan for the municipalization of the Drink Trade by the Fabian Society. This occurs prior to the publication of The Temperance Problem and Social Reform in 1899 by Joseph Rowntree and Arthur Sherwell, which is the first comprehensive scientific treatment of the subject.[2]
1898 The Fellowship of the New Life is dissolved. Meanwhile, the Fabian Society grows to become the pre-eminent intellectual society in the United Kingdom in the Edwardian era.[4]
1899 The Fabian Society participates in the formation of a local government Information Bureau.[1]
1899 Evolution The Fabian Society, primarily focused on domestic concerns like national ownership, free education, and the betterment of the lives of the impoverished, undergoes a significant shift with the outbreak of the Boer War. Up until this point, imperial rule has not been a major focus for the society. However, the conflict prompts a major split within the Fabians regarding their stance on the war. This division results in the resignations of prominent members, including Emmeline Pankhurst, William Clarke, and J. Ramsay MacDonald who, being a member of the Fabian Executive Committee at this time, would go on to become the future leader of the Labour Party.[1]
1899 Partnership The Fabian Society and Independent Labour Party (I.L.P.) collaborate on a Local Government Information Bureau.[2]
1899 A group of Fabian rank-and-file members, led by the future guild-socialist, S. G. Hobson, and supported by a few members, unsuccessfully attempt to get the Fabian Executive to issue a statement of opposition to the war against the Boers.[1]
1900 (January 1) Publication The Fabian Society publishes Fabianism and the Empire: A Manifesto, a historical text authored by George Bernard Shaw. The book serves as a manifesto advocating for Fabianism, a form of socialism founded on the principles of gradual reform and social democracy. The publication, comprising 118 pages, discusses the relationship between Fabianism and imperialism, addressing key socio-political issues of the time.[9]
1900 The Fabian Society drafts an amending Bill for rural districts in 1895.[2]
1900 Publication The Society publishes a tract drafted by George Bernard Shaw, Fabianism and the Empire, which becomes the most significant statement of the Society's imperial policy. Shaw supports imperial expansion because, as he claims, the world evolved toward big and powerful states. The Fabians criticise Liberals, but support British imperial policy as a means of disseminating enlightened principles of governance throughout the world.[1]
1900 Organization Fabian Society, I.L.P., and Trade Unions form the Labour Representation Committee, later renamed the Labour Party.[2] Such relationship continues to the present day.[10]
1900 The London School of Economics merges with the University of London.[1]
1900 The Fabians help establish the Labour Representative Committee, which would become the Labour Party in 1906.[2]
1900 Decline The decline of provincial Fabian Societies is noted, with only four local and four University Societies remaining. The Society recognizes that provincial Fabianism has served its purpose, especially with the rise of the Independent Labour Party (I.L.P.).[2]
1901 Impact The Education Act 1902 is published, incorporating some of the Fabian Society's proposals.[2]
1902 Impact Sidney Webb contributes significantly to the preparation of the Education Act of 1902, which hands over the control of local schools to borough or city councils. Over time, the education system in Britain would emulate many Fabian ideas. Another important success of the early Fabians is their contribution to the implementation of the municipal reform, which is to produce, as they believe 'municipal socialism'.[1]
1903 (February) Notable Fabian English writer Herbert George Wells becomes a member of the Fabian Society.[2]
1903 (March) H. G. Wells delivers his first lecture in March on the intricate topic of "The Question of Scientific Administrative Areas in Relation to Municipal Undertakings." This lecture is later published as an appendix to Wells' work, Mankind in the Making.[2]
1903 The London School of Economics opens the first department of sociology and social economics in Britain.[1]
1904 Publication The Fabian Society publishes Fabianism And The Fiscal Question: An Alternative Policy, which focusing on the fiscal policies of the British government during that time, particularly the debate between tariffs and free trade. The book discusses the role of imperialism and emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in economic policy. Overall, it offers a socialist critique of contemporary economic policies and presents a vision for a more equitable society.[11]
1906 (January 12) Publication During the General Election, H. G. Wells presents a paper to the Fabian Society. However, due to the ongoing election, he instead delivers an article titled This Misery of Boots, which later becomes a special Fabian publication.[2]
1906 (February 9) Publication H. G. Wells initiates the controversy with the paper Faults of the Fabian, criticizing its size, financial status, and self-effacing habits. The ensuing debate prompts the formation of a committee, including Wells and notable Fabians, to address issues and suggest reforms. The resulting report, less inspiring than Wells' critique, proposes administrative changes, like a weekly review, new publications, and altering the Society's name. The controversial suggestion of running parliamentary candidates and raising funds for it marks a shift, emphasizing increased membership. Wells' proposal attracts attention and contributes to the Fabian Society's public prominence.[2]
1906 Lobbying The Fabians lobby for the introduction of a minimum wage, for the creation of a universal health care system in 1911 and for the abolition of hereditary peerages.[12][10][4]
1906 Publication Robert Blatchford publishes a utopian socialist tract, Merrie England, which would sell over two million copies in Britain only.
