The thesis explores the possibility of alienation amongst the British working-class, and argues that the class is, in fact, alienated. Its point of departure is the right-communitarianism of Eatwell and Goodwin (2018), Goodhart (2020), and Kaufmann (2018), who outline how the working-class has become alienated as a result of a loss of its political agency, the breakdown of its communities, and the undermining of its dignity. However, where these scholars tend to propose solutions from a right-communitarian perspective, this thesis adopts a more inclusive, left-wing, position to address working-class concerns. This position, which one calls Idealist-Socialism, represents a synthesis of British Idealist, Socialist, and Socialist Pluralist, thought, with the intended purpose of promoting the re-invigoration of civil society intermediary associations, a commitment to the Common Good in restructuring our socio-economic relations, within the framing of a Progressive Nationalism which can together challenge alienation.
- alienation, working-class, Labour Party, Idealism, communitarianism
Building a community of equals: challenging alienation in the British working-class
Taylor Hill, S. (Author). 9 May 2023
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)