Corbynism in Perspective

Jeremy Corbyn proved to be one of Labour’s most popular and yet one of its most divisive leaders amongst the membership. From his surprise election in 2015, he was characterized as both hero and villain. A conviction politician, determined to do things his way, he was leader of the opposition during one of the most fraught and difficult periods in modern history. And yet, despite opposing a minority government, Corbyn made little headway in uniting his own party and translating the country’s discontent into ballot success.

In this collection of carefully researched essays, Corbyn’s influence on and legacy for the Labour Party are assessed. Each chapter focuses on an aspect of his time in office, his approach, his political thought and policy formation in an attempt to posit what constitutes “Corbynism”. Chapters assess his leadership style, his attitude towards antisemitism and women in the party, his controversial foreign policy positions, as well as his views on the European Union. The essays also engage with a range of wider debates about populism, identity politics and fandom.

1. Introduction: "Oh, Jeremy Corbyn!" The mission to renew Labour
Andrew S. Roe-Crines
2. The election and re-election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party
Timothy Heppell and Thomas McMeeking
3. Corbynism: a coherent ideology?
Bradley Ward and Peter Kerr
4. Is Corbyn a populist?
David Jeffery
5. Corbynism as identity politics
Harry W. Fletcher
6. An end to market mania and managerialist madness: Corbyn(ism) and the public sector
Peter Dorey
7. Jeremy Corbyn and the dilemmas of leadership
Mark Bennister and Ben Worthy
8. The absolute boy versus magic grandpa: Jeremy Corbyn and gender politics
Rosalynd Southern and Emily Harmer
9. Who are the Corbynites?
Glen O’Hara
10. Jeremy Corbyn in historical perspective
Lise Butler
11. Labour under Corbyn: zigzagging towards Brexit
Eunice Goes
12. Corbyn, the constitution and constitutional premiership: breaking Bennism?
Steven Daniels
13. Jeremy Corbyn’s foreign policy
Mark Garnett and Richard Johnson
14. Corbyn and antisemitism
Andrew Barclay
15. Fan wars: Jeremy Corbyn, fans and the "antis"
Phoenix C. S. Andrews
16. Corbyn and leadership satisfaction ratings
Timothy Heppell and Thomas McMeeking