Colm Murphy
Historian of modern British and Irish politics and political economy at Queen Mary University of London, author of Futures of Socialism (Cambridge UP, 2023) based on his PhD work and research on social democracy and economic policy in late 20th-century Britain.
Best podcasts with Colm Murphy
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Dec 13, 2025 • 1h 10min
Colm Murphy, "Futures of Socialism: ‘Modernisation', the Labour Party, and the British Left, 1973–1997" (Cambridge UP, 2023)
Colm Murphy, a historian at Queen Mary University of London, dives into the dramatic shifts within the Labour Party from 1973 to 1997, charting its evolution amid crushing defeats and ideological crises. He critiques the concept of 'modernisation,' revealing its multifaceted interpretations that shaped the left's response to neoliberalism and globalization. Murphy also highlights the impact of feminist voices on policy, the complexities of race within the party, and how New Labour navigated its multicultural stance, ultimately questioning social democracy's identity and future.
Dec 13, 2025 • 1h 10min
Colm Murphy, "Futures of Socialism: ‘Modernisation', the Labour Party, and the British Left, 1973–1997" (Cambridge UP, 2023)
Colm Murphy, a historian at Queen Mary University of London, dives deep into the transformative years of the Labour Party from 1973 to 1997. He reveals how intellectual debates shaped modern socialism and how think tanks empowered Labour leadership. The discussion explores globalization's impact on Labour thinking, the evolution of gender policy activism, and the black sections controversy. Murphy highlights the lessons of pluralism and coherence for today's left, ultimately reflecting on the complex legacy of modernization within social democracy.
