Ernest Bevin: sketches of a political portrait
Pages: 74-83 | DOI: 10.37724/RSU.2026.90.1.007 | UDK: 94(410).085
Vedilin N.A.
Ryazan State University named for S. A. Yesenin
Abstract
The article examines and analyzes the activities of Ernest Bevin as a trade unionist and political activist in the challenging conditions of the first half of the 20th century. Special attention is paid to his personal qualities, career growth and the alleged motivation of his actions. The author aims to explore the specifics of Bevin’s public and political career in terms of the British political and economic situation during the interwar period and during World War II. Of great interest is his apparent departure from the social democratic principles declared by the Labour Party after the end of trade union activity and as the level of responsibility increases while holding higher posts: Minister of Labor and then Minister of Foreign Affairs. The novelty of the article is due to lack of available studies in Russian historiography that concern E. Bevin’s personality, his decisions and actions in different periods of his life and their significance for the global political situation. The study identifies the motives behind the statesman’s actions in the evolution of his political preferences. Analysis of the available information leads to the conclusion that Bevin effectively abandoned his former convictions, despite maintaining his public social democratic rhetoric.
Keywords: Great Britain, General Strike of 1926, Labour Party, Minister of Foreign Affairs, E. Bevin
Funding:
none
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