New Labour : A Critique

Annotation New Labour is the most innovative and powerful political movement in Britain today. However, New Labour: A Critique argues that its apparent pragmatism disguises an ideological commitment to particular forms of social science, deploying new institutionalism and communitarianism to respond to the New Right. Bevir traces the impact of these forms of social science on the ideas and policies of New Labour, paying particular attention to the welfare state and the economy. New Labour, the new institutionalism and communitarianism typically objectify aspects of the social world to sustain claims to expert knowledge. Bevir defends and enacts an alternative, interpretive approach to social science. This interpretive approach inspires a critique of New Labour as a contingent reworking of a particular socialist tradition rather than the necessary or pragmatic response that it portrays itself as "New Labour's apparent pragmatism disguises an ideological commitment to particular forms of social science - institutionalism and communitarianism." "New Labour: A critique traces the impact of these forms of social science on New Labour, paying particular attention to the welfare state and the economy. Institutionalism and communitarianism typically objectify aspects of the social world to sustain claims to expert knowledge. Mark Bevir defends and enacts an alternative, interpretive approach to social science. His approach inspires a critique of New Labour as a contingent reworking of a particular socialist tradition." Education, Politics & IR, Sociology & Social Policy Book Cover 1 Title 4 Copyright 5 Contents 8 Preface 10 Acknowledgements 12 1 Political science 14 2 Institutionalism 42 3 Communitarianism 67 4 The welfare state 96 5 The economy 119 6 Social democracy 141 Notes 170 Bibliography 191 Index 208 An illuminative study of the most powerful political movement in Britain today, Bevir presents new critiques and radical alternatives to New Labour. Examining it as an institution, this is an intensely interpretive study of social sciences New Labour: A Critique Explores Diverse Traditions Of British Socialism, Which Could Open The Way To Radical Alternatives To New Labour Based On Participation, Pluralism, And Dialogue.--book Jacket.