Abstract
This article examines Alfred Russel Wallace’s political treatise The Revolt of Democracy (1913), analyzing his theoretical framework for addressing labor unrest and economic inequality in early 20th-century Britain. Wallace's work presents a comprehensive critique of competitive capitalism and proposes systematic government intervention to address structural poverty. Through close textual analysis and comparison with contemporary UK labor conditions, this study evaluates the enduring relevance of Wallace's economic theories and policy prescriptions. The analysis reveals significant continuities between early 20th-century and contemporary debates about living wages, government employment standards, and wealth redistribution, while highlighting both the prescience and limitations of Wallace’s analytical framework.
Disciplines
Economic History | European History | International and Comparative Labor Relations | Labor Economics | Labor History | Political Economy | Political History | Unions
Recommended Citation
Williams, James and Smith editor, Charles H., "Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 38. Alfred Russel Wallace's "Revolt of Democracy": A Critical Analysis of Early 20th Century Labor Theory and Its Contemporary Relevance" (2025). Faculty/Staff Personal Papers. Paper 361.
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/fac_staff_papers/361
Included in
Economic History Commons, European History Commons, International and Comparative Labor Relations Commons, Labor Economics Commons, Labor History Commons, Political Economy Commons, Political History Commons, Unions Commons