Fabian Society

Formed in the United Kingdom in 1884, the Fabian Society is a socialist “think tank” that derived its name from the ancient Roman politician and military strategist Fabius Maximus, who famously waged war through gradual and indirect means–campaigns of attrition rather than all-out attack. Although this was obviously slower and required considerable patience, he believed it yielded more durable victories.

Applying this principle to British politics, the Fabian Society promoted the pursuit of socialism through piecemeal reform rather than proletarian revolution, and through parliamentary legislation, not by overthrowing the state. This incremental strategy was expected to result, over time, in a series of measures to eradicate poverty and extremes of inequality, with the overall impact of such reforms being cumulative. The transition from capitalism to socialism ...