Fabian Freeway by Rose L Martin (1966) - Part 6

About this episode

The episode discusses how Fabian socialists influenced the perception of economics as a science and their impact on academia in the US and UK.

Chapter 11: The Professor Goes to Washington The chapter describes how Fabian socialists advanced their influence by redefining economics and related fields as “science.” Sydney Webb succeeds in having economics formally declared a science by the University of London. Beatrice Webb records approvingly that this involved divorcing economics from metaphysics and admits the decision was achieved by packing the commission. Once economics and other social inquiries were labeled “social sciences,” professors could present ideological conclusions as objective research. Fabian writers argue this allowed political intent to be concealed behind academic authority. The chapter traces the spread of Fabian ideas through British and American universities, extension programs, and summer schools. In the United States, professors studied socialism quietly to avoid professional consequences. Academic networks form around figures such as Richard T. Ely, Albert Shaw, and Woodrow Wilson. Woodrow Wilson appears first as a professor influenced by these circles and later as president who accepted socialist-minded advisers. Under his administration, federal labor agencies were consolidated, culminating…

People in this episode

Host: Nick Heys

Topics covered

• Fabian socialism
• economics as science
• academic influence
• social sciences
• political ideology
• Woodrow Wilson
• labor reform

Keywords

• Fabian socialism
• economics
• social sciences
• Woodrow Wilson
• academic influence
• labor agencies
• Brandeis Brief

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of London, Department of Labor

Books & works: Fabian Freeway

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