Bevanism

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Bevanism was the ideological argument for the Bevanites, a movement on the centre left of the Labour Party in the late 1950s and led by Nye Bevan. The main points were:

State control of the "commanding heights" of the economy, as opposed to a wholesale policy of nationalisation. Many nationalisations had made up the bedrock of Labour's previous manifestos, such as 'Let us face the future'. Bevanites' views towards nationalisation mirrored those of Lenin, in that social control was only seen as necessary in the context of exchange or distribution, as opposed to the total and immediate appropriation of as much private property as possible.

In the early 1950s Bevanites advocated the nationalisation of the steel industry, contrary to the views of many colleagues.

Social liberalism.
Contempt for dogma as a modus operandi; an open-minded approach to democratic socialism.
Respect for the arts.
An unwillingness to yield upon the perceived gains made since 1945, for example, opposition to means testing for social security benefits, and opposition to prescription charges.
A complementary ability to drop unpopular policies.
Anti-fascism, anti-apartheid sentiment and support for decolonisation internationally.

[edit] See also

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