Thomas Humphrey Marshall
Encyclopedia
Thomas Humphrey Marshall (1893-1981) was a British
sociologist, most noted for his essays, such as the essay collection Citizenship and Social Class.
He was born in 1893 and educated at Rugby School
, and Trinity College
, Cambridge University. He was a civilian prisoner in Germany during World War One.
From 1914-18 he was a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge and then joined the LSE as a lecturer between 1919-25. He went on to become the Head of the Social Science Department, London School of Economics
from 1939-44.
, entitled "Citizenship and Social Class". This was published in 1950, based on a lecture given the previous year. He analysed the development of citizenship as a development of civil
, then political, then social rights. These were broadly assigned to the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries respectively. His distinctive contribution was to introduce the concept of social rights
. Social Rights are awarded not on the basis of class or need, but rather on the status of citizenship. He claimed that the extension of social rights does not entail the destruction of social classes and inequality. T.H. Marshall was a close friend and admirer of L.T. Hobhouse, and his conception of citizenship emerged from a series of lectures given by Hobhouse in LSE. Hobhouse is more philosophical, whereas Marshall is under the influence of measures taken by Lord Beveridge after the WWII. All of these people were involved in a turn in liberal thought that was called "new liberalism
", a liberalism with a social conscience.
Marshall's analysis of citizenship has been criticized on the basis that it only applies to males in England
(Note: England rather than Britain). Marxist critics point out that Marshall's analysis is superficial as it does not discuss the right of the citizen to control economic production, which they argue is necessary for sustained shared prosperity. From a feminist perspective, the work of Marshall is highly constricted in being focused on men and ignoring the social rights of women and impediments to their realization. There is a debate among scholars about whether Marshall intended his historical analysis to be interpreted as a general theory of citizenship or whether the essay was just a commentary on developments within England.Many of the criticisms of Marshall's essay, which was reprinted 7 times including an American version, are quite superficial. The essay has been used by editors to promote more equality in society, including the "Black" vote in the USA, and against Mrs. Thatcher in a 1992 edition prefaced by Tom Bottomore. It is an Anglo-Saxon interpretation of the evolution of "rights" in a pacific reform mode, rather than the revolutionary interpretations of Charles Tilly
, the other great theoretician of citizenship in the twentieth century, who bases his readings in the developments of the French Revolution
.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
sociologist, most noted for his essays, such as the essay collection Citizenship and Social Class.
He was born in 1893 and educated at Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
, and Trinity College
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, Cambridge University. He was a civilian prisoner in Germany during World War One.
From 1914-18 he was a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge and then joined the LSE as a lecturer between 1919-25. He went on to become the Head of the Social Science Department, London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
from 1939-44.
Ideas
T.H. Marshall wrote a seminal essay on citizenshipCitizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
, entitled "Citizenship and Social Class". This was published in 1950, based on a lecture given the previous year. He analysed the development of citizenship as a development of civil
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
, then political, then social rights. These were broadly assigned to the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries respectively. His distinctive contribution was to introduce the concept of social rights
Social rights
Economic, social and cultural rights are socio-economic human rights, such as the right to education, right to housing, right to adequate standard of living and the right to health. Economic, social and cultural rights are recognised and protected in international and regional human rights...
. Social Rights are awarded not on the basis of class or need, but rather on the status of citizenship. He claimed that the extension of social rights does not entail the destruction of social classes and inequality. T.H. Marshall was a close friend and admirer of L.T. Hobhouse, and his conception of citizenship emerged from a series of lectures given by Hobhouse in LSE. Hobhouse is more philosophical, whereas Marshall is under the influence of measures taken by Lord Beveridge after the WWII. All of these people were involved in a turn in liberal thought that was called "new liberalism
New liberalism
New Liberalism is a book by Matthew Kalkman that examines the evolution of Liberalism from its early beginnings to its potential future incarnations. The author argues that New Liberalism is the next step in this evolution: the notion that, in order for a society to be maintained and to evolve, it...
", a liberalism with a social conscience.
Marshall's analysis of citizenship has been criticized on the basis that it only applies to males in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
(Note: England rather than Britain). Marxist critics point out that Marshall's analysis is superficial as it does not discuss the right of the citizen to control economic production, which they argue is necessary for sustained shared prosperity. From a feminist perspective, the work of Marshall is highly constricted in being focused on men and ignoring the social rights of women and impediments to their realization. There is a debate among scholars about whether Marshall intended his historical analysis to be interpreted as a general theory of citizenship or whether the essay was just a commentary on developments within England.Many of the criticisms of Marshall's essay, which was reprinted 7 times including an American version, are quite superficial. The essay has been used by editors to promote more equality in society, including the "Black" vote in the USA, and against Mrs. Thatcher in a 1992 edition prefaced by Tom Bottomore. It is an Anglo-Saxon interpretation of the evolution of "rights" in a pacific reform mode, rather than the revolutionary interpretations of Charles Tilly
Charles Tilly
Charles Tilly was an American sociologist, political scientist, and historian who wrote on the relationship between politics and society. He was the Joseph L. Buttenwieser Professor of Social Science at Columbia University....
, the other great theoretician of citizenship in the twentieth century, who bases his readings in the developments of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
.
External links
- Catalogue of the Marshall papers held at LSE Archives
- Thomas Humphrey Marshall at the National Portrait Gallery