Fabianism was a reaction against Marxian socialism. It advocates (Bernard Shaw and Sidney Webb) re­stated socialism in the light of current economic trends of growing state control. They emphasized the inevitability of socialism and asserted that ultimately all the economic activities of the society would be controlled by the state.

In simple words the Fabian socialist laid great emphasis on state control. During the later part of the nineteenth century the trend was clearly in the direction of State control. The economically weaker classes were granted statutory protection by means of factory laws, health laws etc. and important branches of economic activity like postal services, run­ning of tramways, provision of gas and water etc. were taken over by public authorities.