28-686: Labor history is a sub-discipline of social history which specializes on the history of the working classes and the labor movement. Labor history and labour history may refer to: Labor history Labor history is a sub-discipline of social history which specializes on the history of the working classes and the labor movement . Labor historians may concern themselves with issues of gender, race, ethnicity, and other factors besides class but chiefly focus on urban or industrial societies which distinguishes it from rural history . The central concerns of labor historians include industrial relations and forms of labor protest (strikes, lock-outs),
56-450: A postmodernist approach, emphasizing the importance of language and questioning whether classes could be so considered if they did not use a "language of class". Other historians emphasized the weaknesses and moderation of the historic labor movement, arguing that social development had been characterized more by accommodation, acceptance of the social order and cross-class collaboration than by conflict and dramatic change. Labor history in
84-450: A postmodernist approach, emphasizing the importance of language and questioning whether classes could be so considered if they did not use a "language of class". Other historians emphasized the weaknesses and moderation of the historic labor movement, arguing that social development had been characterized more by accommodation, acceptance of the social order and cross-class collaboration than by conflict and dramatic change. Labor history in
112-519: A class analysis: for example, C. L. R. James , a Marxist who wrote about the struggles of blacks in the Haitian Revolution . Others questioned whether class was a more important social category than gender or race and pointed to racism, patriarchy and other examples of division and oppression within the working class. Labor history remains centered on two fundamental sets of interest: institutional histories of workers' organizations, and
140-451: A class analysis: for example, C. L. R. James , a Marxist who wrote about the struggles of blacks in the Haitian Revolution . Others questioned whether class was a more important social category than gender or race and pointed to racism, patriarchy and other examples of division and oppression within the working class. Labor history remains centered on two fundamental sets of interest: institutional histories of workers' organizations, and
168-507: A more traditional liberal historian, explains the dynamic: Morgan sees benefits: Morgan tells of the downside as well: Thompson and Hobsbawm were Marxists who were critical of the existing labor movement in Britain. They were concerned to approach history "from below" and to explore the agency and activity of working people at the workplace, in protest movements and in social and cultural activities. Thompson's seminal study The Making of
196-452: A more traditional liberal historian, explains the dynamic: Morgan sees benefits: Morgan tells of the downside as well: Thompson and Hobsbawm were Marxists who were critical of the existing labor movement in Britain. They were concerned to approach history "from below" and to explore the agency and activity of working people at the workplace, in protest movements and in social and cultural activities. Thompson's seminal study The Making of
224-723: The Treaty of Shimonoseki brought the growth of factories and a new working class in the country. Canada United States Europe International Labor and Working-Class History Labor history is a sub-discipline of social history which specializes on the history of the working classes and the labor movement . Labor historians may concern themselves with issues of gender, race, ethnicity, and other factors besides class but chiefly focus on urban or industrial societies which distinguishes it from rural history . The central concerns of labor historians include industrial relations and forms of labor protest (strikes, lock-outs),
252-526: The "history from below" approach of the Marxist historians. Despite the influence of the Marxists, many labor historians rejected the revolutionary implications implicit in the work of Thompson, Hobsbawm et al. In the 1980s, the importance of class itself, as an historical social relationship and explanatory concept, began to be widely challenged. Some notable labor historians turned from Marxism to embrace
280-415: The "history from below" approach of the Marxist historians. Despite the influence of the Marxists, many labor historians rejected the revolutionary implications implicit in the work of Thompson, Hobsbawm et al. In the 1980s, the importance of class itself, as an historical social relationship and explanatory concept, began to be widely challenged. Some notable labor historians turned from Marxism to embrace
308-495: The English Working Class was particularly influential in setting a new agenda for labor historians and locating the importance of the study of labor for social history in general. Also in the 1950s and 1960s, historians began to give serious attention to groups who had previously been largely neglected, such as women and non-caucasian ethnic groups. Some historians situated their studies of gender and race within
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#1732794386353336-422: The English Working Class was particularly influential in setting a new agenda for labor historians and locating the importance of the study of labor for social history in general. Also in the 1950s and 1960s, historians began to give serious attention to groups who had previously been largely neglected, such as women and non-caucasian ethnic groups. Some historians situated their studies of gender and race within
364-473: The United States is primarily based in history departments, with occasional representation inside labor unions. The scholarship deals with the institutional history of labor unions and the social history of workers. In recent years there's been special attention to historically marginal groups, especially blacks, women, Hispanics and Asians. The Study Group on International Labor and Working-Class History
392-410: The United States is primarily based in history departments, with occasional representation inside labor unions. The scholarship deals with the institutional history of labor unions and the social history of workers. In recent years there's been special attention to historically marginal groups, especially blacks, women, Hispanics and Asians. The Study Group on International Labor and Working-Class History
