ABSTRACT
Fabianism, of all socialisms, is most consistently painted grey on grey. Sidney Webb’s early thinking about society, socialism and the future was plainly moral in motivation. As he explained to a prospective Fabienne, property brought with it the duty of stewardship. In Webb’s mind, this developmental trend toward socialism and municipal evolution was certain to impinge upon productive life as well as on consumption. Evolution itself led towards socialism for the young Sidney Webb. Co-operation was a principle which Sidney and Beatrice shared prior to their partnership. Indeed, it is striking that they both, in solitude, wrote on Marx, on political economy and on co-operation prior to the formation of the firm of Webb. Public administration, for Webb, then replaced ‘utopianism’. The Fabians, and especially the Webbs played up to this; they seemed almost happy to be ridiculed as they went about their business, doing committee work, scribbling endlessly, making acquaintances and influencing people.