1907 (March) Growth Fabian Society experiences significant growth, reaching 1267 members, an increase of nearly 500 in two years.[2]
1907 Organization The Arts Group emerges within the Fabian Society, focusing on philosophy and art in relation to socialism. Founded by Holbrook Jackson and A.R. Orage, the group attracts distinguished lecturers and audiences. However, after eighteen months, it wanes, disappearing from the calendar by the summer of 1908. Despite its brief existence, the Arts Group exemplifies the diverse intellectual interests within the Fabian Society during a transformative period marked by increased membership and engagement in various specialized groups, including the Women's Group, the Nursery, and others.[2]
1907 Publication Publication of Fabianism and the Empire, outlining Fabian views on imperialism.
1907 (July 6) Conference The Second Annual Conference of Fabian Societies and Groups is held, leading to the creation of Pan-Fabian Organization.[2]
1908 (September) Notable Fabian H. G. Wells resigns from the Fabian Society, stating reasons of disagreement with the Basis and discontent with the general form of its activities, expressing a desire to concentrate on writing novels.[2]
1909 Notable contribution Beatrice and Sidney Webb, key figures in the Fabian Society, contribute significantly to Fabian thinking and research methodology. Beatrice's 1909 Minority Report to the Commission of the Poor Law lays the foundation for much of the modern welfare state.[5]
1910 Decline The Fabian Society faces a decline in influence, reduced to a mere think tank due to lack of party support and political advocates.[13]
1911 Lobbying Fabian Society pamphlets are written to lobby for the creation of the National Health Service.[4]
1911 Partnership The Fabian Society and the Independent Labour Party form a Joint Standing Committee, fostering friendly relations.[2]
1912 Organization Clifford Allen of Cambridge forms the University Socialist Federation, a federation of Fabian Societies.[2]
1913 Publication Beatrice and Sidney Webb found the New Statesman, with financial support from George Bernard Shaw and other Fabian Society members. The magazine maintains an independent and Fabian-inspired point of view.[5]
1913 Publication The Fabian Society Women's Group prepares a volume of essays on 'Women Workers in Seven Professions,' edited by Professor Edith Morley and published by George Routledge and Sons.[2]
1913 (December) Background Proposal for a United Socialist Council emerges, contingent on the British Socialist Party affiliating with the Labour Party.[2]
1914 Growth The University membership of Fabian Society reaches its maximum on paper with 541 members, 101 at Oxford and 70 at Cambridge. The outbreak of World War I coincides with a period of depression, and the Fabian Society faces challenges in maintaining its University membership.[2]
1915 Organization The Fabian Election Fund is established.[2]
1915 Crisis War disrupts plans for the United Socialist Council as the Labour Party, Fabian Society, and leaders of the British Socialist Party support the government.[2] The outbreak of the war marks a turning point, leading to closer ties between Fabians and the Labour Party.[13]
1915 Decline The propaganda of Guild Socialism, especially at Oxford, contributes to the temporary decline of University Fabianism.[2]
1916 Publication Edward Pease, a founding member of the Fabian Society, publishes The History of the Fabian Society, which provides a history of the society. The book includes a list of Fabian tracts published up to the end of 1915.[14]
1917 Lobbying Fabian Society pamphlets are written to lobby for the abolition of hereditary peers.[4]
1918 Impact Fabians play a significant role in shaping the Labour Party's programme, reflecting their increased influence within the political landscape.[13]
1923 Impact Over twenty Fabians are elected to Parliament, with five Fabians in Ramsay MacDonald's first Labour cabinet. Clement Attlee, a future prime minister and Fabian, receives his first ministerial post during this time.[5]
1931 Organization The independent New Fabian Research Bureau is created as the brainchild of G. D. H. Cole, setting the scene for much of the work of the 1945 Labour government before merging into the main society in 1938.[5]
