Youth, Empire and Society

The last decade of the nineteenth century and the first of the twentieth were marked by growing industrial and social uncertainty in Britain. Domestically, the expanding influence of socialism and, internationally, the rising threat from Germany – set against the backdrop of the disastrous South African War – undermined confidence in Britain’s ability to preserve its empire. In response, the ruling elite placed renewed emphasis on promoting national unity through cultural and social initiatives.

First published in 1977, Youth, Empire and Society explores the youth movements that emerged during this turbulent period. The book delves into how these movements were deliberately designed to reinforce social conformity, instil ideological values in the younger generation, and counteract signs of juvenile restlessness.

The author examines five key movements – Boy’s Brigades, ethnoreligious Lads’ Brigades, Cadet Corps, Boy Scouts, and Woodcraft groups. He traces their formation, growth, and eventual decline. The book also reveals how, by the 1920s, alternative youth movements with anti-imperialist and anti-militarist ideologies began to emerge, offering an alternative ideological foundation to the more mainstream organisations.