R. H. Tawney: Economic Inequality and Leftist Politics

R. H. Tawney (1880–1962) was brought up an upper-middle-class Victorian, yet came to write eloquent left-wing books. His fundamental political value was self-fulfillment of the individual. Tawney felt this potential was blocked by economic inequality and British snobbery. Social democracy was his answer. But leftist politics no longer stands for the individual. Identity politics would appall Tawney. His philosophy was Lloyd George–ism plus fellowship. A social democrat in his own era, he would probably be a conservative today.

 

Ross Terrill is the author of ten books, most on China, but also R. H. Tawney and His Times: Socialism as Fellowship (Harvard, 1973). After earning an undergraduate degree at Melbourne University, he entered the Australian Army, did a Ph.D. at Harvard, and taught there in the Government Department on political thought and Chinese politics. He has been a research associate on China at Harvard for forty-nine years. His articles have appeared in all leading magazines and newspapers in the United States, Britain, and Australia.

Friday, May 10, 2019 at 2:45pm to 4:30pm

Harry Ransom Center (HRC), Tom Lea Rooms, 3.206
300 21ST ST W, Austin, Texas 78705

Event Type

Academics, Arts & Humanities, World & Culture

Departments

All Departments

Target Audience

Students, Staff, Faculty, Alumni, General Public

Cost

Free and Open to the Public

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