''The Open Conspiracy: Blue Prints for a World Revolution'' was published in 1928 by

H. G. Wells Herbert George Wells"Wells, H. G."
Revised 18 May 2015. ''

The World of William Clissold''. The book is, in Wells's words, a "scheme to thrust forward and establish a human control over the destinies of life and liberate it from its present dangers, uncertainties and miseries." It proposes that largely as the result of scientific progress, a common vision of a world "politically, socially and economically unified" is emerging among educated and influential people, and that this can be the basis of "a world revolution aiming at universal peace, welfare and happy activity" that can result in the establishment of a "world commonwealth". This is to be achieved by "drawing together a proportion of all or nearly all the functional classes in contemporary communities in order to weave the beginnings of a world community out of their selection." This will ultimately "be a world religion."

Summary

In the original edition, Wells begins by discussing religion, arguing that its essence is the subordination of self. "Modern religion," according to Wells, is the application of this human characteristic to the realisation of "better order in human affairs." What is contemplated is not a stable order, but rather a dynamic, changing state of affairs in which scientific research and creative activity become the chief preoccupations of a humanity that has solved the problems of subsistence, population control, and the suppression of war. Wells analyses anticipated sources of resistance to his Open Conspiracy in three lengthy chapters, and takes a hostile stance against the "false loyalties, false standards of honour, false religious associations" that are "vestiges of the ancient order" with which there can be no compromise. The Open Conspiracy's initial tasks are to be (1) explanation and propaganda, and (2) the organisation of open and explicit "refusal to serve in any war." Beyond that, he advocates the formation of thousands of ''ad hoc'' groups of all kinds, and anticipates that adherents of the movement will gradually separate themselves from existing society by forming their own schools and social life. Wells proposes the following "broad essential requirements" for "independent initiatives in the Open Conspiracy": "(1) The complete assertion . . . of the provision nature of existing governments . . . ; (2) The resolve to minimise . . . the conflicts of these governments; (3) The determination to replace private local or national ownership of at least credit, transport and staple production by a responsible world directorate . . . ; (4) The practical recognition of the necessity for world biological controls, for example, of population and disease; (5) The support of a minimum standard of individual freedom and welfare in the world; and (6) The supreme duty of subordinating the personal life to the creation of a world directorate capable of these tasks and to the general advancement of human knowledge, capacity and power." While hoping that the progress of the movement can be pacifistic, Wells expresses a willingness to accept hardship and martyrdom if need be: "The vision of a world at peace and liberated for an unending growth of knowledge and power is worth every danger of the way."

Reception

''The Open Conspiracy'' sold well and was well received by friends like

Bertrand Russell Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, (18 May 1872 – 2 February 1970) was a British mathematician, philosopher, logician, and public intellectual. He had a considerable influence on mathematics, logic, set theory, linguistics, ...

, who said he read it "with the most complete sympathy." Some Open Conspiracy organisations were formed in a number of countries and a common newsletter was published. Wells discussed the ideas at luncheons with some leading British politicians, including Lloyd George, Harold Macmillan, and Harold Nicolson. The H. G. Wells Society set up by

Gerald Heard Henry FitzGerald Heard (6 October 1889 – 14 August 1971), commonly called Gerald Heard, was a British-born American historian, science writer, public lecturer, educator, and philosopher. He wrote many articles and over 35 books. Heard was a g ...

in 1934 to promote Wells' ideas at one point changed its name to "The Open Conspiracy". Both the book's form and content were criticised by

George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence simply as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from ...

, who thought that Wells dismissed

Karl Marx Karl Heinrich Marx (; 5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883) was a German philosopher, economist, historian, sociologist, political theorist, journalist, critic of political economy, and socialist revolutionary. His best-known titles are the 1848 ...

too readily and wrote in the style of an editorialist. G. K. Chesterton was also critical. Wells' biographer Michael Sherborne notes that while Wells' critics have described ''The Open Conspiracy'' as anti-democratic and elitist, his supporters have argued the book is "a boost for a civil society realized today by bodies such as Greenpeace and Amnesty International."Michael Sherborne, ''H.G. Wells: Another Kind of Life'' (London: Peter Owen, 2010) p. 286.

References

External links

*
H. G. Wells, The Open Conspiracy
Passages from the text. {{DEFAULTSORT:Open Conspiracy, The 1928 non-fiction books Political books Books by H. G. Wells

Summary

Reception

See also

References

External links