The labourist tradition

Author: Newman Andy  

Publisher: Lawrence and Wishart

ISSN: 1362-6620

Source: Soundings, Vol.44, Iss.1, 2010-03, pp. : 85-95

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Abstract

Labourism derives from the social experience of trade unions, who seek to mediate capitalist exploitation, but not to replace it. Labourism provides the parameters to left and to right of Labour Party politics. Over the course of the last hunded years the Labour Party has experienced several sharp transformations to redefine labourism, and can do so again. Blairism is arguably an aberration as being outside the parameter of labourism. The trade unions are inherently modern, voluntary membership institutions, and need to rescue the progressive core of labourism by being more politically assertive.