Labour Country: Political Radicalism and Social Democracy in South Wales 1831-1985

Since the end of WWI, one party has held the momentum of political and social change in south Wales: the Labour Party. In this book, Daryl Leeworthy argues that Labour's triumph was due to radical pragmatism and an ability to harness lofty ideals with meaningful practicality. This history is now over, but the book brings the cubist epic of south Wales and its politics to life.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 544 pages
\n Publication date: 06 September 2021
\n Publisher: Parthian Books
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Since the conclusion of World War I, one political party has dominated the landscape of political and social change in South Wales: the Labour Party. Its triumph was never a foregone conclusion, emerging swiftly amidst a flurry of ideas, actions, and warfare. Yet, the outcome was a vibrant, effective, and enduring democracy, giving rise to Labour Country. In this daring and thought-provoking book, Daryl Leeworthy delves into the arduous struggle for social democracy in Wales through radical political action. He argues that Labour's success was attributed to its radical pragmatism and ability to blend lofty ideals with practical realities. This was a place where dreamers coexisted with doers, reminiscent of the world of Arthur Horner and Aneurin Bevan.

However, as the author reveals, this history has come to an end. Although a trajectory connects the end of the Miners' Strike to the advent of devolution and the circumstances leading to the Brexit vote in 2016, these represent departures from Labour Country, not a continuation. Supported by a robust synthesis of scholarship and original research, passionate and committed, this book brings the vibrant epic of South Wales and its politics to life.

\n Weight: 608g\n
Dimension: 139 x 217 x 58 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781913640491\n \n