| This study explores the reform of the British Labour Party since 1983. It investigates the organization's shift from Old Labour to New Labour, one of the most dramatic examples of party change in the twentieth century. To examine Labour's transition, this dissertation uses an analytical framework that conceptualizes party change as taking place in three separate stages: rehearsal, acceleration, and consolidation. Beyond identifying these various periods of reform, this investigation also seeks to understand why New Labour emerged. Central to this analysis is an evaluation of the role of party leaders, external elites, and public opinion. It is argued that these three variables were important during Labour's reform, especially party leaders. Reports from the Labour Party's annual conferences, editorials from The Guardian and The New Statesman, election manifestos, and opinion polls provide primary data for this project. |
