The British Labour Party and the German Social Democrats, 1900-1931

the long version

This is a pioneering comparative study of the early years of the British Labour Party and the German Social Democratic Party. Stefan Berger examines the history of both parties over thirty years, focusing on their organization, their integration into state and society, their ideology, their cultural and recreational activities, and their relationship with each other. Dr Berger argues that the traditional view of deep-seated cultural and ideological differences between British and European Labour movements is in need of substantial revision. Based on a wealth of primary material from both British and German archives, the book's controversial conclusions will open up new perspectives on old debates.