Consumerism in twentieth-century Britain : the search for a historical movement / Matthew Hilton.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hilton, Matthew, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Consumption (Economics)--Great Britain--History--20th century.

Consumption (Economics).

Consumption (Economics)--Social aspects--Great Britain--History--20th century.

Consumption (Economics)--Political aspects--Great Britain--History--20th century.

Consumers--Great Britain--History--20th century.

Consumers.

Consumer protection--Great Britain--History--20th century.

Consumer protection.

Great Britain--Economic conditions--20th century.

Great Britain.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiii, 382 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2003.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book is the first comprehensive history of consumerism as an organised social and political movement. Matthew Hilton offers a groundbreaking account of consumer movements, ideologies and organisations in twentieth-century Britain. He argues that in organisations such as the Co-operative movement and the Consumers' Association individual concern with what and how we spend our wages led to forms of political engagement too often overlooked in existing accounts of twentieth-century history. He explores how the consumer and consumerism came to be regarded by many as a third force in society with the potential to free politics from the perceived stranglehold of the self-interested actions of employers and trade unions. Finally he recovers the visions of countless consumer activists who saw in consumption a genuine force for liberation for women, the working class and new social movements as well as a set of ideas often deliberately excluded from more established political organisations.

Contents:

Socialism, co-operation, free trade and fair trade : the politics of consumption in the nineteenth century

Revolutionary shoppers : the Consumers' Council and scarcity in World War One

The right to live : consumer 'ideology' in inter-war Britain

The price of depression : consumer politics in inter-war Britain

Austerity to affluence : the twilight of the politics of necessity

The new consumer : good housewives and enlightened businessmen

The professionals : the origins of the organised consumer movement

Individualism enshrined : the state and the consumer in the 1960s

The right to shop : consumerism and the economy

The duty of citizens : consumerism and society

Affluence or effluence : globalisation and ethical consumerism

The quantity or the quality of choice.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Includes bibliographical references (p. 344-370) and index.

ISBN:

1-107-13905-8

1-280-16161-2

0-511-12164-4

0-511-20492-2

0-511-06301-6

0-511-30778-0

0-511-61009-2

0-511-07147-7

OCLC:

252483867