The Fate of Labour Socialism : The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and the Dream of a Working-Class Future

Almost a century before the New Democratic Party rode the first “orange wave,” their predecessors imagined a movement that could rally Canadians against economic insecurity, win access to necessary services such as health care, and confront the threat of war. The party they built during the Great Depression, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), permanently transformed the country’s politics. Past histories have described the CCF as social democrats guided by middle-class intellectuals, a party which shied away from labour radicalism and communist agitation. James Naylor’s assiduous research tells a very different story: a CCF created by working-class activists steeped in Marxist ideology who sought to create a movement that would be both loyal to its socialist principles and appealing to the wider electorate. __The Fate of Labour Socialism__ is a fundamental reexamination of the CCF and Canadian working-class politics in the 1930s, one that will help historians better understand Canada’s political, intellectual, and labour history. Almost A Century Before The New Democratic Party Rode The First Orange Wave, Their Predecessors Imagined A Movement That Could Rally Canadians Against Economic Insecurity, Win Access To Necessary Services Such As Health Care, And Confront The Threat Of War. The Party They Built During The Great Depression, The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (ccf), Permanently Transformed The Country's Politics. Past Histories Have Described The Ccf As Social Democrats Guided By Middle-class Intellectuals, A Party Which Shied Away From Labour Radicalism And Communist Agitation. James Naylor's Assiduous Research Tells A Very Different Story: A Ccf Created By Working-class Activists Steeped In Marxist Ideology Who Sought To Create A Movement That Would Be Both Loyal To Its Socialist Principles And Appealing To The Wider Electorate. The Fate Of Labour Socialism Is A Fundamental Reexamination Of The Ccf And Canadian Working-class Politics In The 1930s, One That Will Help Historians Better Understand Canada's Political, Intellectual, And Labour History.-- The Legacy Of Labour Socialism -- The Road To Regina -- Class War In The Ccf -- Challenges At Mid Decade -- The Popular Front And The Meaning Of Class -- The Problem And Consequences Of War. James Naylor. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Almost a century before the New Democratic Party rode the first "orange wave," their predecessors imagined a movement that could rally Canadians against economic insecurity, win access to necessary services such as health care, and confront the threat of war. The party they built during the Great Depression, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), permanently transformed the country's politics. Past histories have described the CCF as social democrats guided by middle-class intellectuals, a party which shied away from labour radicalism and communist agitation. James Naylor's assiduous research tells a very different story: a CCF created by working-class activists steeped in Marxist ideology who sought to create a movement that would be both loyal to its socialist principles and appealing to the wider electorate. The Fate of Labour Socialism is a fundamental reexamination of the CCF and Canadian working-class politics in the 1930s, one that will help historians better understand Canada's political, intellectual, and labour history."-- Provided by publisher Cover 1 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Epigraph 8 Contents 10 Acknowledgments 12 Abbreviations 14 Introduction 18 1 The Legacy of Labour Socialism 32 2 The Road to Regina 81 3 Class War in the CCF 127 4 Challenges at Mid-Decade 183 5 The Popular Front and the Meaning of Class 219 6 The Problem and Consequences of War 268 Conclusion: From Socialism to Social Democracy 317 Notes 332 Index 428