The Labour Party and European Integration
A Biographical Approach
Bristol University Press
1st Edition
Published on 21. October 2025
Book
Hardback
270 pages
978-1-5292-4389-5 (ISBN)
Description
This book uses a biographical approach to explore the Labour Party's relationship with European integration, moving beyond simple 'pro' or 'anti' labels to showcase the complexity of views that have existed.
Its positioning within the 'biographical turn' emphasizes the importance of formative experiences in shaping such viewpoints - held by both familiar figures and more underappreciated voices. Taking a broad view of Labour history, the book covers the roots of Labour's diverse thinking on integration from the 1920s to the recent past. Its significant intervention in the fields of Labour Party history, European integration studies, and history through biography, helps provide essential historical context for understanding Labour's current European policies.
Its positioning within the 'biographical turn' emphasizes the importance of formative experiences in shaping such viewpoints - held by both familiar figures and more underappreciated voices. Taking a broad view of Labour history, the book covers the roots of Labour's diverse thinking on integration from the 1920s to the recent past. Its significant intervention in the fields of Labour Party history, European integration studies, and history through biography, helps provide essential historical context for understanding Labour's current European policies.
More details
Edition
First Edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Bristol
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
Not illustrated
Dimensions
Height: 241 mm
Width: 162 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
544 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5292-4389-5 (9781529243895)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
The Labour Party and European Integration
A Biographical Approach
E-Book
10/2025
1st Edition
Bristol University Press
€43.99
Available for download
Persons
Matthew Broad is Assistant Professor in History and International Studies in the Institute for History, Leiden University, the Netherlands.
William King is a Core Fellow at the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland.
William King is a Core Fellow at the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Content
1. A Biographical Approach to the Study of Labour and European Integration - Matthew Broad and William King
2. R.W.G. Mackay: The Lone Federalist - Tommaso Milani
3. Fenner Brockway: A Barrier to War and a Bridge to Peace - Edoardo Vaccari
4. Denis Healey: Agnostic or the Original Eurosceptic? - Ettore Costa
5. Hugh Gaitskell: Reassessing the Roots of 'A Thousand Years of History' - Matthew Broad
6. Harold Wilson: 'No More Difficult Task' than Europe - Lindsay Aqui
7. Shirley Williams: 'Breaking the Mould'? - Helen Parr
8. Douglas Jay: After the Common Market? - Larissa Kraft
9. Judith Hart: Labour's Internationalist Eurosceptic - Richard Johnson
10. Richard Crossman: From Europeanist to Little Englander - James Ellison
11. Roy Jenkins: The Frustrations of Pro-European Constancy - N. Piers Ludlow
12. Barbara Castle: Fighting All the Way - William King
13. Tony Blair: A European Journey - Daniel Furby
14. Diane Abbott: Complex Ambivalence and European Integration - Maxine David
15. Reflections on a Biographical Approach to the Labour Party and European Integration - William King and Matthew Broad
2. R.W.G. Mackay: The Lone Federalist - Tommaso Milani
3. Fenner Brockway: A Barrier to War and a Bridge to Peace - Edoardo Vaccari
4. Denis Healey: Agnostic or the Original Eurosceptic? - Ettore Costa
5. Hugh Gaitskell: Reassessing the Roots of 'A Thousand Years of History' - Matthew Broad
6. Harold Wilson: 'No More Difficult Task' than Europe - Lindsay Aqui
7. Shirley Williams: 'Breaking the Mould'? - Helen Parr
8. Douglas Jay: After the Common Market? - Larissa Kraft
9. Judith Hart: Labour's Internationalist Eurosceptic - Richard Johnson
10. Richard Crossman: From Europeanist to Little Englander - James Ellison
11. Roy Jenkins: The Frustrations of Pro-European Constancy - N. Piers Ludlow
12. Barbara Castle: Fighting All the Way - William King
13. Tony Blair: A European Journey - Daniel Furby
14. Diane Abbott: Complex Ambivalence and European Integration - Maxine David
15. Reflections on a Biographical Approach to the Labour Party and European Integration - William King and Matthew Broad