The constant liberal : Pierre Trudeau, organized labour, and the Canadian social democratic left

Pierre Elliott Trudeau - radical progressive or unavowed socialist? His legacy remains divisive.__The Constant Liberal__traces the charismatic politician's relationship with the left and labour movements throughout his career. Christo Aivalis argues that Trudeau was in fact a consistently classic liberal, driven by individualist and capitalist principles. This comprehensive analysis showcases the interplay between liberalism and democratic socialism that defined Trudeau's world view - and shaped his use of power.__The Constant Liberal__suggests that Trudeau's leftist activity was less a call for social democracy than a warning to fellow liberals that lack of reform could undermine liberal-capitalist social relations. "Pierre Elliott Trudeau--radical progressive or unavowed socialist? Christo Aivalis argues that although Trudeau found key influences and friendships on the left, he was in fact a consistently classic liberal, driven by individualist, capitalist principles. Trudeau's legacy is still divisive. Most scholars portray Trudeau's ties to unions and the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation as either evidence of communist affinities or as being at the root of his reputation as the champion of a progressive, modern Canada. The Constant Liberal traces the charismatic politician's relationship with left and labour movements throughout his career. Trudeau worked with leftists in the 1950s to oppose right-wing Quebec premier Maurice Duplessis but against them as prime minister when workers and progressives were seen as obstacles to higher corporate profit margins. While numerous biographies have noted the impact of Trudeau's engagement with the left on his intellectual and political development, this comprehensive analysis is the first to showcase the interplay between liberalism and democratic socialism that defined his world view--and shaped his effective use of power. The Constant Liberal suggests that Trudeau's leftist activity was not so much a call for social democracy as a warning to fellow liberals that lack of reform could undermine liberal-capitalist social relations."-- Résumé de l'éditeur "Pierre Elliott Trudeau--radical progressive or unavowed socialist? Christo Aivalis argues that although Trudeau found key influences and friendships on the left, he was in fact a consistently classic liberal, driven by individualist, capitalist principles. Trudeau's legacy is still divisive. Most scholars portray Trudeau's ties to unions and the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation as either evidence of communist affinities or as being at the root of his reputation as the champion of a progressive, modern Canada. The Constant Liberal traces the charismatic politician's relationship with left and labour movements throughout his career. Trudeau worked with leftists in the 1950s to oppose right-wing Quebec premier Maurice Duplessis but against them as prime minister when workers and progressives were seen as obstacles to higher corporate profit margins. While numerous biographies have noted the impact of Trudeau's engagement with the left on his intellectual and political development, this comprehensive analysis is the first to showcase the interplay between liberalism and democratic socialism that defined his world view--and shaped his effective use of power. The Constant Liberal suggests that Trudeau's leftist activity was not so much a call for social democracy as a warning to fellow liberals that lack of reform could undermine liberal-capitalist social relations."-- Provided by publisher Pierre Elliott Trudeau - radical progressive or unavowed socialist? His legacy remains divisive. The Constant Liberal traces the charismatic politician's relationship with the left and labour movements throughout his career. Christo Aivalis argues that Trudeau was in fact a consistently classic liberal, driven by individualist and capitalist principles. This comprehensive analysis showcases the interplay between liberalism and democratic socialism that defined Trudeau's world view - and shaped his use of power. The Constant Liberal suggests that Trudeau's leftist activity was less a call for social democracy than a warning to fellow liberals that lack of reform could undermine liberal-capitalist social relations. Challenging interpretations of Pierre Elliott Trudeau as either the founder of a progressive Canada or an unavowed and destructive socialist, this book argues that he was in fact a staunch defender of capitalist values who helped make the country more conservative.