420-463: The field is declining, and stresses its innovation, modification and renewal. Kirk also detects a move into conservative insularity and academicism. He recommends a more extensive and critical engagement with the kinds of comparative, transnational and global concerns increasingly popular among labor historians elsewhere, and calls for a revival of public and political interest in the topics. Meanwhile, Navickas, (2011) examines recent scholarship including
448-463: The field is declining, and stresses its innovation, modification and renewal. Kirk also detects a move into conservative insularity and academicism. He recommends a more extensive and critical engagement with the kinds of comparative, transnational and global concerns increasingly popular among labor historians elsewhere, and calls for a revival of public and political interest in the topics. Meanwhile, Navickas, (2011) examines recent scholarship including
476-460: The field was "designed to service and celebrate the Labor movement." In the 1950s to 1970s, labor history was redefined and expanded in focus by a number of historians, amongst whom the most prominent and influential figures were E. P. Thompson and Eric Hobsbawm . The motivation came from current left-wing politics in Britain and the United States and reached red-hot intensity. Kenneth O. Morgan ,
504-408: The field was "designed to service and celebrate the Labor movement." In the 1950s to 1970s, labor history was redefined and expanded in focus by a number of historians, amongst whom the most prominent and influential figures were E. P. Thompson and Eric Hobsbawm . The motivation came from current left-wing politics in Britain and the United States and reached red-hot intensity. Kenneth O. Morgan ,
532-560: The focus of labor history was often on institutions: chiefly the labor unions and political parties. Exponents of this institutional approach included Sidney and Beatrice Webb . The work of the Webbs, and other pioneers of the discipline, was marked by optimism about the capacity of the labor movement to effect fundamental social change and a tendency to see its development as a process of steady, inevitable and unstoppable progress. As two contemporary labor historians have noted, early work in
560-508: The focus of labor history was often on institutions: chiefly the labor unions and political parties. Exponents of this institutional approach included Sidney and Beatrice Webb . The work of the Webbs, and other pioneers of the discipline, was marked by optimism about the capacity of the labor movement to effect fundamental social change and a tendency to see its development as a process of steady, inevitable and unstoppable progress. As two contemporary labor historians have noted, early work in
588-528: The formation of the Society for the Study of Labour History in 1960. He reports that labor history has been mostly pragmatic, eclectic and empirical; it has played an important role in historiographical debates, such as those revolving around history from below, institutionalism versus the social history of labor, class, populism, gender, language, postmodernism and the turn to politics. Kirk rejects suggestions that
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#1732794386353616-421: The formation of the Society for the Study of Labour History in 1960. He reports that labor history has been mostly pragmatic, eclectic and empirical; it has played an important role in historiographical debates, such as those revolving around history from below, institutionalism versus the social history of labor, class, populism, gender, language, postmodernism and the turn to politics. Kirk rejects suggestions that
644-426: The histories of collective action, environment and human ecology, and gender issues, with a focus on work by James Epstein, Malcolm Chase , and Peter Jones. Outside the Marxist orbit, social historians paid a good deal of attention to labor history as well. Addison notes that in Britain by the 1990s, labor history was, "in sharp decline", because: For most of its history China had a limited industrial sector, but
672-426: The histories of collective action, environment and human ecology, and gender issues, with a focus on work by James Epstein, Malcolm Chase , and Peter Jones. Outside the Marxist orbit, social historians paid a good deal of attention to labor history as well. Addison notes that in Britain by the 1990s, labor history was, "in sharp decline", because: For most of its history China had a limited industrial sector, but
700-412: The rise of mass politics (especially the rise of socialism ) and the social and cultural history of the industrial working classes . Labor history developed in tandem with the growth of a self-conscious working-class political movement in many Western countries in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Whilst early labor historians were drawn to protest movements such as Luddism and Chartism ,
728-412: The rise of mass politics (especially the rise of socialism ) and the social and cultural history of the industrial working classes . Labor history developed in tandem with the growth of a self-conscious working-class political movement in many Western countries in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Whilst early labor historians were drawn to protest movements such as Luddism and Chartism ,
756-801: Was established: 1971 and has a membership of 1000. It publishes International Labor and Working-Class History . H-LABOR is a daily email-based discussion group formed in 1993 that reaches over a thousand scholars and advanced students. the Labor and Working-Class History Association formed in 1988 and publishes Labor: Studies in Working-Class History of the Americas . Prominent scholars include John R. Commons (1862–1945), David Brody (b. 1930), Melvyn Dubofsky , David Montgomery (1927–2011), and Joseph A. McCartin (born 1959). Kirk (2010) surveys labor historiography in Britain since
784-621: Was established: 1971 and has a membership of 1000. It publishes International Labor and Working-Class History . H-LABOR is a daily email-based discussion group formed in 1993 that reaches over a thousand scholars and advanced students. the Labor and Working-Class History Association formed in 1988 and publishes Labor: Studies in Working-Class History of the Americas . Prominent scholars include John R. Commons (1862–1945), David Brody (b. 1930), Melvyn Dubofsky , David Montgomery (1927–2011), and Joseph A. McCartin (born 1959). Kirk (2010) surveys labor historiography in Britain since
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