First published in 1920, Guild Socialism Restated is G. D. H. Cole's fullest and most systematic ac�count of his vision of industrial and political reorganization. An Oxford University political theorist and an influential figure on the British Left between the two world wars, Cole was the best-known advocate of Guild Social�ism--a form of socialist thought that sought to transfer control of industry to professional "guilds" or self-governing associations of producers. The introductory chapters of Guild Socialism Restated develop the theme of democratic citizen�ship in relation to industrial so�ciety. Cole contends that neither capitalism nor state socialism can adequately meet the fundamental requirements of democracy be�cause neither provides institutions through which active citizenship can be achieved. He insists that the latter can be realized only in the realm of industrial relations. In so doing, Cole anticipates such contemporary themes as workers' self-management and participatory democracy, and he envisions also the corporatist mode of or�ganization that some would see as a defining quality of postindustrial societies. The central chapters of the book develop a view of socialist organi�zation in which citizenship is a vital ingredient in every arena-- from that of the workplace to na�tional policymaking. Guild So�cialism Restated is also notable for its effort to come to terms with nonindustrial interests, and to provide representations for indi�viduals as consumers and citi�zens--not only as producers. Cole's book concludes with an assessment of the transition to so�cialism. He proposes that there is a "third way" in addition to politi�cal reform and civil war--one that will be both revolutionary and gradual. Cole writes that "he who wishes revolution to succeed should hasten towards it slowly.
G. D. H. Cole was one of the foremost British socialist thinkers of the twentieth century. His literary output was immense and encompassed works of social theory, economics, political economy, economic history, social and labour history, political theory, history of thought and sociology. The books and pamphlets chosen for this edition are amongst his most significant. They are representative of the different phases of his thinking and illustrative of an acute and inquiring socialist mind as it wrestled with the formidable political and intellect challenges confronted by socialists in this most turbulent of centuries. This set re-issues 10 works of the well-known socialist thinker G. D. H. Cole and one volume of collected pamphlets, originally published between 1917 and 1956. The works in this collection encompass three critical periods of Cole's socialist thinking: the guild socialist decade from 1913-23; the post 1929 period when his political economy was dominated by the notion of socialist economic intervention and planning, and the post-war period when, like other socialist theorists, he sought to come to terms with the particular challenges posed by the legacy of the Attlee governments, and the emergence of an affluent society. A substantial introduction by Noel Thompson places the works in their social, political and historical context and illustrates their continued relevance. For institutional purchases for e-book sets please contact online.sales@tandf.co.uk (customers in the UK, Europe and Rest of World) on of socialist economic intervention and planning, and the post-war period when, like other socialist theorists, he sought to come to terms with the particular challenges posed by the legacy of the Attlee governments, and the emergence of an affluent society. A substantial introduction by Noel Thompson places the works in their social, political and historical context and illustrates their continued relevance. For institutional purchases for e-book sets please contact online.sales@tandf.co.uk (customers in the UK, Europe and Rest of World)
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