İtobiad (Jun 2021)
The Dominant Ideologies in the Nineteenth Century British Social and Political Life
Abstract
In the nineteenth century, British social and political life bears witness to some leading movements such as conservatism, liberalism, feminism and socialism. The spirit of democratization and the dream of a better society and order triggered all these movements. The nineteenth-century British political and social thought has a deep influence on these central ideas of government in the light of industrial changes, their revolutionary consequences and democratic movements and thanks to the works of the representatives of these ideologies. Both Industrial Revolution and democratization are two significant developments that shaped the rise of these ideologies together with capitalist policies and rise of the British Empire. Radical changes and revolutions in British history deeply affect the role of the individual in the society and the role of government by forcing them to inevitable changes in their policies and roles. With the rise of industrial revolution and democratization (together with capitalism and rise of the British Empire), these movements find the possibility to appear and develop more freely and easily. English society and government take a more liberalistic and socialistic stand which require equality and freedom both for men and women. Through the late-Victorian period independent new-type women different from traditional ones occur up and trigger feminism and challenge patriarchy and restrictions imposed upon them. Interrelated with each other, these movements are the basis that radically affect the role of the individual in the society and the role of government. Therefore, the purpose of my essay is to demonstrate how these social and political movements have contributed to British thought under the effect of Industrial Revolution and democratic actions.
Keywords