1939 Growth By this time, there are 6 local Fabian societies in the United Kingdom.[5]
1940 (October) Organization The Fabian Society establishes the Fabian Colonial Bureau to facilitate research and debate British colonial policy.[15]
1945 Impact 229 members of the Fabian Society are elected to Parliament of the United Kingdom at the 1945 general election.[5]
1945 Growth By this time, there are 120 local Fabian societies accross the United Kingdom.[5]
1952 Publication The New Fabian Essays, edited by Anthony Crosland, reinvigorate left-wing debate after the fall of the Attlee government, featuring contributions from influential figures like Roy Jenkins, Ian Mikardo, Richard Crossman, and Denis Healey.[10]
1960 Organization The Young Fabian group is founded, becoming a significant networking and discussion organization for Labour Party activists under the age of 31. It would play a role in the 1994 election of Tony Blair as Labour Leader.[4]
1979 The Fabian Society encounters significant challenges amidst Labour disputes. A pivotal moment unfolds when Shirley Williams, serving as the chair, joins the Social Democratic Party (SDP), triggering a crisis in the society's affiliation with the Labour party. Despite these setbacks, the society manages to recover and plays a vital role in facilitating debates within the Labour party, particularly in the aftermath of the electoral defeat in 1983.[5]
1992 Publication The Fabian Society publishes Southern Discomfort, revealing the attitudes of key swing voters in the South of England whose support Labour must gain if it is to win again.[16]
1997 Growth Labour comes to office. Since then, the Fabian Society becomes a forum for New Labour ideas and for critical approaches from across the party.[4]
2000 Impact The Fabian Society Tax Commission of 2000 plays a crucial role in influencing the Labour government's policy on a significant public tax increase, specifically the National Insurance rise to fund NHS spending. Recommendations, including a new top rate of income tax, impact economic policy discussions.[4]
2004 Growth The Fabian Society's annual report shows 5,810 individual members, with 1,010 belonging to the Young Fabians. The society maintains affiliations with various institutions, including Constituency Labour Parties, co-operative societies, trade unions, libraries, and corporations.[4]
2005 Formation After a period of inactivity, the Scottish Young Fabians is reformed.[4]
2008 (February 14) Criticism In an article published in The Guardian (following the apology offered by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to the "stolen generations"), Geoffrey Robertson criticizes Fabian socialists for providing the intellectual justification for the eugenics policy that led to the stolen generations scandal.[17][18]
2009 Criticism Making a speech in the United States, the British MP George Galloway denounces the Fabian Society for its failure to support the uprising of Easter 1916 in Dublin during which an Irish Republic was proclaimed.[19]
2010 Evolution The Fabian Society enters a new era, after the fall of the Labour government and the election of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government.[5]
2015 Evolution The role of the Fabian Society as a pluralist, non-factional forum within the Labour movement comes to the fore after the 2015 election and the election of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader.[5]
2016 Growth As of date, the Fabian Society has about 7,000 members.[20]
2018 Recognition The Fabian Society is rated as "broadly transparent" in its funding by Transparify.[21]
2019 (June) Growth The Fabian Society reaches 7,136 individual members.[22]
2019 Recognition The Fabian Society is given an A grade for funding transparency by Who Funds You?.[23]
2020 Growth The Fabian Society’s membership increases to an all time high of over 8,000, including 16 members of the shadow cabinet, and the society goes as close to the heart of Labour policy thinking as at any time in its history.[5]

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References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 "The Fabian Society in Late Victorian Britain". victorianweb.org. Retrieved 1 October 2022. 
