Transnational Labour History

There has been a growing recognition amongst scholars that labour historians need to look beyond national borders in order to place the history of the working classes into a much broader context than has hitherto been the case. Whilst studies focused on individual countries are essential, it is only by comparing and contrasting the experiences across time and space that a true understanding of the subject can be attempted. Professor Marcel van der Linden, has contributed much to the debate on cross-border processes and comparisons. This volume makes available in English a collection of twelve of his most important essays on the theme of transnational labour history. Previously published in a range of journals and volumes, with two original contributions, Transnational Labour History brings them together in a single convenient collection, together with a new introduction. This work will undoubtedly provide an invaluable resource for all students of European labour history.

Marcel van der Linden is Research Director of the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam; professor in the history of social movements at the University of Amsterdam; and executive editor of the International Review of Social History

Contents: Preface; Introduction; The First International (1864-76): a reinterpretation; The national integration of European working classes (1871-1914): exploring the causal configuration; The rise and fall of revolutionary syndicalism (1890-1940); Second thoughts on revolutionary syndicalism; Communist parties: the first generation (1918-23); Metamorphoses of European social democracy (1870-2000); The aftermath of '1968': interactions of workers', youth and women's movements; Crossing the borders of US-American Labour History; International trade unionism: a long view; Doing comparative labour history: some preliminaries; How normal is the 'normal' employment relationship?; The historical limit of workers' protest; Index.