Labor Insurgency And Class Formation Analysis

James E. Cronin, in his essay, “Labor Insurgency and Class Formation: Comparative Perspectives on the Crisis of 1917-1920 in Europe” examines the complex causes of mass labor protests across Europe during the early post-World War I period. The idea that this period of unrest was caused solely by hardships of the war, Cronin argues, is too simplistic. Rather, it was this concept in addition to the organization of workers within a factory setting, as well as the creation of a working-class culture, which prompted the upheaval within the labour force.

The post-World War I era is characterized by omnipresent industrial protest across Europe. However, “workers are seldom revolutionary...” when it comes to actively seeking violent conflict, says …show more content…
Rapid urban growth, brought on by the increased semi-skilled workforce, led to the class segregation of these workers within their own neighbourhoods. Borne from these “distinctly proletarian” areas came solid and loyal communities with common goals and concerns (141). This new social life revolved largely around pubs, music halls, and other informal meeting places. This informality, as well as the potential for spontaneous discussion within these spaces, are defining characteristics of working class culture and politics. The social networks created in this way would lead to collective action, previously unseen in the prewar period. This increase, Cronin explains, can be attributed to three main factors: the new role of women - now accustomed to the workforce - in acts of protest; efforts of organization were launched in community contexts rather than in factories; and protests focused largely on the unifying issues of consumption that plagued the working class. This final, universal struggle pitted all workers collectively against the rich bureaucrats and wealthy industrialists, and created a strong but aggressive class