New labor history
Encyclopedia
New labor history is a branch of labor history
which focuses on the experiences of workers, women, and minorities in the study of history. It is heavily influenced by social history
.
Before the 1960s, most labor historians around the world focused on the history of labor unions
. In the United States, for example, labor economists at the University of Wisconsin
dominated the academic discipline of labor history. Paramount in their research were the development of markets, trade unions, and political philosophies.
In the 1950s, British and other European historians developed the field of social history to correct the structuralist
imbalances they perceived in the study of history. Social historians not only sought to enlarge the study of history but to refocus it on the experiences of common people rather than institutions or elites.
British social historians such as E. P. Thompson
, in particular, had a significant impact on American labor historians. Labor scholars to the right and left of the American political spectrum found it difficult to explain the rise of labor in the late 19th century, and social history offered at least a new approach to solving the riddle. Social history also took root at the same time that American organized labor began to decline. For left-leaning labor scholars, social history suggested a new way to revitalize the U.S. labor movement by focusing attention away from conservative leaders and institutions, as well as a means for academics to engage with workers themselves. For some, the new labor history moved the discipline of labor history away from the Marxist
theoretical perspective that saw trade union movements in terms of elites, classes and institutions (see Rogin, 2002).
European and American critics of the "new labor history" charge that historians now neglect institutions and elites. They argue that labor leaders and unions shape workers' goals and values as much as reflect them. They also point out that the "new labor history" has a tendency to ignore larger cultural trends and movements and technological developments which operate on a more systemic level than the individual.
Especially in the U.S., many young labor historians are attempting a new synthesis of the "old" and "new" labor histories.
Labor history (discipline)
Labor history is a broad field of study concerned with the development of the labor movement and the working class. The central concerns of labor historians include the development of labor unions, strikes, lockouts and protest movements, industrial relations, and the progress of working class and...
which focuses on the experiences of workers, women, and minorities in the study of history. It is heavily influenced by social history
Social history
Social history, often called the new social history, is a branch of History that includes history of ordinary people and their strategies of coping with life. In its "golden age" it was a major growth field in the 1960s and 1970s among scholars, and still is well represented in history departments...
.
Before the 1960s, most labor historians around the world focused on the history of labor unions
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
. In the United States, for example, labor economists at the University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
dominated the academic discipline of labor history. Paramount in their research were the development of markets, trade unions, and political philosophies.
In the 1950s, British and other European historians developed the field of social history to correct the structuralist
Structuralism
Structuralism originated in the structural linguistics of Ferdinand de Saussure and the subsequent Prague and Moscow schools of linguistics. Just as structural linguistics was facing serious challenges from the likes of Noam Chomsky and thus fading in importance in linguistics, structuralism...
imbalances they perceived in the study of history. Social historians not only sought to enlarge the study of history but to refocus it on the experiences of common people rather than institutions or elites.
British social historians such as E. P. Thompson
E. P. Thompson
Edward Palmer Thompson was a British historian, writer, socialist and peace campaigner. He is probably best known today for his historical work on the British radical movements in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, in particular The Making of the English Working Class...
, in particular, had a significant impact on American labor historians. Labor scholars to the right and left of the American political spectrum found it difficult to explain the rise of labor in the late 19th century, and social history offered at least a new approach to solving the riddle. Social history also took root at the same time that American organized labor began to decline. For left-leaning labor scholars, social history suggested a new way to revitalize the U.S. labor movement by focusing attention away from conservative leaders and institutions, as well as a means for academics to engage with workers themselves. For some, the new labor history moved the discipline of labor history away from the Marxist
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
theoretical perspective that saw trade union movements in terms of elites, classes and institutions (see Rogin, 2002).
European and American critics of the "new labor history" charge that historians now neglect institutions and elites. They argue that labor leaders and unions shape workers' goals and values as much as reflect them. They also point out that the "new labor history" has a tendency to ignore larger cultural trends and movements and technological developments which operate on a more systemic level than the individual.
Especially in the U.S., many young labor historians are attempting a new synthesis of the "old" and "new" labor histories.
Examples of "new labor history" scholars
- David BrodyDavid BrodyDavid Brody is a professor emeritus of history at the University of California-Davis.-Life and education:Brody was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey to Barnet and Ida Brody, who were immigrants to the United States. Working his way through Harvard University, he received his bachelor's degree in...
- Melvyn DubofskyMelvyn DubofskyMelvyn Dubofsky is a professor of history and sociology, and a well-known labor historian. He is Bartle Distinguished Professor of History and Sociology at the State University of New York at Binghamton.-Early life and education:...
- Herbert GutmanHerbert GutmanHerbert Gutman was an American professor of history at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, where he wrote on slavery and labor history.-Early life and education:...
- David Montgomery
- E. P. ThompsonE. P. ThompsonEdward Palmer Thompson was a British historian, writer, socialist and peace campaigner. He is probably best known today for his historical work on the British radical movements in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, in particular The Making of the English Working Class...
- Chitra Joshi
- Prabhu Mohapatra
Examples of "old" labor history scholars
- John R. CommonsJohn R. CommonsJohn Rogers Commons was an American institutional economist and labor historian at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.-Biography:Born in Hollansburg, Ohio, John R. Commons had a religious upbringing which led him to be an advocate for social justice early in life...
- John Thomas DunlopJohn Thomas DunlopJohn Thomas Dunlop was a U.S. administrator and labor scholar.He was the Secretary of Labor between 1975 and 1976. He was also Director of the U.S. Cost of Living Council from 1973–1974, Chairman of the U.S.Commission on the Future of Worker/Management Relations from 1993–1995 and arbitrator and...
- Joseph RaybackJoseph RaybackJoseph G. Rayback was a professor of history in the United States. He served in the United States Navy and earned a Ph.D. in American history at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. For many years, he was a professor of history and chair of the department at Pennsylvania State...
- Philip TaftPhilip TaftPhilip Taft was a noted labor historian whose research focused on the labor history of the United States and the American Federation of Labor.POORLY WRITTEN NEEDS MUCH IMPROVEMENT-Early life:...