F
Fabian/Fabianism
A SOCIALISTmovement, prominent in late 19th- and early
20th-century Britain. Formally associated with the Fa-
bian Society (1884–1939) in London, its ideas affected
socialist and SOCIAL DEMOCRATICthought in Europe and
the United States. A diverse movement, it included such
notable members as author and playwright George
Bernard Shaw, author H. G. Wells, writer and social
reformer Beatrice Potter Webb, Theosophist Annie
Besant, and civil servant/social scientist Sidney Webb.
Named after the Roman general Fabian, who
defeated the army of Hannibal by patient resistance,
firm resolve, and sudden attack, Fabian socialism
believed in the gradual transformation of society from
CAPITALISMto socialism by means of talented socialists
and technocrats working within the government. Well-
educated, highly trained economists and administra-
tors would gradually take over key areas of the
government, media, and educational institutions,
infuse socialist ideas and practices, and eventually take
over the country. Many early LIBERALDemocrats in the
United States (1930s–60s) saw themselves in this
Fabian strategy, slowly infusing socialism into the
United States through peaceful, gradual means. Regu-
lation of business and national standards for educa-
tion, media, and culture expressed the Fabian goal.
The Fabians saw themselves as enlightened, right-
eous reformers who brought civilization to the igno-
rant masses and achieved positions of leadership
through their own merit and goodness. In general,
they were liberal in extending SUFFRAGEand social ben-
efits to women and the poor, though they eschewed
MARXISTideas of a workers’ revolution or the “dictator-
ship of the proletariat” as vulgar and common. The
union between LEFTISTpolitics and artistic refinement
in liberalism found its early expression in Fabian
socialism: Both socialist government by an enlightened
elite and the sophistication of artistic elegance formed
the ideal Fabian society. This image of the ARISTOCRACY
of administration and art serving the common good of
society was expanded to include civilized northern
Europeans taking care of less-advantaged developing-
world peoples under a benign paternalism. Most
Fabian socialists and liberals rejected traditional reli-
gious categories and faith; confident in their own abili-
ties and righteousness, they saw no need for reliance
upon God or for doubts about the human ability to
improve the world.
Fabianism was criticized by Marxist socialists as
too middle class, gradual, and moderate. It was
ridiculed by CONSERVATIVESas romantic and self-right-
eous. Despite these criticisms, Fabianism exercised an101