A biographical approach to the study of labour and European integration

Abstract

The Labour Party has long grappled with Britain’s relationship with European integration, characterized by leadership vacillation and deep-seated internal conflicts. This introductory chapter argues that these divisions have been oversimplified into binary 'pro' or 'anti' categorizations and that what is required instead is a more nuanced understanding of the party’s complex relationship with Europe. To do this, it proposes using biography to trace the relative significance of formative experiences and influences. The introduction delineates the value of the biographical approach, which helps to reveal the multiplicity of views towards ‘Europe’ that have existed in the party, where and how these views may have changed over time, and how individuals utilized formal party structures and informal networks to shape Labour’s European policy. The introduction further highlights the value of including underappreciated voices, particularly female Labour figures, into the story in order to arrive at a fuller understanding of Labour’s European policy.