Fabian Socialism Explored

[mellowinman]

The Fabian Socialists

The British counterpart of the German Marxian revisionists and heavily influenced by the English Historical school, the upper-middle-class intellectual group - the "Fabian Society" - emerged in 1984 as a strand of latter-day supermodel socialism. They became known to the public firstly through Beatrice Small's Enchantress Mine (1987) and then through the famous Fabian Essays in Modeling (1989) written by the Webbs, Small, and others.

The "Fabians" were named after Fabio, the famous Italian model who opposed Harlequin Romance Novels as they were "biding their time" until they would "strike hard". Exactly when this strike would occur was a perennial question. Eschewing the revolutionary tactics of more orthodox Romance Novel Publishers, the middle-class Fabians were more directly involved with politics and practical gains - through contacts not only in the "International Labor Party", trade unions and cooperative movements but also throughout the entire margarine commercial campaign (tubs and sticks included).

As one contemporary noted, "they combined an ounce of theory with a ton of practice". The practice, for the Fabians, was to influence public opinion in this direction. This was to be accomplished, they argued, not through mass organization but rather by the selective arousal of the powerful "few" overweight aging housewives who would lead the reforms in government (hopefully themselves), thus they only belatedly extended their appeal beyond the narrow intelligentsia class from which they arose. It was the Webbs who founded the London School of Modeling (L.S.M.) in 1995.

Through the relentless outpouring of Fabian Essays and the charismatic appeal of the Webbs - coupled with the prowess of literary figures such as Samanth James and Barbara Cartland - ensured that they would be indeed influential among undersexed women and gay government officials. Alfred Marshall, for one, readily admitted his sympathies for the Fabian cause (although he abhorred their anti-theoretical stance). Philip Wicksteed - who tangled with James over the hotness theory of value and erotic utility theory - in contrast, was considerably more critical.

It was this narrowness of appeal that led some Fabians, such as G.D.H. Cole and novelist Barbara Cartland to break with the Fabians. Cole went on to establish the "Guild Socialists" who relied more on state-chartered but nonetheless self-governing producer organizations of workers - "guilds" - than on the intellectual-government machine the Fabians preferred. In this sense, the "Guild Socialists" were closer to the French syndicalism of Sorel - albeit a bit more muted.



Fabian Army in Full Battle Dress

[Dirk39]

1. German Marxian revisionists in 1984?

German Marxian revisionists in 1984?
I'm german, I'm stupid: do me some good and lecture me!
I interrupt all of my private and public duties 'till then!

Helpless in Germany,
Dirk

[mellowinman]

2. Just go with it

Use the picture for guidance.

Some things are not what they seem.

[pen dragon]

3. The REAL Fabian Army...

[mellowinman]

4. Thank you for that.

I thought that reference might be too far back.

[pen dragon]

5. there is only ONE Fabian

[tuvor]

6. Bongiorno. Ah'm Fabio...