Fabian Society facts for kids
The Fabian Society is a British group that believes in making society better through slow, steady changes instead of sudden revolutions. They want to create a fairer society where everyone has more equal power, wealth, and opportunities. They also believe in working together for the good of everyone and having a strong, fair democracy.
The Fabian Society was one of the groups that helped start the Labour Party in the United Kingdom. Because of this, they have had a big impact on British politics. Famous leaders from other countries, like Jawaharlal Nehru from India, also learned from Fabian ideas. The Fabian Society even founded the famous London School of Economics in 1895.
Today, the society acts like a "think tank." This means they do research and come up with ideas to help the Labour Party and improve society. Similar groups exist in other countries like Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
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| Abbreviation | FS |
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| Formation | 4 January 1884 |
| Legal status | Unincorporated membership association |
| Purpose | "To promote greater equality of power, wealth and opportunity; the value of collective action and public service; an accountable, tolerant and active democracy; citizenship, liberty and human rights; sustainable development; and multilateral international cooperation" |
| Headquarters | London, England |
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Membership
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8,000 |
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Official language
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English |
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General Secretary
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Andrew Harrop |
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Chair
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Martin Edobor |
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Vice-Chairs
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Wes Streeting, Catriona Munro |
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Hon. Treasurer
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Baron Kennedy of Southwark |
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Main organ
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Executive Committee |
| Subsidiaries | Young Fabians, Fabian Women's Network, Scottish Fabians, around 60 local Fabian Societies |
| Affiliations | Labour Party, Foundation for European Progressive Studies |
Contents
How the Fabian Society Started
Founding the Group
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The Fabian Society was created on January 4, 1884, in London. It grew out of an earlier group called "The Fellowship of the New Life." Members of that group wanted to improve society by living simple, good lives. Some of them also wanted to get involved in politics to make changes. So, they started the Fabian Society.
The Fabian Society got its name from a Roman general named Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus. He was known as "Fabius the Delayer."
Fabius won battles against a strong army by being patient and wearing them down slowly, instead of fighting big, risky battles. This idea of slow, steady progress became central to the Fabian Society's approach.
Their first leaflet explained this idea:
For the right moment you must wait, as Fabius did most patiently when warring against Hannibal, though many censured his delays; but when the time comes you must strike hard, as Fabius did, or your waiting will be in vain, and fruitless.
The Fabian Society's early logo was a tortoise, showing their belief in slow, steady change. They also had a symbol of a "wolf in sheep's clothing," which meant they wanted to achieve their goals quietly and from within. However, they later stopped using the "wolf in sheep's clothing" symbol because it had a negative meaning.
Some of the first members included Frank Podmore, Edward R. Pease, Edith Nesbit, and Hubert Bland.
Growing Bigger
Right from the start, many important people joined the Fabian Society. These included famous writers like George Bernard Shaw and H. G. Wells, and social reformers like Annie Besant.
At the heart of the society were Sidney and Beatrice Webb. They wrote many important studies about Britain's industries and how to improve them.
Many Fabians helped create the Labour Representation Committee in 1900, which later became the Labour Party. The Fabian Society's ideas greatly influenced the Labour Party's early rules.
Between 1903 and 1908, more and more people in Britain became interested in socialist ideas. The Fabian Society grew quickly, with its membership tripling to nearly 2,500 members. By 1914, they even had a student section with over 500 members.
Early Fabian Ideas
The Fabian Society wanted to make many changes to improve society. They pushed for a minimum wage in 1906, so everyone would earn enough to live. They also wanted a universal health care system in 1911, so everyone could get medical help. In 1917, they suggested getting rid of hereditary peerages, which are titles passed down through families.
Fabians also believed in improving the British Empire to help spread their ideas around the world. They supported a system where the government helps people, similar to what was done in Germany. They wanted better working conditions, improved housing, and a strong national education system. They believed these changes would make Britain stronger and its people healthier and more productive.
They also thought that the money landowners earned from their land's value was unfair. They believed this "land rent" should belong to the public.
Second Generation of Fabians
Between the two World Wars, a new group of Fabians, like writers R. H. Tawney and Harold Laski, continued to shape socialist ideas.
