From Ernest Bevin to Anthony Eden, 1945-57
22 January 2027
2:00-3:30pm
Online or Rewley House 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA
Event status:
Applications being accepted
Location:
Online or Rewley House 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA
Dates:
22 January 2027
Study Format:
Online - live
Fees:
From £15.00 to £18.00
When the process of European integration was launched in the early 1950s with the European Coal & Steel Community (ECSC), Herbert Morrison famously said that the ‘Durham Miners won’t wear it’. Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin agreed.
To Labour ministers, the nationalisation of coal and steel had been a manifesto commitment, widely popular with the trade unions and the supra – national ECSC was ideologically unacceptable. Moreover, Bevin was focusing on the issues of NATO and nuclear weapons and had little time, or inclination, for the wider European project.
On returning to power, Churchill favoured European integration but saw the UK as an external sponsor rather than an internal participant. Anthony Eden was of the same view, rejecting any notion of joining a European ‘federation’.
Was this an era of missed opportunity for the UK to join? Or did UK statesmen have valid reasons for remaining aloof?
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You can either register for this individual lecture by clicking 'Book Now' on this page or you can register for the whole lecture series for a discounted fee here.
Please note: enrolments for this lecture and the whole series will close at 23:59 GMT on 19 January 2027.
Book this course
You can opt to attend this teaching event either online (via a livestream) or in person at Rewley House, Oxford. You will be given the option of how you wish to attend during the enrolment process. You can only pick one option. If your preferred attendance format is fully booked, you can email us to be put on the waiting list. For those who wish to attend online, please read the IT requirements below before enrolling.
IT requirements
We will be using Zoom for the livestreaming of this lecture series. If you’re attending online, you’ll be able to see and hear the speakers, and to submit questions via the Zoom interface. Joining instructions will be sent out prior to the start date. We recommend that you join the session at least 10-15 minutes prior to the start time – just as you might arrive a bit early at our lecture theatre for an in-person event.
Please note that this lecture will not be recorded.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| In-person event fee (includes tea/coffee and a pastry) | £18.00 |
| Virtual event fee | £15.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Payment
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Dr Martin Holmes
Dr Martin Holmes is a member of the Senior Common Room at St Hugh’s College, where he was previously Lecturer in Politics for over 20 years. Additionally, he has been Director of the annual Nebraska at Oxford summer program since 1989. For Oxford Lifelong Learning, he has taught several syllabi on the Foundations of Diplomacy course over the past decade, as well as guest lectures for the Diplomatic Studies Program. A strong supporter of lifelong education, he has also been a regular lecturer for the University of the Third Age (U3A). A specialist in International Relations and European Integration, he is the author of seven books. His latest publication, a diplomatic history of 20th century Europe, was published by Routledge in August: From the Treaty of Versailles to the Treaty of Maastricht: Conflict, carnage and cooperation in Europe 1918 – 93.
Module code: O26P116DSL
Please use the ‘Book’ button on this page. Alternatively, please contact us to obtain an application form.
You can also register for the whole series.
You can opt to attend this teaching event either online (via a livestream) or in person at Rewley House, Oxford. You will be given the option of how you wish to attend during the enrolment process. You can only pick one option. If your preferred attendance format is fully booked, you can email us to be put on the waiting list. For those who wish to attend online, please read the IT requirements below before enrolling.
Image credits:
Sketch of Ernest Bevin by Arthur Boughey commissioned by the Ministry of Information during the Second World War (from the collections of The National Archives (United Kingdom))
Portrait of Anthony Eden by William Little (from the collections of The National Archives (United Kingdom))
