What do you think?
Rate this book
The Origins of the Lloyd George Coalition: The Politics of Social Imperialism, 1900-1918
This book examines the intrusion of imperialist modes of thought into the domestic politics of the Edwardian period and the war years. The author analyzes the fusion of social-imperialist ideology with the Lloyd George insurgency in the Liberal Party and reinforces the hypothesis that European imperialism in this era aligned itself with progressive Liberalism to form the chief defense against rising democratic and socialist forces. Major events of the war years such as the collapse of the Liberal Party and the dispute over war aims are shown to be the products of the continuing conflict between these forces rather than merely the result of the circumstances of war.
The author describes the development of the body of social-imperialist ideas and strategies between the Boer War and the formation of the Lloyd George Coalition of 1916. The political course of the Coalition idea is traced past the crisis of 1910 into the war years and the debate over plans for reconstruction. Thus, the Coalition of 1916 is seen mainly as an outgrowth of the prewar political crisis―a device originally designed as a response to domestic issues and adapted only later to the pressures of war. This original interpretation of the Coalition and its origins establishes the historical significance of social imperialism and places Lloyd George and the British right in new perspective.
Originally published in 1975.
The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.
The author describes the development of the body of social-imperialist ideas and strategies between the Boer War and the formation of the Lloyd George Coalition of 1916. The political course of the Coalition idea is traced past the crisis of 1910 into the war years and the debate over plans for reconstruction. Thus, the Coalition of 1916 is seen mainly as an outgrowth of the prewar political crisis―a device originally designed as a response to domestic issues and adapted only later to the pressures of war. This original interpretation of the Coalition and its origins establishes the historical significance of social imperialism and places Lloyd George and the British right in new perspective.
Originally published in 1975.
The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.
430 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 1975
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 8, 2025
Robert Scally’s The Origins of the Lloyd George Coalition (1967) offers a succinct yet incisive analysis of one of the most pivotal shifts in British political history: the collapse of Asquithian Liberalism and the formation of the wartime coalition government under David Lloyd George in December 1916. This monograph stands out for its methodical dissection of the political, institutional, and personal forces that led to the transformation of Britain’s wartime leadership, and ultimately to the fragmentation of the Liberal Party.
Scally’s central thesis is that the Lloyd George coalition did not emerge as an abrupt reaction to the exigencies of World War I but was the culmination of a set of long-developing tensions within the Liberal Party, exacerbated by wartime pressures and Lloyd George’s personal political ambition. Drawing upon cabinet papers, private correspondence, and contemporary press accounts, Scally reconstructs the political intrigues and machinations that undermined Prime Minister H. H. Asquith’s leadership and enabled Lloyd George, with the support of key Conservative allies, to ascend to power.
One of the book’s major strengths lies in its treatment of institutional inertia and ideological conflict within the pre-war and wartime Liberal Party. Scally is particularly adept at highlighting the contradictions between Liberal principles of non-intervention, voluntarism, and civil liberty, and the coercive demands of modern total war. These ideological strains, he argues, were intensified by Asquith’s indecisiveness and preference for collegiality, which contrasted sharply with Lloyd George’s dynamic, executive approach to governance.
Scally also pays close attention to the role of the press and public opinion, noting how the “new politics” of media and mobilization created a climate conducive to Lloyd George’s populist appeal. His portrait of Lloyd George is nuanced, recognizing both the Welshman’s remarkable administrative talents and his opportunistic flair. Yet, Scally avoids the hagiographic tone found in earlier biographies, instead presenting Lloyd George as a political actor deeply aware of the ideological vacuum into which he could step.
The narrative is strongest when detailing the political breakdown of December 1916: the formation of the so-called “War Cabinet,” the King’s role in constitutional ambiguity, and the swift Conservative decision to back Lloyd George over Asquith. Scally’s analysis of the Conservative-Liberal realignment is particularly important, foreshadowing the long-term decline of the Liberal Party and the rise of a bifurcated Conservative-Labour political order in Britain.
Some criticisms of Scally’s work include its limited engagement with broader social or economic factors and its relatively narrow focus on elite politics. While this focus allows for a rich analysis of intra-party maneuvering, it leaves underexplored the wider public context, such as labour unrest or the impact of conscription, which arguably influenced political developments as much as cabinet dynamics did. Moreover, in its brevity, the study sometimes assumes a level of prior knowledge of British political history that may deter non-specialist readers.
The Origins of the Lloyd George Coalition remains a valuable contribution to both British political history and the historiography of the First World War. Scally’s careful scholarship and his attention to political contingency offer critical insight into how leadership crises and party fragmentation can reshape democratic institutions during moments of national emergency. The book is indispensable for scholars of early 20th-century Britain, modern political leadership, and the wartime transformation of liberal democratic governance.
GPT
Scally’s central thesis is that the Lloyd George coalition did not emerge as an abrupt reaction to the exigencies of World War I but was the culmination of a set of long-developing tensions within the Liberal Party, exacerbated by wartime pressures and Lloyd George’s personal political ambition. Drawing upon cabinet papers, private correspondence, and contemporary press accounts, Scally reconstructs the political intrigues and machinations that undermined Prime Minister H. H. Asquith’s leadership and enabled Lloyd George, with the support of key Conservative allies, to ascend to power.
One of the book’s major strengths lies in its treatment of institutional inertia and ideological conflict within the pre-war and wartime Liberal Party. Scally is particularly adept at highlighting the contradictions between Liberal principles of non-intervention, voluntarism, and civil liberty, and the coercive demands of modern total war. These ideological strains, he argues, were intensified by Asquith’s indecisiveness and preference for collegiality, which contrasted sharply with Lloyd George’s dynamic, executive approach to governance.
Scally also pays close attention to the role of the press and public opinion, noting how the “new politics” of media and mobilization created a climate conducive to Lloyd George’s populist appeal. His portrait of Lloyd George is nuanced, recognizing both the Welshman’s remarkable administrative talents and his opportunistic flair. Yet, Scally avoids the hagiographic tone found in earlier biographies, instead presenting Lloyd George as a political actor deeply aware of the ideological vacuum into which he could step.
The narrative is strongest when detailing the political breakdown of December 1916: the formation of the so-called “War Cabinet,” the King’s role in constitutional ambiguity, and the swift Conservative decision to back Lloyd George over Asquith. Scally’s analysis of the Conservative-Liberal realignment is particularly important, foreshadowing the long-term decline of the Liberal Party and the rise of a bifurcated Conservative-Labour political order in Britain.
Some criticisms of Scally’s work include its limited engagement with broader social or economic factors and its relatively narrow focus on elite politics. While this focus allows for a rich analysis of intra-party maneuvering, it leaves underexplored the wider public context, such as labour unrest or the impact of conscription, which arguably influenced political developments as much as cabinet dynamics did. Moreover, in its brevity, the study sometimes assumes a level of prior knowledge of British political history that may deter non-specialist readers.
The Origins of the Lloyd George Coalition remains a valuable contribution to both British political history and the historiography of the First World War. Scally’s careful scholarship and his attention to political contingency offer critical insight into how leadership crises and party fragmentation can reshape democratic institutions during moments of national emergency. The book is indispensable for scholars of early 20th-century Britain, modern political leadership, and the wartime transformation of liberal democratic governance.
GPT
September 24, 2024
Read a free copy through the NYPL and project muse. Appreciated the in depth political coverage from the Boer War to the end of WW1 and how the UK ended up in a coalition government.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews