Leftist politics changed at a fundamental level as the post-war era unfolded. In the previous chapter we explored some of the contextual factors that shaped these changes, but to develop a more detailed understanding of precisely how the left changed, we need to look more closely at the development of what became known as ‘The New Left’. In this chapter, we look at its two major intellectual constituencies: the New Left in Britain, which grew from the Marxist humanist tradition; and the New Left in Germany and the United States, which established what became known as ‘critical theory’.

Our analysis here moves away from the practical world of politics and economic planning to explore a range of intellectual matters. This is simply because it is in the realm of ideas that the roots of change are to be found. It would be a mistake to conclude that the intellectuals associated with the left during the post-war period had little or no influence upon the shape, content and approach of the left’s trade unions and political parties. The influence of the left’s intellectuals upon the practical world of politics is subtle, indirect and rather vague, but there can be little doubt that the intellectuals we discuss in this chapter and the next informed the left’s post-war remodelling. By identifying new goals and concerns, and developing new forms of critique, they encouraged the gradual evolution of the left’s political culture, which in turn prompted changes in the practical sphere of leftist politics.

The New Left in post-war Britain

The New Left in Britain had its roots in humanist Marxism. Humanist Marxists are generally committed to those aspects of Marx’s work that focused upon the negative effects of capitalism upon the individual. The phrase also implies an idealistic faith in the inherent rationality and decency of the individual, despite the corruptive influence of capitalist enterprise.

In the early part of his career, Marx was more concerned with the inner life of workers. His writing had a romantic air that fell away quite sharply as he became more concerned with the ‘economic shit’ that was to preoccupy him as he endeavoured to bring Capital – his life’s work – to a satisfactory conclusion.