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 2.33 2.34 2.35 2.36 2.37 2.38 2.39 2.40 2.41 2.42 2.43 2.44 2.45 2.46 2.47 2.48 2.49 2.50 2.51 2.52 2.53 2.54 2.55 2.56 2.57 2.58 2.59 2.60 2.61 2.62 2.63 2.64 2.65 2.66 2.67 2.68 2.69 2.70 2.71 2.72 2.73 2.74 2.75 2.76 2.77 2.78 2.79 2.80 2.81 2.82 2.83 2.84 2.85 2.86 2.87 Pease, Edward R. (23 April 2019). The History of the Fabian Society. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-60317-4. 
  3. ↑ Briggs, Julia (23 September 2004). "Bland, Hubert (1855–1914), journalist and politician". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/47683. 
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 "Fabian Society - New World Encyclopedia". www.newworldencyclopedia.org. Retrieved 2 October 2022. 
  5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 "Our History". Fabians. Retrieved 31 August 2022. 
  6. ↑ Hyndman, Henry Mayers (10 September 2010). "The Historical Basis Of Socialism In England". amazon.es. Retrieved 16 March 2024. 
  7. ↑ Ed. Shaw, George Bernard (1 January 1889). "Fabian Essays in Socialism". amazon.com. Walter Scott. Retrieved 7 March 2024. 
  8. ↑ Persky, Joseph (1 July 2016). "The Political Economy of Progress: John Stuart Mill and Modern Radicalism". doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190460631.003.0011. 
  9. ↑ "Fabianism and the Empire A Manifesto by the Fabian Soci…". Goodreads. Retrieved 15 March 2024. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "The Fabian Society: a brief history". The Guardian. 13 August 2001. Retrieved 8 March 2024. 
  11. ↑ Society, The Fabian; Shaw, Bernard (23 May 2010). "Fabianism And The Fiscal Question: An Alternative Policy". amazon.co. Kessinger Publishing. Retrieved 15 March 2024. 
  12. ↑ "History". web.archive.org. 7 December 2006. Retrieved 31 August 2022. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Jousse, Emmanuel (2012). "The Assumptions about Reformism". cairn-int.info (in français). pp. 89–114. Retrieved 15 March 2024. 
  14. ↑ Pease, Edward Reynolds (1916). "The History of the Fabian Society". books.google.com. Fifield. Retrieved 15 March 2024. 
  15. ↑ "Collection: Papers of the Fabian Colonial Bureau | Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts". archives.bodleian.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2022. 
  16. ↑ Radice, Giles; Pollard, Stephen (1993). More Southern Discomfort: A Year on -- Taxing and Spending. Fabian Society. ISBN 978-0-7163-0560-6. 
  17. ↑ Geoffrey Robertson (13 February 2008). "We should say sorry, too". The Guardian. London. 
  18. ↑ L.J. Ray (1983). "Eugenics, Mental Deficiency and Fabian Socialism between the Wars". Oxford Review of Education. 9 (3): 213–22. doi:10.1080/0305498830090305. 
  19. ↑ pas1888 (29 December 2009). "George Galloway Easter Rising 1916" – via YouTube. 
  20. ↑ Annual Report 2016 (PDF) (Report). Fabian Society. 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2022. 
  21. ↑ "Round-Up of Transparify 2018 Ratings". Transparify. Retrieved 31 August 2022. 
  22. ↑ Annual Report 2019 (PDF) (Report). Fabian Society. 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2022. 
  23. ↑ "Fabian Society | Who Funds You?". whofundsyou.org. Retrieved 31 August 2022. 
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