This thesis deals with the working class of two advanced
capitalist countries and focuses upon ideological conflict within
working class organizations such as trade unions and political parties.,
The outcome of such conflicts within working class organizations is
considered to be an expression of the state of working class consciousness
at a given time.
Within this broad context particular attention is paid to the
ideology of social democracy which has been dominant in working class
organizations in both countries during the modern period albeit to
different degrees. The thesis uses a comparative approach and pays
considerable attention to the interaction between the working class
and its societal environment- the political economies of the two
countries, the activities of the capitalist class and the impact of
its ideology upon the working class. Using this approach the thesis deals with the emergence of social democracy as the hegemonic working class ideology, its main
features particularly as they were developed in the post-war period,
the emergence of possible contradictions between social democratic
parties and ideology, and their working class supporters, and,
utilizing an historical analysis of previous ideological shifts in
working class organisations, the possibility of social democracy being superceded in its hegemonic role is considered. In dealing with
such matters the issues of nationalization and incomes policies were·
judged to be especially salient and are discussed in some detail. In the course of this study theories which posited an end to
ideological conflict in the advanced capitalist societies are considered'
and rejected. The past, present and future of social democracy, of
ideological conflict, and of the working class itself, was found to be
considerably more dynamic, complex and open to change than such theories
had imagined. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/15380 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | McBride, Stephen K. |
| Contributors | Jacek, H.J., Political Science |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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