The Study On The Fabian Socialism (1884-1984)

Fabian socialism is the socialism ideological trend that is famous for “constitutionaldemocracy and gentle progress.” The Fabian main representatives, like, Sidney Webb,G.Bernard Shaw, G.D.H.Cole, C.A.R.Crosland etc., keeping a foothold on the historicaltradition and real national conditions and considering the imperialism transition period whichis from free capitalism to monopoly capitalism, inherit and develop the theory of Organicsociety, evolutionary history, rent theory, Marxism, Utilitarianism and Christian philosophyetc. Therefore, the ideology is gradually established.Fabian socialism regards history as the tendency that leads to socialism. The originalintention and duty of Fabians is to facilitate the compromise between traditional history andreal development and to lead people to socialism welfare countries by propaganda andeducation.Thus, Fabians outlines a strategical blueprint to realize socialism: In the aspect ofpolitical improvement, they pay attention to the instrumentality and neutrality of the state andpropose that with enlarging state functions and perfecting decentralization, civil servant teamcan be enriched by selecting expert talents under the system of civil officer and the balancebetween democracy and efficiency can be kept by establishing political and social congress.In the social and economic aspect, they hold that innovating tax system and carrying outmunicipal administration socialism and constantly adjusting the relationship between plan andmarket can propel to achieve the socialization of production instrument and resourceallocation and industry management democratization. For the education reform, they putforward the principle of education equality, education serving reality and educationdiversification. They carry out resolutely reformation in the system of education in UK,especially for advocating technical education and establishing London School of Economics&Politics In the aspect of welfare, they present that poverty should include two parts: materialand spirit poverty and inequality of social distribution is the main reason to causes poverty.Meanwhile, they believe that it is the duty of the whole state and society to carry out multiple humane relief measures. The Webbs raise a series of suggestions on social welfarereformation in “Minority Report” and promote to abolish the “poor laws”.Fabians didn’t propose the concrete contents in the aspect of politics and party, but wecan see the clue from the development of relationship building between Fabians and LabourParty. In fact, the relationship approximately evolves in two phases. Before World War I,considering reality and political philosophy, Fabian took penetrating strategy for early LabourParty and reluctantly maintained their basic relationship. After breaking out of World War II,as the penetrating policy for Liberal Party fails, the Fabians started to support thereorganization and reconstruction of Labour Party. After the new chapter and guidingprinciple were issued, Labour Party ascends to the traditional two-party system in the role ofworking class political party. Thus, a situation of tripartite confrontation in UK is formed.Since then, Labour Party becomes the instrument to carry out socialism.Fabianism, taking a century to develop and perfect, finally forms an irresistible trend andit plays an important role in theory and reality. Just for Britain, it not only leads to the trend ofgovernment administration reformation and change the pattern of party and politics, but alsoaccelerates the development of labour movement. In worldwide, the appearance of Fabianismriches the understanding of socialism, provides importance theory basis for revisionism andconstructs the original blueprint for market socialism. Moreover, it also creates the researchmethod of structure reconstruct. It is sure that Fabianism still has weakness in the basis andstrategy. For China, we can get the benefit from the Fabianism as follows: social reformlegalization, democracy politics institutionalization, citizenship education scientization andwelfare guarantee socialization.