Many future leaders from countries that were then colonies, especially India, learned about Fabian ideas. Jawaharlal Nehru of India, for example, used Fabian principles to guide India's economic policies after it gained independence. He believed the government should control major industries like steel, transportation, and electricity to ensure everyone had a basic standard of living.
Other leaders, like Obafemi Awolowo from Nigeria and Lee Kuan Yew from Singapore, were also influenced by Fabianism. Lee Kuan Yew later felt that some Fabian ideas were not practical for Singapore.
In the Middle East, Fabian ideas also inspired movements like Ba'athism, which led to governments controlling major industries and aiming to provide a good standard of living for all citizens.
In 1940, the Fabian Society created the Fabian Colonial Bureau. This group researched and discussed British policies in its colonies. It had a big impact on the British government's colonial policies after World War II.
The Fabian Society in Recent Times
Throughout the 20th century, the Fabian Society remained important within the Labour Party. Many famous Labour politicians, including Ramsay MacDonald, Clement Attlee, Tony Blair, and Gordon Brown, were members. In 1945, 229 members of the society were elected to Parliament!
The Young Fabians group, started in 1960, is a place for younger Labour Party members (under 31) to meet and discuss ideas. It helped Tony Blair become the Labour Leader in 1994. There are also active Fabian Women's Network and Scottish and Welsh Fabian groups.
Influence on Government
When the Labour Party won the election in 1997, the Fabian Society became a place for new ideas. One important idea from the Fabian Society was proposed by Ed Balls in 1992. He suggested that the Bank of England should be independent from the government. This idea was put into practice soon after Labour came to power and greatly changed how Britain's economy was managed.
In 2000, the Fabian Society suggested a tax increase to raise money for the National Health Service (NHS). This idea influenced the government's decision to increase National Insurance to fund the NHS.
What the Fabian Society Does Today
The Fabian Society has grown a lot. In 2009, it had over 6,200 members, which was more than when the Labour Party first came to power in 1997. By 2019, it had over 7,100 members.
Four Fabians – Beatrice Webb, Sidney Webb, Graham Wallas, and George Bernard Shaw – used money left to the society to found the London School of Economics. This important decision was made at a breakfast party in 1894.
How the Society is Organized
The Fabian Society has a rule that it doesn't have official "policies" as a whole group. Instead, all their publications state that the ideas are just the authors' views, not the society's collective opinion. This means they are a place for discussion and new ideas, rather than taking a single political stance.
The society is run by an elected executive committee. They also have a team of employees in London, led by a general secretary.
Publications and Groups
The Fabian Society publishes a quarterly magazine called Fabian Review.
The Young Fabians group is for members under 31. They have their own leaders and organize events, discussions, and publications. They have special interest groups called Networks that focus on topics like the economy, health, and education. In 2024, the Young Fabians group was relaunched with some changes, including a slightly lower age limit and new leadership rules.
The Fabian Women's Network is for all female members. They organize events and work to help more women get involved in politics. They also have a mentoring program and publish a magazine called Fabiana.
There are also about 45 local Fabian societies across the UK. These groups bring Fabian discussions to communities outside London.
Criticisms of the Fabians
Because the Fabian Society is one of the oldest and most well-known "think tanks," it has sometimes faced criticism.
Some people, like writer H. G. Wells, who was briefly a member, said the society was just a place for middle-class people to talk, without much real action.
During World War I, Vladimir Lenin (a famous Russian revolutionary) called the Fabians "social-chauvinists," meaning he thought they supported their own country too much instead of the working class around the world.
Later, Leon Trotsky (another Russian revolutionary) said the Fabian Society was boring and not useful for working people.
Some historians have also argued that the Fabian Society didn't create the Labour Party as much as they claimed, and that working-class groups were more important.
More recently, some critics have looked at the early Fabians' ideas about improving society and pointed out that some of these ideas were controversial.
Images for kids
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The logo of the Fabian Society.
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A blue plaque marks where the Fabian Society began in London in 1884.
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Frank Podmore suggested naming the society after "Fabius the Delayer."
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The original coat of arms showed a "wolf in sheep's clothing."
