1st Edition
The British Communist Party and the Trade Unions, 1933–1945
By Nina Fishman
Copyright 1995
394 Pages
by
Routledge
394 Pages
by
Routledge
Also available as eBook on:
This is a pathbreaking book, essential reading for students of interwar political and social history. Previous histories of the period have underestimated the crucial role which Communists played in trade union organisation from top to bottom. Despite its relatively small size the Communist Party occupied a strategic place in the trade union movement: the leaders of the movement, notably Ernest... Read more
Contents: Introduction; The origins of revolutionary pragmatism; The British road to the united front; In pursuit of the real united front; Waiting for the national militant upsurge; Rank-and-file movements: I The London busmen’s rank and file movement; II The aircraft shop stewards’ national council; The battle of Harworth; Organising the united front against the bosses; Organizing the united front against Fascism; Fighting the war on two fronts; The shopfloor war economy: class collaboration or dual power?; Conclusion; Appendices; Bibliography.
Biography
Nina Fishman, University of Westminster, UK
'It is a pleasure to read Nina Fishman's widely researched and well-written book ... (she) has made a major contribution to the history of both the CP and the British Labour movement.' New Times '...not only an important contribution to the history of the British labour and socialist movement, but a passionate monument to its unknown and half-known soldiers. Not the least of its merits is that [the author] has probably interviewed more of them than anyone else in England.' Eric Hobsbawm, The Guardian '...contains a wealth of information not readily available elsewhere.' Chris Bambery, Socialist Review 'Fishman separates myth from fact in the history of the British Communist Party...This is an exceptionally well researched study; Fishman’s interviews with many communists are especially important. Excellent bibliography and a valuable appendix detailing party membership both nationally and by districts.' Choice
