The “Labor Question” Is About Life During and After Capitalism
Throughout American history, no matter the oscillations in politics, the economy, or class struggle, the “labor question” refuses to die.
10 Articles by: Steve Fraser
Steve Fraser is a writer and historian whose latest book is Mongrel Firebugs and Men of Property: Capitalism and Class Conflict in American History (Verso).
Is the “Labor Question” Dead?
The “labor question” was once the principal question confronting American society, the axis upon which other maladies turned. We don’t think about social problems according to the labor question today — but perhaps we should.
Third Parties in the US Are More Important Than You Think
Despite America’s two-party duopoly, third parties have played a crucial role in shaping US politics for good and ill — from bringing us pro-worker reforms and the welfare state to laying the groundwork for Donald Trump’s right-wing authoritarianism.
From Acquiescence to Rebellion
People tend not to rebel against their oppressors, because the cost is simply too high. But sometimes they do, overcoming extraordinary odds — and understanding how and why rebellions like the Civil Rights Movement happen is crucial for socialists today.
The Uncharted Territory of Bernie Sanders and the Movement Behind Him
The Bernie Sanders campaign is beholden to no one in high places, has no affiliated elites to please or negotiate with, and has helped unleash new working-class militancy in America. The question now is, how can we sustain this extraordinary left turn in American public life to transform society?
The New Deal in the American Political Imagination
The New Deal solidified capitalist democracy in the United States. The country has swung between hints of social democracy and free market absolutism ever since.
1919: The Year the World Was on Fire
One hundred years ago was a time of revolution. Emma Goldman, John Reed, and Bill Haywood were at the center of it all.
From Revitalization to Dispossession
On the twentieth anniversary of New Labor Forum, Steve Fraser reflects on organized labor’s hopes and disappointments over the last two decades.
Which Way to the Barricades?
What was the mass strike and what would a successful one look like today?
The Politics of Debt in America
From Debtor’s Prison to Debtor Nation.