About us

Who we are

We are a left-leaning think tank dedicated to new public policy and political ideas

We are a membership movement, active throughout Britain and open to everyone on the left

We are a democratically governed socialist society, an affiliate to the Labour party and one of its original founders

We don’t have organisational policy views and instead embrace debate and difference

We champion and celebrate Fabianism, the belief that radical long-term goals are best advanced through empirical, practical, gradual reform

A think tank and a membership network

The Fabian Society is an independent left-leaning think tank and a democratic membership society with over 7,000 members. We influence political and public thinking and provide a space for broad and open-minded debate. The Fabian Society:

• Publishes insight, analysis and opinion in print and online
• Conducts research and undertakes major policy inquiries
• Convenes conferences, speaker meetings and roundtables
• Facilitates member debate and activism right across the UK

As a think tank we have a big impact on political and policy debate. Our staff team in London and Edinburgh work with a wide network of leading politicians and policy experts to develop and promote new ideas and to influence the climate of political opinion.

Our members are at the heart of everything we do. They set the society’s direction, through member meetings, elections and committees. They shape our programme as contributors and volunteers. And each year hundreds of activities are organised by and for our members by autonomous sections of the society – the Young Fabians, the Fabian Women’s Network, the Scottish Fabians, the Welsh Fabians – and by 50 affiliated local Fabian societies.

What we stand for

The Fabian Society is a socialist organisation which aims to promote:

• greater equality of power, wealth and opportunity
• the value of collective action and public service
• an accountable, tolerant and active democracy
• citizenship, liberty and human rights
• sustainable development
• multilateral international cooperation

The society is a place for open debate where disagreement is expected and respected. As an organisation we have no collective positions and we do not campaign for particular policies. Everyone who writes or speaks for the Fabians does so in their own name, without committing the society.

Fabianism (noun) ‘the beliefs, principles, or practices of the Fabian Society’ – Collins English Dictionary

The Fabian tradition informs how we think and what we do. No other think tank has an ‘ism’ of its own. Our commitment to Fabianism means we believe in the fight against inequality, the power of collective action and an internationalist outlook. We believe in social progress, evidence, expertise, rationality and long-termism. We advocate gradualist, reformist and democratic means in a journey towards radical ends. We are a pluralist movement and create space for open debate.

Our partners

The Labour Party: The Fabian Society is the labour movement’s independent think tank. We are one of the original founders of the Labour party and are constitutionally affiliated to the party as a socialist society. We have a stake in Labour’s democratic processes at local, regional and national level. But we are wholly independent of the party editorially, organisationally and financially.

Project partners: At the level of individual projects we work with a wide range of partners of all political persuasions and none, including companies, trade bodies, trade unions and charities. Find out about partnerships with the society.

Affiliates and subscribers: Organisations in sympathy with our values can affiliate to the society – for example trade unions and units of the Labour party. Non-political organisations can take an institutional subscription. Email us to subscribe or affiliate.

International: We are affiliated to the EU think tank the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS). Our sister organisations the Australian Fabian Society and the New Zealand Fabian Society are totally independent from the UK Fabians.