Labor Parties in Postindustrial Societies

by Frances Fox Piven (Editor)

The political landscape created by industrialization in the first half of the twentieth century has become increasingly unstable as the industrial labor force contracts, eroding support for labor parties on a global scale. This volume examines challenges faced by labor in the West over the last decade, through a comparative study of labor-based political parties in the United States, England, France, West Germany, Sweden, Israel and Canada. The contributors, internationally-recognized sociologists and political scientists, examine factors contributing to the growth, maintenance or decline of these parties, while Piven offers a comprehensive overview of labor politics and shows how the history of labor parties in other countries helps make sense of the postwar history of the Democratic party in the U.S.

304 pages, Paperback

First published February 13, 1992

About the author

Frances Fox Piven is an American professor of political science and sociology at The Graduate Center, City University of New York, where she has taught since 1982. Piven is known equally for her contributions to social theory and for her social activism.